Are you planning to leave the country anytime in the next six months? Will you be taking advantage of your university or college's study abroad program next semester? Maybe you have grandparents at home in Greece or Italy and you have decided to pay them a visit and learn a little about your ethnic culture. Whatever the reason may be, if you plan to travel abroad at any time in the near future it's probably a smart idea to start preparing for the trip now. Leaving the country does some extra work, and often, into something more anxiety than typical domestic trip back to your hometown to see his parents. There are legal steps that need to be secured and other small tasks to do around your dorm room or apartment to see for the life you leave behind is as safe as the new world you are creating internationally. Some things require more advance than others, and the longer you plan to be gone, many of them are. But even if you work better under the pressure of last minute planning, you might want to at least skim through this list of reminders now assured that you will not stick scurrying around on the day you leave the country trying to convince government officials why your expired passport will allow you on the airplane . All other students who travel will be busy trying to figure out what alcoholic beverage you want to appear only once in flight (international flights allow underage drinking). You will be also. Of course there are lots of preparations one should take when planning to leave the country but there are three major issues that are probably the most crucial and should be tackled first. They are listed below.First and foremost, obtain or update your passport.For all of you last minute people, be sure to get your passport current and legally acceptable is number one on your to-do list before leaving the country. And think about it early. Even if everything else-packaging and pre-trip shopping spree, although the process of finding a place to live in your new country, a week before, your passport is something that absolutely can not. It is prudent to plan on the application for your new passport at least three months prior to departure. Although not always take so long and fast service is available for an additional cost, it takes several weeks sometimes to get a passport after submitting proper documents and programs. Also remember that mistakes happen and adequate time to preview the new card to ensure its accuracy, and enough time to send it back made of is convenient to assign yourself. Traveling to a new location is obviously a big bet, you do not want something like the wrong legal documentation due to the data operator typos that keep you from making your trip. To apply for a passport, you must submit proper identification (driver's license or state issued ID with a photo is preferred), proof of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate or SS card), two color photos of about 2x2 inches in size and a completed passport application form. An official passport form obtainable from your local government passport office, if you have one, the nearest courthouse, or your local U.S. Post Office. Usually the item is a special window just for passport applicants. You may want to check with your local office for the times it is open for service, as some cities hold dark hours. Photos suitable for your training consists of a recent close-up headshot, as you may be taken at the department of motor vehicles for your license. Most-one hours photo sites and even some tourist-friendly shops news in major cities often take passport photos and print them for you on the spot. Or you may go even one of these (questionable stupid) photo booths at the mall or your local trendy skating rink and have a couple of pictures taken with your favorite background color of the curtains. A passport is valid for ten years from the date it is mailed to you. If you already have a valid passport, make sure that the expiration date will occur at a time when you are absolutely sure that you will be back in the U.S.. It would be extremely difficult if not impossible to re-enter the U.S. or leave the foreign country to go elsewhere over its borders, that if your passport is invalid. So be sure to plan ahead! For more information on obtaining and using a Passport, go to leave the country-pass ServicesBe financially prepared to leave the country another huge preparations traveling students and / or last-minute travelers should be prepared for long before you leave the country for a certain time is money situation. While some foreign attractions and places accept U.S. currency, this is not an issue where it would be smart to push your luck. Take a few U.S. dollars with you anyway, it's always good to have your own money for security, and you can always change it as you go along, in small steps at a foreign bank. This is, in fact, that a wise option to exchange all your money on your bank in advance, simply because the exchange rates abroad are often lower and you get more back. Nonetheless, students and travelers sharing a bit at a time, and should not appoint the cash that the only way to economically get around. Students and travelers will want to have any foreign currency on them all the time, just as wise in the U.S., but with technology becoming more advanced in the world, there are alternatives to the dollar coins that are comparatively better and safer. Below is a brief comparison of the ATM or bank / check, credit card and American Express (or AMEX) travelers checks and foreign currency. Foreign CashIt is important that before leaving for your trip abroad, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new money if you have never experienced using it before. Foreign money is often much more extravagant in color and design than our bills and issues that you want to believe that you never would have, which says, for example, confusing a fifty for a twenty, are more likely to occur at the lack of comfort and security through of foreign money to begin with. Fortunately, many countries are now using a common form of currency, the euro, which is good in any of them. In January 1999 the euro became the universal form of currency used throughout the eleven states of the European Monetary Union. These states: Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Australia, Portugal and Finland. The implementation of this form of payment, and will save students and the traveler's time and effort if you plan to travel around while you're in the States and settled in your new temporary home. Many student programs encourage this journey and there is often a large part of the curriculum abroad. Keep some American money, of course, just to be safe, but make sure that the currency you take with you is the newly updated forms. Many tourists have had problems or at least, long delays, while trying to use the old American money abroad because of a counterfeiting problem. To get information about currency exchange is available at: www.xe.net / uccAmerican Express Travelers Cheques ChequesTravelers is a good idea because they are almost accepted anywhere, including the United States, if you come back with some. They are convenient for students and travelers who plan to explore several countries in the region they visit. Travelers Checks allow students and other travelers to move about the world with ease, eliminating some of the anxiety that can come along with trying to find a way to change money back and forth between different countries. Traveler's checks can be less appealing idea, on the other, but because it is a bit of red tape that comes with them. For example, some institutions charge a fee to redeem the vouchers. Moreover, unlike your credit card or ATM card, if you lose the travelers check, you can not exactly get your money back. There is less of a chance that someone will be able to spend it because if you follow the rules, please log them at the reception (only once!-Other bureaucracy question-second time, in front of the clerk you are paying!) Without actually getting your money back would probably take too much effort and perseverance with your hometown bank managers than would even come close to host it.Credit cards and ATM cardsFortunately, most credit cards are accepted throughout the world on a large majority of business locations. Students should have no problem with their credit cards (Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted) in most hotels and other places where tourists tend to linger. You can not get away when they leave the country, however, use this as the only source of payment, however, like often people tend to do in the States, from day to day. So students and travelers should never assume or expect their card to be accepted, but rather be grateful when they are. This form of payment usually does not take out a course and in most cases, your statement will with charges that appear in straightforward American figures. Not to mention that it is easy to carry and easy to cancel if you lose it. Students will travel with two credit cards at least, to have some backups. Credit card machines and automated operations by different vendors can often be temperamental. For instance, some credit card companies automatically decline transactions over a certain dollar amount, if the cardholder is usually a light spender. This can be pretty tough when you are trying to buy a last-minute regular ticket or anything else of a higher value. Students may want to take some extra time out of their trip preparations to call the credit card company and verify such obstacles as this, so do not get caught off guard in the middle of the journey. It should be noted that some banks will hold similar restrictions on the ATM card when the owner tries to make purchases with them. Even with an ATM card or check cashing cards, which each student should do when they travel, and anyone with a checking account can probably get one (giving the bank time to order it, though), it is always possible, if necessary, get cash from the ATM machine. This money, which comes directly out of your bank account, is very useful, but you may be charged a fee for using a foreign ATM, and there is definitely a limit to how much you can withdraw. With a credit card, there is also a limit, depending on your credit limit and restrictions on account, but you probably will not be charged an additional fee for foreign transaction. The usual advance, and rates will appear on your statement as it used to. The ATM card and a major credit card, all have their own advantages and disadvantages so it is really just a matter of personal preference on which one to use when. It is also noted that one can draw large amounts of cash from inside the bank with a credit card instead of using the ATM. This is commonly known as a regular credit card advance transaction and you will be charged the same interest as you would from the ATM. On the website you can find ATMs all over the world where you can withdraw money with your major credit card or ATM card: www.mastercard.comWhere to stay and how to get there when you leave countryFinally, a matter of dire importance to the student traveler to take care of in advance is to ensure safe and comfortable accommodation for at least the minimum time he or she plans to spend in a foreign country. Now it is understandable that people might want so-called, "play it by ear", for the spontaneity of things, especially if unsure of what specific destinations they will travel around and through. It is good. It works well and can add a touch of excitement to a trip or longer stay at home. But nobody likes to be stranded, especially in an unfamiliar place where communication can be strained and crime can be a problem. Therefore, students and travelers would be wise to at least do some research in advance online to figure out backup plans if their hotels are sold out or the rates have skyrocketed in any way. You can never be too prepared, because this kind of thing happens quite often. To calculate how much money you have to spend on housing and research options that work best for you. Almost as bad as being stranded is to succumb to a night's stay at the most expensive hotel in town because it seems that the only thing you can find only to find out the very next day in a hidden alley around the corner was a very nice, student friendly and very much cheaper, hostel with lots of vacancies. And together with your accommodation, you should study your transportation options. How large is the area you plan to spend time in? How expensive is the cab ride and how far and often you take them? Is there public transportation such as buses or subway metro or tram, or you need to rent a car? How much each of these methods cost, what are their opening hours, etc. These are all things students should consider before you board the aircraft to leave the country. The key question is how do you get from your arrival point to your hotel or where to stay? Learning Area and roads around it are key to making your trip as successful and stress free as possible. Combine that with confidence about your financial options and guarantees that your passport and other documentation will get you in and out of each country as needed when needed and you should be ready. Of course there are plenty of other measures students and travelers should take a long time before their departure from the U.S., but if you like to fly with the seat of the pants, many of these functions, provided that they are barrier-free, can be taken care of pretty last minute. But remember, passport, money and transportation are three issues that can not be. And chances are, no matter how much you enjoy the last minute thrill, you will be relieved that these three issues be taken care of when you finally leave the country. So you can worry about funny things like what attractions you should shoot first and what clothes you should wear on the plane and what in the world to do during the treacherous time in the air.
