All students traveling outside the United States must have a valid passport. Depending on the destination and duration of the program, you may also need a visa:

Passport
Students should have a passport that will remain valid up to six months beyond their return date. If your passport is due to expire less than six months beyond your anticipated return to the U.S., you must renew it before you leave. Presently, passports are required to travel by air anywhere outside of the United States. Eventually a Passport Book or Passport Card will be required for all travel outside of the United States. More information on the Passport Card is available at www.travel.state.gov.

How to obtain or renew a passport:

• Each semester the Study Abroad Office sponsors a Passport Day. The Passport Agency of Philadelphia sends representatives to campus to process applications for all U.S. citizens.You can apply for your passport on campus at Passport Day as long as you have all of the appropriate documentation. The next Passport Day will be Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from 9am to 4pm in Olin 104.
• Alternatively, you may apply for a U.S. Passport at a Passport Agency or participating Post Office. Normally you need to make an appointment in advance.
• If you already have a passport and that passport is your most recent one, it was issued within the past 15 years, and you were over age 16 when it was issued, you may renew your passport by mail.
• Allow 6-10 weeks for processing. If you need your passport in a hurry, you can get an expedited passport for an extra charge. To do this you must either be leaving in less than 14 days, or, if you require foreign visas, in 2-3 weeks. This will cost you an extra $60 plus overnight delivery costs and you must show proof of your upcoming departure.
• For updated information, passport processing locations and forms, visit U.S. Department of State

Visa
A visa is a document stamped or affixed in your passport by officials of the country where you will study which allows you to visit and remain in that country legally for the duration of your program (and perhaps even longer). Check with your program to find out if you will need a visa for your study abroad experience. Most programs will assist you to obtain a visa by supplying you with instructions and some supporting documentation. Visas are obtained through a consulate or embassy that represents the host country and is located in the United Sates. If your overseas program does not provided you with instructions, you must contact the Consulate or Embassy directly. All consulates operate by jurisdiction. You must figure out which consulate has jurisdiction over you. This will depend on where your permanent address is or where your college or university is located.

• The Study Abroad Office will process student visa applications for participants in the UC in Florence, Madrid and Tuebingen programs provided that the corresponding consulate will allow us to represent you. You will be responsible for submitting all documentation to Study Abroad Office by the deadline. If you fail to submit your completed materials on time, you will be responsible for traveling at your own expense to the appropriate consulate in the jurisdiction of your permanent residence in order to apply for a visa.
• Students participating in non-UC programs that require visas are entirely responsible for the application process and must make their own appointments at the corresponding consulate. To avoid frustration and delays that may result in your ineligibility to study abroad, we recommend that you start the application process as soon as your receive the acceptance letter from your study abroad program.
• Students who are not U.S. citizens are subject to the rules and regulations of the host country. In addition, they must check with U.S. Immigration to ensure that there are no restrictions on their travel or study abroad under the terms of their visa to study in the United States. If you hold a passport from a country other than the U.S., please let the Study Abroad Office know.
• For more information about entry requirements, visit the U.S. Department of State website.