Office of Insurance & Risk Management
75 Piedmont Avenue NE, Suite 506
Atlanta, GA 30303
[email protected]
404-413-9547

1. Receive approval from the traveler’s Dean and Department Chair.  Check with the Department/Dean for internal College procedure process.
2. Complete and sign, along with a witness, the Assumption of Risk Waiver.
3. Notify department Business Manager and/or Travel Coordinator of their travel plans along with completed Assumption of Risk Waiver and proof of Dean and Department Chair approvals.
4. Department’s Business Manager or Travel Coordinator (Spectrum User) will complete and submit the online Travel Advisory Notification Form on OII’s webpage. It is the responsibility of the Business Manager or Travel Coordinator (Spectrum User) to ensure the information on the form is complete, accurate and that all prior approvals have been obtained. Once a form has been submitted, an e-mail receipt confirmation will be sent from OII to the individual who submitted the form and other relevant units; including the Provost office and Legal Affairs.
5. If the form and Assumption of Risk Waiver are COMPLETE, OII will notify Georgia State’s travel agency, Travel Inc., of approval in order for the traveler to complete their booking by phone at (770) 291-5190 or (877) 548-2996. The notification to Travel Inc. will only be submitted Monday-Friday between 8:30AM-5:15PM.

Please note that if your destination country is placed on the list after you have already purchased your ticket, this policy still applies and travelers will need to seek approval.

For information on how to notify the U.S. State Department of your travel through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), please click here.

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Travelers’ Health
• World Health Organization: International Travel and Health
• U.S. Department of State: Road Safety Overseas
• Travel Safety & Guidance
• Study Safely Abroad

Find out if water is safe to drink in the countries to which you will be traveling. Purify unsafe water before you drink it. Make sure water bottles come sealed when you buy them. Remember that ice can also be unsafe, as well as the water you use to brush your teeth.

Poor refrigeration, undercooked meat, and roadside/outdoor vendors could pose problems related to food contamination. If you get diarrhea or food poisoning, remember to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. As with any illness, consider seeing a doctor if your condition worsens. Give your body time to adjust to new types of foods you will be eating.

Get a doctor’s signed prescription for any medication you have to bring abroad. Some prescriptions may need to be translated if you wish to fill them abroad. Include your glasses or contact lens prescription. Bring an extra pair of glasses.

Keep the program staff and an emergency contact at home well informed of your whereabouts and activities and provide these people with copies of your important travel documents (i.e. passport, visa, plane tickets, traveler’s checks, and prescriptions).

Accidents involving in-country travel, whether by air, bus, train, taxi, car, etc., are a major cause of injury to students abroad. It is important to understand what the safe modes of travel are abroad.

• Bus: Since it is the cheapest way to travel (though rather tedious), travel by bus is often a very popular choice for students and travelers. However, since it is so slow, you may prefer to take the train. Often, if you can’t find service to a particular location on national or regional buslines, local service should be able to take you to your desired destination.
• Train/Metro: Travel by train is usually much faster than by bus, and can be a better option if you want to see more places in a short amount of time. You may want to avoid traveling by train alone at night, particularly in more urban areas. In major cities especially, you will find the metro system (where available) to be the most convenient form of transportation to move about the city, although beware of pickpockets.
• Air: Air travel can be a good value compared to a long bus ride. If you know of discount airfare websites, you can find tickets for less than a train ride would be. Especially if road travel is unsafe due to poor road conditions, and if train travel is too slow for your needs, then air travel can be a safe and pleasant option.
• Cars (Driving): While renting a car while studying while abroad can be a great way to see the countryside, it can also be a very stressful and dangerous way to travel. In countries where driving laws are significantly different than in the U.S., such as the UK or Hong Kong where drivers travel on the left side of the road or in other countries where you would experience a completely different driving environment, you should consider taking another form of transportation – especially if you feel hesitant at all about driving. U.S. driver’s licenses are valid in most countries for up to 12 months. Insurance is required for all vehicles, including rental vehicles. You should obtain full coverage insurance when renting vehicles in any country – to make it easier, most rental places will arrange this beforehand. If a driver is involved in a vehicle accident resulting in damages or injuries to another party, the driver may be detained by local authorities until a settlement is arranged with the injured party. Furthermore, depending upon the extent of damages or injuries to the other party, you may face charges filed by the country’s judicial authorities.