How To Get Prepared For Your Kids Studying Abroad

Your child has been accepted into a great study program abroad, and you are working to make sure your ward is adequately prepared for the new experience of studying in a foreign country. All you have to do is make sure he/she is ready for the trip. What should you pack for him/her? Have you sorted out travel insurance for him/her? What are the things you need to do to make sure the trip abroad is hassle-free for your child?

1.      Apply for a passport and visa

These are the first things to get for your child when travelling to study abroad. Although a lot of foreign programs make having a passport a prerequisite before applying for them, others only demand it after the prospective student has been granted admission. Before studying in a foreign country, you need to have a valid passport that allows you to travel and study in a foreign country. If your child has a passport already, check that it is still valid and that it will not expire anytime soon. If your child is not a first-time traveller, you should make sure his/her passport had enough blank pages to take another visa.

For a first-time passport application, your kid should go with the following documents:

·         His/her birth certificate

·         Passport photographs

·         Any certified form of Identification

·         Passport application and;

·         Proof of payment.

Alongside the passport, your kid may need a visa for studying in a foreign country. Find out the visa requirements for the intended country of study and apply well ahead of time.

2.      Take your child to a Travel Doctor

Before studying in a foreign country take your child for a physical health evaluation. While travelling, your child should bring with him/her a copy of his/her medical records in case of an emergency when he/she starts living abroad. It is also important that you know the immunization requirements of the host country so that your child can be immunized appropriately. Most study abroad programs will give you advice on the type of vaccinations you will need in the host country.

If your child takes any prescription drugs, make sure to get enough supply to last him/her for the duration of their stay in the country. The prescription drugs should have the correct labels on their containers so they won’t be mistaken for illegal drugs.

3.      Get travel insurance

When studying in a foreign country, you must make sure your kid has a reliable accident and health insurance policy. There should also be a provision for emergency repatriation or evacuation even though you do not wish for that. It only makes sense to be prepared for every possibility. If your child already has health insurance, the insurance might cover his/health abroad, but travel insurance is preferred as it covers a lot more than health insurance does. Travel insurance will protect your child in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight, stolen luggage, and emergency evacuation in the event of a natural disaster or health emergency.

4.      Buy a flight ticket

After putting the things mentioned above in place, the next thing to do is look for a way to purchase a flight ticket for your child. Getting a cheap aeroplane ticket these days is based on luck and timing, and the cost of an air ticket is determined by your final destination and where you are buying the ticket from. A lot of student travel agencies provide the cheapest and most flexible tickets. You can also find discounted prices through these agencies.

5.      Research the destination, its people and local customs

As part of pre-departure preparations, be sure to share your research about the norms of the destination country with your child as a form of training. Share information with your kid on the kind of food that they eat. Make sure to find out that there won’t be cases of food allergies concerning your ward due to the host country’s food type consumption.

Find out about their dressing too, and prepare your child’s wardrobe to blend in. What is considered normal and funky in America may be considered indecent in Qatar. Prepare your child to mingle with his/her host community safely and professionally by their dressing.

If the host country does not speak a familiar language, you might want to get your child up to speed with the basics of the official language for his/her host country.

There’s a lot to learn about people from different cultures and backgrounds. It helps to amass as much knowledge as you can.

Finally

Ensure that your child’s school, accommodation and feeding fees are adequately taken care of. Before his/her departure, make sure to advise them kindly. Urge them to be proud ambassadors of their country as they journey to another land, wish them well, and no matter what happens, always stay in touch till the end of their sojourn.