 |
|
|
|
Students > Travel Documents | |||
 |
||||
 |
||||
Travel DocumentsThe International Student Identity Card Modes of Transportation for Travel (Including Eurail Passes) PASSPORT & BIRTH CERTIFICATEYou will need a valid passport to study abroad, and an official birth certificate is required to apply for a passport. If you do not have a valid passport and are planning to participate in a study abroad program, or even just considering the option, we strongly suggest that you submit your passport application as early as possible. The process of obtaining a passport can take several months, and for many programs, you will need a passport in hand well before departure in order to apply for a visa. Posted below is a Passport Information Sheet with additional details. Passport Information Sheet (pdf) STUDENT VISAFor long-term study abroad programs (semester and year) and some summer programs, you will need a student visa to study abroad. The visa is stamped inside of your passport and must be obtained before you leave to study abroad. The visas are obtained through a consulate or embassy located in the United States of the country where you are studying abroad. You need to apply for your visa early, sometimes immediately after you are accepted to the program, so it is important to have your passport when you apply to the program. Besides needing a passport, there are other supporting documents you need to apply for a visa. All countries have different regulations. Temple International Programs will assist you in applying for a student visa for Temple programs. For students studying on non-Temple programs, most often the program you are applying through will assist you in obtaining a student visa. THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IDENTITY CARD (ISIC)All Temple University study abroad program participants are required to obtain the International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The ISIC, available from STA Travel and other issuing offices across the U.S., entitles the bearer to basic insurance coverage and student discounts, and constitutes the most effective international proof of student status. Students can contact STA Travel at 1-800-781-4040, or visit their web site: www.statravel.com. For complete benefits of the ISIC and information on purchasing the ISIC, please see their web site: www.myisic.com. YOUTH HOSTEL MEMBERSHIPMost European countries belong to Hostelling International and have extensive networks of the most inexpensive accommodations available. To use them, you usually need to be a member of Hostelling International/American Youth Hostel and often need a "sheet-sleep sack." For sanitary reasons, sleeping bags are typically not permitted in youth hostels. Both the membership and the "sheet-sleep sack" may be obtained from your local American Youth Hostel office, or on the web (www.hiayh.org). The Philadelphia office of the American Youth Hostels may be contacted at: 1210 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 925-6004/6005. The Youth Hostel Office in Philadelphia, which is also a travel office, sells rail passes, travel guides and other items, and conducts monthly travel seminars which focus on such logistical aspects of traveling as hostelling, traveling safely, and currency exchange. MODES OF TRANSPORTATION FOR TRAVEL (INCLUDING EURAIL PASSES)Many students in recent years have begun to use inexpensive European airlines like Ryanair or EasyJet
over the Eurail Pass for travel within Europe. Eurail Passes are an option and are available from most
travel agents. Inter-European train travel can be expensive, and a Eurail pass can save you some money
and time, but usually only if you are planning to visit a number of different and distant locations. Eurail
|
|
|||