EAP PRE-DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS
SPRING 2008 DEPARTURES

Congratulations! Returned students will tell you that all of your pre-departure preparations (e.g. completing a country project, talking with returnees or native students, and getting all your paperwork organized) will really help you to get the most out of your time abroad!

Questions??? Most of your questions can be answered via the links on this web page and our Participants page at: Participants. If you still have questions after reading thoroughly, contact CIE for assistance.

Check Your UCI E-mail Account Daily for messages related to your participation on EAP. Be sure messages from CIE are not filtered into a "junk" mailbox and your account is not over quota. If you are having any problems accessing your UCI e-mail account, contact NACS for assistance at: Contact NACS.

Airline Ticket	Buddy List	Contact Info	Contacts List	Country Chats
Country Project	Disabilities	EAP Fees	EAP Packet	Financial Aid & Scholarships
Non-US Citizens	Orientations & Quiz	Passport	Photo	Withdrawal

Country Project

You are required to complete a project that will deepen your knowledge of your host country. Instructions are on the web at: Country Project.
Country Projects are due to CIE by Monday, March 3, 2008.

Orientations and EAP Orientation Quiz

MANDATORY ORIENTATIONS & QUIZ:

1) Living Abroad Orientation
- Offered multiple times – attend only once.

2) Country Orientation
- Offered only once.

3) EAP On-Line Orientation Quiz
- You must complete all three modules of the EAP On-Line Orientation Quiz by February 1st. Do not wait until the last minute to start the modules, as you will need to spend some time reading information prior to taking the quiz.

4) Financial Aid Orientation
- Offered only once for all participants who are on Financial Aid. You will be notified via e-mail when this orientation date has been scheduled (late winter quarter).

OPTIONAL ORIENTATION:

EAP Pre-Departure Orientation
- Offered only once. After taking the EAP On-Line Orientation Quiz, if you have additional questions or are uncertain how to find the information covered in the quiz, you are encouraged to attend this optional orientation.  Bring your questions!

All Orientation dates, times, and locations are listed on the RSVP web site below.

RSVP by February 1st, 2008.

EAP Packet

• Your EAP Packet -- including information about fees, visa instructions, arrival information, etc. -- will be sent to CIE from the Universitywide Office of EAP (UOEAP) in fall or winter quarter.
• We will contact you via e-mail when your packet has arrived.
• Packet instructions and many forms will be on-line on the EAP web site.
• Be sure to adhere to all deadlines in your EAP Packet. Failure to return forms by the deadline may result in your dismissal from EAP.
• Note that some Packet forms may require your signature in the presence of a Notary Public. For Notary information, see: Notary Information (PDF)

Airline Ticket

• After you have received your EAP Packet and have been notified of the official dates of your program, you can buy your airline ticket.
• When official dates have been set, they will also be posted to your country page on the EAP web site EAP Countries (after finding your country, click on "Calendar" and be sure it says 2008).
• For a very small number of programs, EAP has arranged a "group flight". If your program has a group flight, this will be noted in your packet.
• The majority of students will need to arrange their own flight. Advice on buying airline tickets can be found on the CIE web site at: Getting There.

Passport

• A valid passport is required for all participants.
• If you do not currently have a passport that is valid until at least three months after the end of your program, apply for one immediately. Routine processing can take up to 8 weeks.
• UCI Passport Office.
• The name on your passport MUST be the same name that appears on all of your EAP paperwork. It must be the same one registered with the Office of Financial Aid, Registrar, your academic unit, etc. You must not officially change your name during EAP processing.

Non-U.S. Citizens

• Non-U.S. citizens must obtain a passport from the embassy of their country of citizenship.
• The name on your passport MUST be the same name that appears on all of your EAP paperwork. It must be the same one registered with the Office of Financial Aid, Registrar, your academic unit, etc. You must not officially change your name during EAP processing.
• Non-U.S. citizens should immediately contact the consulate of your host country to inquire as to the paperwork necessary to obtain a visa. Processing can take up to 6 months.
• If you are considering applying for U.S. citizenship, or are already in the process, make an appointment with an EAP Counselor immediately.
• For more information, see: Travel Documents.

Students With Disabilities

• If you require special additional assistance to obtain equal access to the program while abroad because of a physical (e.g.: mobility, hearing, visual or chronic systemic condition), or hidden disability (e.g., ADHD, learning, psychological condition), please obtain a letter from UCI disability services describing your needs.
• In your EAP Packet you will receive further instructions about how to submit this letter to the Universitywide Office of the Education Abroad Program. 
• Read more on the EAP web site about What Students With Disabilities Should Know.

EAP Fees

• Program budgets and payment coupons and due dates will be included in your EAP Packet and will be available in winter quarter on the EAP web page via your country page (after finding your country, click on Finances): EAP Countries.
• The first fee payment of $450 is due to UOEAP on February 1st (check your payment coupons for your exact deadline date). Financial Aid recipients can defer this payment and are not required to submit it at this time. No action is required to defer payment.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• All EAP students are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid even if they have never applied before or have never been awarded. Only students who apply for financial aid will be considered for some EAP Scholarships.
• In order to receive all the financial aid for which you may be eligible, you should have already submitted your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2007-2008 academic year. If not, you may still submit your FAFSA at any time.
• You do not need to specify on your FAFSA that you will be going on EAP, as your name will be given to the Financial Aid Office by UCI EAP.
• You will be notified via e-mail in late winter quarter when your UCI financial aid has been recalculated based on your EAP program budget.
• Scholarship Listings.

Contact Information

• Notify CIE if your local or permanent address or phone number(s) change at any time, before or after departure.

Photo

• Bring CIE a passport-size picture of yourself! Write your name, EAP, and host country on the back.

Contacts List (optional)

• The Contacts List names and contact information for both students who have returned from abroad and international (EAP Reciprocity) students from abroad who are currently studying at UCI. These students are eager to share their stories or answer any questions you may have about your country and program! You are strongly encouraged to contact these students to learn more about your country/program and to prepare for your time abroad!

Buddy List (optional)

• The Buddy List contains the names and contact information for UCI students going abroad who have authorized us to release their information to other students going abroad. Contacting other EAP/IOP participants before you leave is a great way to make new friends, share information while preparing for your upcoming experience, and to connect with other UCI students who will be near you while abroad.

CIE Country Chat (optional)

• Attend one of our Country Chats to informally talk with international and returned students about their experience abroad. Frequently check our schedule to see when chats are scheduled for your country of interest. New Country Chats are added every week, so check back often!

Withdrawing from EAP

• If you decide that you cannot participate on EAP, you must schedule an appointment with your UCI EAP Advisor ASAP.
• Your official withdrawal must be in writing.
• Please note the deadline date to withdraw without financial penalty for your program. Withdrawal deadlines are listed on the signature page of your EAP application.