University of Michigan
International Center

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Departure Checklist

Before You Leave

For items NOT available at the U-M International Center:

Passport Allow 6 weeks; expedited processing available at extra cost
Visa Processing time varies from days to two months, depending on your purpose for travel, your citizenship and your destination
Inoculations Make an appointment with a Travel Health Clinic months in advance, since some inoculations must be done in series over many weeks
Rail passes
Available from most travel agencies and cannot be purchased abroad. 		Most rail passes can be purchased immediately at STA Travel
734.769.2555 or 800.777.0112
umi@statravel.com
International Youth Hostel Membership Card Youth hostel cards can be purchased at
STA Travel
734.769.2555 or 800.777.0112
umi@statravel.com

One business day for items available at the U-M International Center:

International Student ID Card (ISIC), International Youth ID Card, International Teacher ID Card

Required

Passport Carry two extra passport pictures separately from your passport, a copy of your passport, and a certified copy (not the original) of your birth certificate or an expired passport. If the passport is lost, report the loss to local police, get written confirmation of the police report, and take the above documents to the nearest U.S. consulate (if you are a U.S. citizen) and apply for a new passport. Note that passports cannot be issued immediately abroad, and you can expect a delay of days to weeks.
Visa Permission from foreign governments may be required for you to enter their countries. You must have your passport to apply.
Inoculations May be recommended for many destinations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
Tickets You usually must have a round-trip ticket between the U.S. and foreign destination. Make a photocopy of your ticket (or e-ticket). Keep backup copies separate from the originals. Refer to the U-M International Center's Air Transportation page for travel resources.
Money Always have multiple forms of money: cash, travelers checks, ATM and credit cards. Never carry large amounts of cash. Make three lists of traveler's checks. Leave one at home, carry one with the checks, and keep one in a different place along with the receipts. Use a hidden money belt for most of your money. A money belt can be purchased on campus at STA Travel in the Michigan Union (734.769.2555). Refer to the U-M International Center's Travel Finances page for budgeting information.
Credit & ATM cards Keep a list or a copy of cards, account numbers, PIN numbers, and emergency replacement procedures. Refer to the U-M International Center's Travel Finances page, How to Carry Money section for information on taking different forms of money. Also, refer to Travel Abroad Web Sites for information on locating ATMs in foreign countries.
Luggage Mark all luggage inside and out with your name and address. Travel as light as possible. An internal frame backpack is the easiest to carry. Any suitcases should have wheels.
International Students Non-U.S. citizens must see an international student and scholar advisor regarding travel plans, your U.S. immigration documents and re-entry to the U.S. Note that you may also need to obtain a visa(s) for the country or countries you intend to visit. A visa may take as long as a month or two to obtain. See visa requirements of other countries at Electronic Embassy. For Europe, the Schengen Visa covers many (but not all) countries with one visa.

Strongly Recommended

Insurance Health and accident insurance (ISIC card provides additional insurance, including evacuation). It may be necessary to contact insurance agents while abroad, so keep all relevant names, phone numbers, and policy numbers in a safe place. Refer to the U-M International Center's Health Insurance Abroad page for health insurance information.
Assess Health & Safety Risks See the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories for potential travel risks to certain countries.
Rail Passes Must be purchased before you leave. Money savers for extensive travel include Eurailpass, Eurail Flexipass, Europass, Japan Rail Pass, Regional or Single Country Rail Passes, etc. Passes are available locally in Ann Arbor area at STA Travel.
International ID Card Card provides a broad range of discounts overseas, including the International Student ID ISIC Card, Youth ID Card (for non-students under 26), or International Teacher ID Card (ITIC) for full-time instructors. Cards are available in Ann Arbor at the U-M International Center or through STA Travel.
International Youth Hostel Membership card Allows you to stay in hostels all over the world (which generally do not have age limits); available in Ann Arbor from STA Travel, 734.769.2555.
Guidebooks Geared to your own travel style and itinerary. Student-oriented guidebook series include Let's Go, Lonely Planet and Rough Guides.
Photocopies Photocopy your passport, plane ticket, travelers checks, rail pass, credit card numbers, and prescriptions. Take one set of copies with you and leave another set in the U.S.
Telephone calling card The ISIC card can be used as a phone card. See Phones and Internet Service.
Reservations Make a reservation for your first night abroad and get information on traveling to and from the airport.
Register All members of the U-M community should register your travel itinerary on the ITOC web site. If you are a U.S. citizen, register your travel itinerary with the U.S. Department of State. Non-U.S. citizens should register with their home country's embassy. See Electronic Embassy for nearest embassy. Include your itinerary (dates, places and addresses abroad) and emergency contact information. If this cannot be done online, then register once you are in the host country by phone, fax, or in-person. Keep the embassy/consulate contact information with you in case of emergency.

Things to Consider

Medicines Take everything you will need for the trip, along with copies of all prescriptions and the generic names of drugs. Keep medicines in the original labeled drugstore containers. Take extra eyeglasses or contacts and the prescription.
International Driver's License Can be obtained from AAA if you intend to drive while abroad.
Computers Write down serial numbers, bring copies of receipts to avoid duty taxes, and make sure insurance and warranties are up to date (many home or renters' insurance will cover computers). Be aware of differences between American and foreign electrical current to avoid damage.
Email A quick and easy way to communicate with family and friends back home from internet cafes abroad. Free, web-based email accounts can be easily acquired (Hotmail, Yahoo!, etc.).

When You Arrive

Register with:

  • Closest U.S. embassy or consulate (U.S. citizens) or your own embassy (non-U.S. citizens)
  • Local authorities, if required.

Travel Tips

Packing Don't carry everything in one place! Never pack important documents, medicine or anything you could not do without in checked luggage. Put them in your carry-on bag.
Jet lag Try to relax and save energy during your long flight. Jet lag is a physical and psychological phenomenon that affects almost all travelers in some way. Through long years of habit, your body has become accustomed to functioning in accordance with a physiological clock based on a particular daily cycle. For at least a few days after arrival, that clock is going to be out of sync with local cycles.
Reading Background reading about the countries and people you will see.
Foreign Language Brush up your foreign language skills or buy a phrase book.
Electrical Avoid bringing unnecessary electrical devices (hair dryers, computers). If you bring such items, buy your current converters in the U.S. as they can be difficult to find abroad.
Toll free numbers 800, 888 numbers do not work abroad. Make sure that you have numbers that will work from abroad for your health insurance company, your credit card company, etc.

Last reviewed: 5/07