skip to main content
Caltech
Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad
FASA Home  /  Resources  /  Safety

Safety

Safety

Before You Go

STEP Program – Free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate." – STEP Website

Travel.state.gov – Information on international travel. Links to determine if you need a travel visa, and other important information. Also check out the advisory page for travel rankings, entry requirements, safety advice, and more.

Visacentral.com – Determine if you need a business/tourist visa for your trip abroad.

Top 25 Travel Safety Tips - Great tips to consider and adhere to for any trip. Doing research beforehand is imperative for making sure you are as prepared as you possibly can be in advance. Even if the unexpected happens, these tips will be sure to make those situations less frequent or at least more manageable.

Day to Day Preparations

  • Stationery can be extremely expensive overseas; the formatting of paper sizes also typically differs. Many other countries use the A4 standard instead of the US Letter standard. Bring any pen, paper, and other supplies that you might want to use.
  • Electrical adapters: many laptop and other portable electronic devices work on international electrical systems and require only physical adapters to connect to the plugs. Use of some devices may require a voltage converter. See World Electric Power Guide for an introduction to the concepts and the relevant table of systems. Power strips may not function on the international system because of voltage and frequency differences.
  • If you intend to use a bicycle abroad, consider shipping your own bicycle or bringing your own helmet and locks to prevent spending the money unnecessarily overseas.
  • Clothing availability and sizings may vary internationally. Plan to bring everything that you will need.
  • Making international phone calls can be tricky. See CountryCodes.com for more information on this. Other computer based Voice Over IP (VOIP) solutions are also useful: Skype and Gmail (Hangouts) permit internet based phone calls and are two of many options.
  • To find if your cell company enables your count for international roaming, check out these sites: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint. If your phone is unlocked, you can avoid roaming charges and buy a SIM card from a local telecom store or the airport, but the latter us usually more expensive. Here are the main providers in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
  • Some credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover can be used internationally. Make sure you understand your card's international fees and restrictions. If your card cannot be used internationally, one option is open an online bank account in the country you are going to.
  • Remember to have some local currency cash on hand, or otherwise travel with a debit card to use at ATMs to get the local currency. Also, notify your usual bank which dates you will be in a different country so they don't flag transactions as fraud.

Medical Preparations

  • In many cases it is simplest to bring a sufficient supply of any medications you may need for the duration of your trip. Medications available overseas may differ from those found in the U.S.
  • It may be useful to have a formal statement of medical insurance on insurance company letterhead for travels abroad. Keep all records of any out-of-pocket expenditures for possible reimbursement upon return to the United States. Check with your insurance provider to determine foreign coverage.
  • Overseas and Under the Weather (March 2007, Conde Nast Traveler)- "How to find competent medical care when you're far from home?"
  • Centers for Disease Control Traveler's Health - Information on destinations, outbreaks, travel vaccinations, and links to traveler's medical clinic information.Check whether you need to take any vaccinations before you go.
  • Visit your doctor or get a physical before you leave, make sure you have enough of a supply of any regular prescriptions, or know how to access them if you run out, and bring a copy of your medical records when you leave.

Student Travel Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns about Visa applications and other formalities about your study abroad experience, please contact the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office.

Student Travel to the United Kingdom

  • The British Consulate-General, Los Angeles is located at 11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, California 90025-6538 and can be contacted at (310) 481-0031. Please visit the UKVisas website for information on the necessity of travel visas and other documentation for travelers to the United Kingdom. U.S. citizen students traveling to the United Kingdom from the U.S. for a period of six months or less do not need a visa at this time. Students visiting the U.K. for more than six months will require a visa. Please visit the website of the Consulate-General to verify all particular entry and visit requirements.
  • The U.S. Embassy in London is located at 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US, and can be contacted at [44] (20) 7499-9000 for both regular inquiries and emergencies.
  • The U.S. Consulate General in Edinburgh is located at 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BW and can be contacted at [44] (0)131 556 8315; however, the American Citizen Services are provided primarily at the London Embassy.

Student Travel to Denmark

  • The Royal Danish Consulate in Los Angeles is located at 5849 Uplander Way, Culver City, CA 90230, and can be contacted at (310) 645-0540. At the time of writing, visas for Denmark are being handled by the Danish Consulate General in New York and can be contacted by phone at (212) 223 4545. Denmark is part of the Schengen agreement; U.S. citizens do not need a visa for a total visit duration less than 90 days.
  • The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen is located at Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24
  • 2100 København Ø., near Østerport train station. Please see the Embassy's website for contact information; for emergencies call +45 3341 7100 during normal business hours and +45 3341 7400 after hours.

Student Travel to France

  • The Consulates General of France is located at 10390 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 410, Los Angeles, California 90025, and can be contacted at (310) 235-3200. Please visit the France-Visas website for information on the necessity of travel visas and other documentation for travelers to France. U.S. citizen students traveling to the France from the U.S. for a period of: three months or less will be issued a short-stay visa; three to six months will be issued a temporary long-stay visa; more than six months will be issued a long-stay visa. Please visit the website of the Consulates General to verify all particular entry and visit requirements.
  • The U.S. Embassy in Paris is located as 2 avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France, and can be contacted at [33] (1)43122222

Student Travel to Australia

  • The Australian Consulate-General is located at 2029 Century Park East, Suite 3150, Los Angeles, CA, 90067, and can be contacted at (310) 229-2300. Please visit the Australia Visas and Immigration website for information on staying in Australia and the necessary visa and documentation you need.
  • The U.S. Consulate General Melbourne is located at 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, and can be contacted at (03) 9526-5900.

Information about Safe Travel