Visit the Department of State ’ s web site at : travel . state . gov / passport for information on a passport facility near your home and to confirm what documents you need to have with you when applying for or renewing a passport .
Visa . A visa is an official document given by a country ’ s government providing permission for a traveler to enter the receiving country . Your child will need to check with the host country ’ s embassy or consulate in the US to determine if a visa is required . Print extra passport photographs for use with the visa application and other documents .
If a visa is required , your child should work directly with the embassy or consulate to obtain one . YFU recommends visiting the US Department of State ’ s website travel . state . gov / visa for general information and to link the specific embassy for your child . Please note that countries sometimes make changes in their laws and visa requirements without notice to the public . All visa paperwork should be submitted according to the most upto-date guidelines . YFU has no control over the procedures or payments required to obtain a visa . Do not wait to start the visa application process , in some cases it can take months to receive the visa .
When mailing forms to an embassy , consulate or any other agency or organization , YFU recommends using guaranteed overnight delivery with a tracking method in case the package is lost . It is equally important that copies are made of all completed forms before they are put in the mail .
Lost Passport . Your child should carry a photocopy of his / her passport and visa in case the original one is lost or stolen . You should also keep a copy of your child ’ s passport at home . All passports are replaced by number rather than name , so keeping track of the passport number is important . If your child ’ s passport is lost or stolen s / he should contact the YFU National Office and the US consulate or embassy in the host country immediately , in order to report the lost passport and to apply for a replacement . In addition to securing a replacement passport , a new visa may be necessary . If your child loses his / her passport , s / he should not travel outside the host country until all new documents are in order .
Birth Certificate . YFU also recommends that students carry an official copy of their birth certificate separate from the passport to help establish their identity in the event that the passport is misplaced or stolen .
arranges this travel in groups according to the program dates set by the hosting country . The departure day is not negotiable . The cost of these arrangements is covered by the program tuition or scholarship unless noted otherwise ; however , special restrictions pertaining to luggage and travel fees are the responsibility of YFU students and can be obtained from the airline ’ s website .
YFU Travel Department Toll-free number : 1.800.705.9510
• YFU Travel will send a letter sent approximately two weeks before departure , which contain the complete domestic and international itineraries , along with the confirmation numbers of the electronic ticket .
• Students on summer and semester programs will receive their complete round-trip itineraries . It is not possible to provide complete return flight itineraries for academic year students so far in advance , so those tickets will usually be issued with “ open ” returns . Year students ’ return flights will be booked and confirmed at a later date .
• YFU Travel will send a letter about halfway through the program to the parents of all semester and year students confirming the return date .
• A final letter confirming the complete international and domestic itinerary will be sent about one month before the return date .
YFU students travel on regularly scheduled commercial flights and never on charter flights . YFU uses a system of “ gateway ” cities to organize student travel . Students are grouped at gateways if more than one student is traveling between them ; any other airport your child uses while traveling depends on where s / he is departing from domestically . Most airports and almost all airlines have websites containing useful maps , telephone numbers , and other helpful travel information . YFU recommends that you review this information with your child before their departure day .
16 - Study Abroad Family Handbook
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
The YFU USA Travel Department ( YFU Travel ) will arrange for your child ’ s domestic and international travel . YFU USA