Welcome to USF!  Now that you have been officially accepted into the Exchange Program, it is time to think about getting ready for your trip.  Please keep in mind we are here to help you through the preparations and this website will continue to be a valuable resource to you for further details, important updates and special announcements. 
Be sure to:

1. Finish up any remaining forms that you have not yet submitted. (Housing, Meals, Immunizations, Insurance)
2. Submit your course request list to your home university coordinator for approval and then send it to the USF coordinator, Patricia Smith, psmith@iac.usf.edu to begin your registration for courses.
3. See below for more important things to do as you prepare to leave for Tampa!

Matters to sort out before you leave home:

• Travel Documents:
  
  • Make sure your passport is up to date.  If you have a passport already but it will expire during the time you are abroad, apply for a new as soon as you decide to study abroad as the processing times can vary.
    
  • Visa requirements vary from country to country. As part of your main application, you will submit the forms required to have your DS2019 form issued by USF.  When it is completed, USF will send this to you.  You will need to take this form to obtain your Travel Visa.  Information relating to all visas may be obtained from the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. Note: You may also need passport-size photos. It's a good idea to have extra copies of these photos for this purpose and other situations.
• Travel Arrangements
  You are required to make your own travel arrangements. Make sure to do so well in advance of leaving. Even though you may not know when you want to return home and you may have to pay a surcharge to change your return ticket, it is still cheaper to buy the round-trip ticket instead of buying two one-way tickets.
• Legal Matters
  While you are overseas, you will need to take care of certain civil, financial and legal matters in your home country. Advance planning in these areas will make life easier.
  Giving a family member or trusted friend power of attorney, while you are abroad, is a good idea. You can also give someone power of attorney by simply writing what duties that person will be allowed to perform on your behalf and having the paper notarized. Power of attorney gives that designated person the power to act on your behalf in case a legal document requires your signature while you are away.
  
• Money Matters
  Traveling with large amounts of cash is not recommended. You should consider using several different forms of payment for your expenses. Traveler's checks, credit cards, ATM cards and cash can all be used effectively depending on the country.
  
• Health
  Before your departure, make sure that you are in good health.  You will be asked to show proof of health and accident insurance or you may be asked to purchase a special policy that covers these areas overseas. More discussion of these topics should be a part of your preparation and on-site orientation.  Be sure to have a physical and dental checkup before you go. If you have an ongoing medical problem, such as allergies or diabetes, you need to take special precautions in preparing for and managing your condition overseas. USF housing requires you to be immunized against certain diseases, so make sure that you have notarized letters of proof or you will be unable to get housing on campus.
  
• Family Emergencies
  Discuss with your family what you will do in the event of a family emergency, illness or death. It is much easier to have these conversations around the kitchen table prior to departure than in an intercontinental phone call in the midst of a crisis. www.skype.com (SKYPE) is a computer program that allows you to make international calls from your laptop/PC at very cheap rates. If the person you are calling installs the same program, then you can call each other for free!
  You may choose to purchase a cell phone while here in the States, and there are many different options to choose from. If you use SKYPE for your international calls, then you can find a cheap network to use just for texting and local calls.  The nearby store, Wal-Mart stocks different networks and they range in prices according to deals. The University Mall also has booths and shops dedicated to phone providers so they are a good place to start.
  
• Weather
  The weather in Tampa is characterized as a humid subtropical climate and this is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. You can usually go out in just a short-sleeve shirt and lightweight pants or shorts. Dresses or skirts are common all year round. It also rains frequently during warm weather so bring a raincoat, waterproof shoes, and a mini-umbrella. See www.weather.com  for even more detailed information.
  www.worldtimesaver.com  provides correct and current time in any world time zone, country or major city. Accurate adjustments for Daylight Saving Time (or Summer Time) are made according to each location's rules and laws.
  Now you’re on your way!