PASSPORTS

A valid passport is required to enter and leave international borders. If you have a passport, it must be valid for at least six months beyond the last day you will be abroad. If you do not have a valid passport, you should apply for one immediately, especially if your destination country requires a student visa.

U.S. Citizens 

To obtain or renew a U.S. passport, visit the U.S. Department of State Passports & International Travel website or a local post office. Processing time typically takes 8 to 12 weeks or longer. 

Drexel international students

Be sure to check your passport expiration date and the visa requirements of your destination country and communicate your study abroad plans with Drexel’s International Students and Scholar Services Office (ISSS). Confirm that your F-1 visa will be valid for your return to the US after studying abroad.

VISAS

Many countries require you to obtain a student visa in order to study in their country. Check with the embassy of the host country that you are planning to study abroad in for current visa rules and regulations. Processing times vary greatly from country to country. Therefore, you should start looking into this process while completing your study abroad application.

The Drexel Global office is not responsible for obtaining student visas for study abroad students. We will try our best to help guide you during the process, but students are responsible for applying for their visas individually.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARD (ISIC)

It is recommended that study abroad students apply for an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which is a universally recognized form of student identification. It also entitles students to many discounts on travel, entrance fees to tourist attractions, retail, and more.

Photo Credits:
Mohana Nagda, Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong