So, you think you’re ready to leave? I thought so, too. However, in the last month of preparation I realized there is a lot more that I needed to do than just make sure my passport doesn’t expire in the next few years. So, here’s a list of 7 things (in no particular order) that might’ve slipped your mind because they definitely slipped mine:
1. Check your state driver's license requirements. My license will expire during my 2 years out of country, and I was unsure if that meant I needed to scramble to get a new one or take a driver's test when I get back home. Turns out for Pennsylvania, your license could be expired for several years and there not be an issue getting a new one. I’d recommend becoming aware of what your state requires just so there aren’t any surprises when you get home.
2. Maintain valid credit and debit cards. It wouldn’t be great if all of a sudden you realized your credit and debit card expire after 3 months in your host country. If you are confident of your country's mailing system, it might not scare you to have your newly issued credit/debit cards mailed overseas. But, if you are like me, I really don’t want to have something with direct connections to my bank account shipped world-wide. Fortunately, I’ll be returning to the states before my cards expire, so my parents are helping me by mailing them to where I’ll be staying. But I recommend realizing that your cards are going to expire sooner than a week before departure and leaving with brand new cards.
Also, it might not be a bad idea to have two different types of cards. For example, one Mastercard and one Visa just in case one of them decides not to work.
If you need to choose a new credit/debit card, attempt to avoid international fees. They will add up. Fortunately, I’m a member of PSECU (www.psecu.com) is great with this and doesn’t charge any international or withdrawal fees. Anyone can become a member by meeting any of the requirements listed on this website: https://www.psecu.com/join.
3. Notify your bank of your travel plans. Every bank is different, but let them know where you’ll be going and for how long. And don’t forget to notify them again if you travel to a different country during your two years. Again, you don’t want to be in a scenario where you need to buy something but your cards are frozen because your bank thinks it’s fraud.
4. Enroll in STEP. (https://step.state.gov/step/) This one your organization probably told you about, but if you’re like me you forgot about it until a week before you’re supposed to leave. STEP stands for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and is a “free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.” It’s always a good idea to let the Embassy know where you are and what you’re up to.
5. Print/Copy important documents. You never know what documents you’ll possibly need, and you won’t want to end up in a situation where you don’t have at least a copy of something. Here are some of the documents I’m bringing with me:
- Passport
- Copies of passport and visa
- Copy of birth certificate
- ESL Teaching Certificate
- Immunization Record from my state
- COVID-19 vaccination record
- Insurance card
- Hotel Reservation (necessary for quarantine under COVID-19 protocol)
6. Have cash on hand. My SE Asian host country allows you to bring up to $9000 USD in cash into the country. While that is way more than I need, it was recommended I have cash on hand. With the COVID-19 protocols, I need to be ready with enough cash to pay for my meals during quarantine, my PCR test upon arrival, and other COVID related expenses. If possible, it would be nice to exchange some currency before you arrive. If you are a AAA member, they have most currencies available to exchange, or you can exchange in the airport.
7. Bring extra photos for visa renewal. Again, every country is different with its visa requirements, but odds are you’ll have to renew your visa at least once while in country. To me, it seems easier to just have several visa photos on hand rather than trying to find a place in country to take your picture and print it out. Plus, if you’d like to visit neighboring countries, depending on the country, you’ll probably need to apply for a tourist visa. Having pictures on hand will just make the process smoother.
Bonus: If your organization doesn’t have someone to help you with your visa processing, I suggest checking out Travel Docs (https://www.traveldocs.com/). For a little bit of an extra cost, you can pretty much be ensured simple and quick visa processing. I didn’t use this service, and I’m suffering the consequences (a long wait for my visa).
Bonus x2: If you’re like me and waiting on your visa for a while, try to reach out to your state representative for help. No promises this really will work, but it’s nice to have an additional person on your side to help make contact with your target embassy and possibly speed up the process.