Tips for Traveling Overseas

Are you planning on a trip with your students outside of the United States? With all of the changes in passport requirements, it can be very confusing. Here’s a breakdown of the latest information, as well as some helpful tips and information to make sure you have a safe and successful excursion.

 

New rules for passports

 In 2004, legislation called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was passed that requires all travelers to present a passport or other valid travel document that proves their identity and citizenship when entering or re-entering the United States. For complete details on the requirements, a good resource is travel.state.gov or you can call NTA Headquarters and ask for NTA’s Government and Industry Relations Department.

 Everyone traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean is required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

 Related to travel by land and sea, currently, U.S. citizens need to present either a passport, passport card or other valid form of travel document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

 Beginning June 1, 2009, the U.S. government is implementing the full requirements of the land and see phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require more U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card or a WHTI-compliant document.

 However, due to efforts by NTA, children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate (or naturalization certificate) after the new law takes effect in June.

 

Other tips for students and student trip planners when traveling abroad:

• Verify that the tour company is a member of a professional association such as the National Tour Association.
• Ask questions before you go. Trip planners should ask the company for references, find out the adult chaperone to student ratio and how long the company has been operating in the destinations it features.
• Verify that the tour company has errors and omissions, and professional liability insurance coverage. Professional tour companies should have this coverage.
• Make sure your students have insurance that will cover emergency medical needs.
• Check for travel warnings and public announcements at http://travel.state.gov before you go. This is something your NTA tour operator will be very familiar with.
• Remind students to fill in the emergency information page of their passport and make copies of their passport data page and any visas. Keep a copy separate from the originals while traveling, and leave one at home with their families.
• Leave an itinerary with someone at home, and make sure that someone knows where you are at all times.
• Remind students to carry their hotel information, including name and address, with them. They also should include a phone number to reach the tour company in case of emergencies
• Avoid looking like a tourist. Try to blend in with your surroundings and never go off on your own.
• If possible, try to carry a cellular phone with you at all times.

Source:  NTA (National Tour Organization)