About Passports & Visas

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Students are responsible for acquiring a valid passport and visa where applicable. If you do not already have a passport, start the process right away! It can take four to six weeks to acquire one. Expedited passports are possible for a higher fee, but don't wait until the last minute. If you currently have a passport, make sure it does not expire within six months of the date of your travel. If it does, get it renewed!

Check to see what the visa requirements are for the country you will be visiting. If, according to your citizenship, a visa is required, go directly to the embassy page of that country to see what forms you may need to fill out, as well as how to make an appointment with the embassy. Look on the general embassy webpages for 'Consulates General' in order to search for specific embassy information for San Francisco. Apply for a visa as soon as possible; the process can take much longer than expected.

If you will travel through another country on your way to a final destination, check if you need a transit visa. Depending on your country of citizenship and the country where you have a stopover, you may be required to obtain a transit visa in order to be allowed to land and continue on your trip.

To find out if you need to obtain a transit visa, visit the embassy website of the country where you have a stopover. As mentioned above, procedures and required documents for obtaining a visa vary greatly, so it is advised to check before purchasing your plane ticket.

Travel/Health Insurance

For the first time, CCA will be providing supplemental travel/health insurance coverage for students registered in a CCA summer study abroad course, traveling outside the United States, for the duration of the course. The coverage is provided by iNext and is secondary to any other coverage that a student has in place -- whether personal, parental, or CCA's student Kaiser plan. Students should first file a claim through their primary insurance company, then with iNext.

While abroad, make sure you have your primary insurance carrier and policy information readily available. CCA will provide summer study abroad students with the appropriate iNext information at the time of registration.

If you are not covered by CCA’s student Kaiser plan:

Do not assume that your current policy applies outside the United States; check with your insurer. All students should know what procedures they need to follow in case of a medical emergency while abroad.

If you are covered through CCA's student Kaiser plan:

Coverage remains in effect for the entire term you have purchased. If you travel outside the Kaiser Permanente coverage area, coverage for emergency or urgent conditions remains in effect. Kaiser Permanente is well known throughout most of the United States, including some European countries, so medical expenses incurred outside Kaiser Permanente are usually billed directly.
In rare occasions students may be asked to pay for medical treatment at the time of service, in which case Kaiser Permanente would reimburse the student. Be sure to keep all medical expense receipts.
In the event a medical bill exceeds the student’s ability to pay upfront, call the 800 number listed on the back of the member ID card and Kaiser Permanente will work with the doctor/hospital to facilitate payment.

In Europe, Brazil, and many other countries, a Kaiser International representative may visit the hospital where a student is receiving treatment to ensure the level of care is appropriate. Should Kaiser Permanente have concerns regarding the quality of care being administered, a recommendation may ensue to return the student to the United States at Kaiser Permanente’s expense.

Travel assistance provides support services in case of an emergency while traveling. On Call International’s Global Response Center provides emergency-only coverage for students who study abroad. This coverage is included for students who have the Kaiser Permanente CCA Health Insurance Plan. Please call 1.877.318.6901 (toll-free within the US and Canada) or +1.603.328.1909 (collect from outside the US and Canada) to reach On Call International’s Global Response Center. The Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with trained multilingual coordinators and doctors to advise and assist you quickly and professionally in an emergency.