Make sure your passport is ready and check to see if you need a visa when planning to study abroad.
If you are considering a study abroad trip in the not too distant future, check early to see if you:
A) Need a new passport
B) Your passport is going to expire within 6 months of your return to the U.S.
C) Will need a visa for your destination (and duration).
Recent law changes require passports for travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, unless you are never planning on traveling outside of the United States, it certainly cannot hurt to have one. There is nothing worse than having to wait on pins and needles, hoping your passport will arrive in time for your trip!
While many countries do not require visas, you should check when planning your trip to see if one is required. Keep in mind that some countries do not require visas for short trips, but if your study abroad trip is a month or longer, you may need to acquire one prior to departure.
The best site we have found for one-stop-shopping for passports and visas is PassportVisasExpress.com. They also have a passport expediting service that offers a 24-hour turnaround, for an additional fee. Getting your passport can be a pain, but this site makes it easy!
