Learning Abroad: China

International Travel Information

Participants must have a valid passport and a visa to enter mainland China. The passport comes from the U.S. Department of State. The visa comes from the People’s Republic of China which has an office in Houston. 

You can get your U.S. passport on campus through the Learning Abroad office. And you can apply for reimbursement of the fees that you pay so your passport is (after a bit of paperwork) free but please note: "Students must apply at the U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility located in the Learning Abroad office on campus in order to remain eligible for reimbursement. No exceptions will be made.” The Learning Abroad office is located in the E. W. Cullen Bldg. Suite 105. For general information about U.S. passports and international travel go to the state department’s web site.

Because a copy of your passport is required to sign up for the trip and to get the Chinese visa, if you do not have one you should apply for one as soon as possible. Non-U.S. citizens may require additional processing time for the Chinese visa. It is the student's responsibility to verify visa requirements for their nationality. It is also the student’s responsibility to acquire all necessary visas. You cannot participate in the trip without a passport and Chinese visa.  

For the Chinese visa, the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China office in Houston is the place to get it and can be found at this link. Complete the visa form before you drop your passport off at the consulate for visa processing. (They will keep your passport during processing in order to affix the visa to one of the pages in your passport.) For U.S. citizens, the visa fee is $140.

Arrival

Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements.

During the Program

Transportation. We will arrange all travel during the program at no additional expense to the student. This includes day trips, tours, and visits to local businesses.

Communication. We will use the mobile app WeChat exclusively to communicate with students while on the trip. Participation in the trip requires you to download this application to your smart phone and join our group. The WeChat group will facilitate effective communication for all travelers. You should explore international cell phone calling plans before you travel but if you decide not to use your cell phone for calling and data due to the expense, WeChat will work where wifi is available. Wifi is ubiquitous in China. 

Departure

The program ends on Saturday, March 14, 2020 with your hotel check-out. Students may depart at any time that day. Students are responsible for their own departure travel arrangements. Our guides can assist you in identifying suitable arrangements for travel to the airport. Traveling with a buddy is more fun!