5 Essential Travel Tips for International Students

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Jonathan Perez | Dec 24, 2024 Student Life

Navigating travel as an international student can be challenging, especially with the added complexity of recent global and domestic developments. With the upcoming presidency, universities like Cornell, MIT, Wesleyan, and others have issued travel advisories and guidance, urging international students to return to the U.S. before January 17, 2025. These recommendations stem from concerns about potential travel restrictions, similar to those implemented back in 2017, which disrupted the plans of many international students and scholars.

MIT's website was updated to address the international student community, saying: “Assess your travel plans over the Winter Break. New Executive Orders may impact travel and visa processing may be implemented on or after that date. In addition, election transitions also impact staffing levels at U.S. Embassies/Consulates abroad, which could impact entry visa processing times.”

Similarly, Cornell's international student office shared concern and urged caution, advising: "It is a good idea for international students, faculty, and staff from the above countries to be back in the U.S. in advance of the semester, which begins on January 21, 2025."

It is strongly recommended to keep up to date with your school's international office news.

Alongside these important updates, there are other key travel tips and considerations to help you navigate your journey seamlessly. While traveling can be daunting, this guide is here to ensure you get from point A to point B safely and efficiently. Here are five essential travel tips every international student should know.

Check Your Travel Documents

The first thoughts many people associate with traveling include purchasing a ticket, visiting the airport, and flying in seamless fashion. However, you will need to maintain some upkeep with your personal information – particularly your passport – when catching a flight.

When flying, you will need a valid passport on hand. “Valid” simply means that your passport is not expired, which will allow you to travel to and from different countries.

You should also note that certain countries have a 6-month passport validity rule, especially if you expect to travel back to one of them. This means that a visitor’s passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the trip ends to gain entry to the destination country. .

Determine Campus Accessibility

The United States is a diverse country with different types of metropolitan areas that colleges can be found in. These differences can play a large role in how you might get around, and where you might expect to live during your time in college.

For example, a multi-transportation city like New York can rely on both public modes of transport, like buses and trains, walking, and even an emphasis on ride-sharing services. Cars are generally a more accepted option in driver-friendly cities, like many in Texas and California.

Stay Connected

Anytime you travel abroad, you will need some form of communication, not as a means for distraction or leisure, but as a communication essential. However, making sure you have the right connections may pose expensive challenges – here are some ways to not break the bank on your international phone bill.

Before getting started, you will first need to see if your service includes some form of international calls. These plans provide reduced rates when calling over international borders, saving you significant amounts of money - especially if you find yourself on the phone often.

Your phone might also be accustomed to only working in your home country, which may cause some issues when trying to communicate in the U.S. Some workarounds to this include unlocking your phone if it is locked so you can use a local network in your area, buying a prepaid SIM card that will allow you to use your own phone in another country, or add a plan to your eSIM within your phone’s hardware from a local provider. A guide for iPhone eSIM setup can be found here.

Pack Responsibly

Several years away from home means that you’ll need to pack accordingly, while thinking of both the short and long term. Here’s a go-to guide on what to bring.

First are the most major important items – the ones you absolutely need for travel. As a student, this might include some of your program-related documents, including:

  • Your passport
  • Any university related forms
  • An I-94 record
  • Your I-20 or DS-2019
  • Your medical records

Other items to consider include appropriate clothes and shoes, especially items that are catered to the local temperatures of your school, personal electronics, cash, and a few sentimental items. The last piece is super important to maintaining your mental health, as small reminders of home will make your stay feel significantly less isolating and lonely.

Even though you’re away for a significant period, bringing your entire life from your home country is ill-advised. Feel free to leave behind any items that are either too bulky or can easily be obtained – things like heavy furniture, laundry supplies and bedding, and miscellaneous home and school appliances. Your advisor will be your best point of contact for advice on what to pack.

Stay Covered

You’ll likely find that traveling includes a significant change in cuisine and lifestyle, which may be the biggest tangible differences from your home country. One should note before entering the United States to finalize any necessary health checks for their school or travel requirements. More details can be found here.

One of the most noteworthy things about receiving health care in the United States is how costly medical services can be, even for the simplest of treatments. Many Americans depend on a health insurance plan that is able to support them financially during times of sickness and injury. Depending on your school, you might have different options as an international student for insurance, but ISO Student Health Insurance provides plans that meet coverage requirements in schools across the United States at a fraction of the cost.

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About ISO Student Health Insurance

Founded in 1958, ISO prides itself on being the leader in providing international students with affordable insurance plans. Administered by former and current international students, we are able to assist our member with multilingual customer service in Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and more. ISO serves over 3,200 schools/colleges and more than 150,000 insured students every year.

For more information, please visit www.isoa.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn.

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