Pre-Departure Checklist

1. Do you have a passport? Will it be valid for six months AFTER the end of your program? Click here for more information on obtaining a new passport or renewing an old one. Important!: Review consulate processing times before planning international travel over break, because the consulate will need your pasport to process your visa.

2. Make copies of your personal documents (both sides of credit & ATM/debit cards, passport, insurance cards, driver’s license, etc.); leave one set of copies at home and bring one with you.

3. Complete all required forms for USC and return to the Office of Overseas Studies.

4. Complete any required program/host institution forms and return them to your program sponsor.

5. If you have a USC parking permit, turn it in to Transportation Services and inquire about obtaining a permit when you return to campus.

6. If you are in USC Housing, turn in your Semester Away Release Form.

1. Change your local address (usually to your permanent address) on OASIS so that your mail from USC gets to the right place.

2. Connect to USC’s VPN to access USC resources & to get around firewalls in some countries.

3. Make sure that your USC email gets forwarded to any non-USC email account you may be using. You will be expected to read all email coming from our office and take action when necessary. We will not send emails to a non-USC account; check your USC email account regularly.

4. Look into your options for mobile phones abroad & consult with program alums for advice. Contact your provider to ask about using your phone abroad or unlocking your SIM card so you can purchase a new one in your host country.

5. Provide your family & Overseas Studies with your travel itinerary.

1. Obtain your visa, if required. Apply early, and keep in mind that international students may have to follow procedures that differ from those of their US-citizen counterparts!

2. Get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) for discounts abroad.

3. If you’re an international student, be sure to consult with an advisor in OIS before leaving USC.

4. Purchase the electrical current & plug adapters required in your host country. Laptops: Make sure yours is insured and vital files are backed up.

5. Before packing your bags, find out about local standards of dress, weather, etc. Pack lightly and appropriately.

6. Research rail passes, hostel cards, and purchase before leaving the U.S. if appropriate

7. Check with your airline on baggage limits and fees.

8. Stay informed about developments in the country/countries where you will travel. Check the U.S. State Department’s Web page for the most current information and travel warnings before you depart (and while abroad). Visit the State Department’s study abroad guide: http://studentsabroad.state.gov

9. Read up on diversity in your host country, (including racial & ethnics groups, women, heritage students, LGBTQ students, religious diversity, etc).

10. Get a good student-oriented travel guide such as Lonely Planet (paperback, e-book, pdf, etc) for your host country.

11. Research the educational system in which you will be studying.

12. Read online newspapers & listen to radio stations online from your host country to familiarize yourself with issues and current events there.

13. Brush up on your foreign language skills & familiarize yourself with different varieties of English via the USC Language Center, newspapers, radio, films, Netflix, etc.

14. Get to know international students from your host country here at USC. Contact the Office of International Services (OIS) to arrange a language exchange, participate in OIS activities, etc.

15. Register in STEP (https://step.state.gov/step/) & download the International SOS app for safety alerts.

1. Familiarize yourself and your parents with your program Cost Sheet. If your parents are financing your studies, please share this information with them!

2. Attend the financial aid meeting if you receive financial aid.

3. Meet with a financial aid counselor if you have questions about your financial aid package and study abroad, and meet all financial aid deadlines for next year. Sign up for USC eRefund.

4. Apply for available study abroad scholarships.

5. Verify that you have correct 4-digit PIN numbers for your credit/debit cards.

6. Arrange for someone to be able to deposit funds into your US bank account while abroad.

7. Notify your credit card and bank companies about your upcoming travel to avoid having your account frozen abroad!

8. Exchange a small amount of foreign currency ahead of time, in case you have issues with your cards abroad.

1. Bring a copy of your Overseas Studies advising record with you overseas & check with your major and minor advisers to ensure courses satisfy requirements.

2. Remember that you must be registered at USC while you are abroad! Refer to the Block Registration Tutorial for details.

3. Follow your host institution’s instructions regarding course registration and pre-departure arrangements.

1. Read our Health & Safety Abroad Guide.

2. Review information about mental health and overseas travel, and the Overseas Studies Mental Health Abroad Checklist.

3. Attend Let’s Talk, Well-being Wednesdays & Thriving Thursdays drop-in sessions & group counseling sessions with USC Student Counseling Services for advice on how to deal with stress, anxiety & other common issues. Also check out some of the many stress & anxiety apps available.

4. Consult with health-care providers abot any pre-existing conditions which may affect your participation.

5. Bring your USC ID Card and your INTERNATIONAL SOS card with you overseas.

6. Visit the  CDC website or the USC Travel Clinic to learn about risks, immunizations & other precautions for the countries you plan to visit.

7. Obtain enough of your prescription medications to last you for the duration of your stay abroad and contact International SOS to inquire about whether your medications are legal in your study abroad country.  Medications such as Ritalin and Adderall are not legal in every country, for example.

8. Keep prescriptions in their original packaging/ containers from the pharmacy.

9. Bring copies of your prescriptions including the generic drug names of all medications.