Congratulations and Welcome to EAP!
Here's how you should proceed:
1. The following item requires your attention immediately. Read the tab now and mark your calendar to be sure to complete it on time:
- Country Project
- Orientations and Quiz
2. Read all emails you receive from CIE, UOEAP, and your EAP Study Center or host university as soon as you receive them and take action to meet every deadline. Check your UCI email account daily.
3. You may want to review the remaining tabs above and the links under "All Participants" to the left now, or wait until you are prompted via email to take action.
Questions??? If you still have questions after reading the tabs above and links to the left, contact CIE for assistance.
Airline Ticket
- After you have received your UOEAP Participation instructions 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 on the Calendar tab on your program’s page on the EAP Participants (be sure you are looking at the right year).
- 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 UOEAP Participation Forms and Instructions (PFI).
- 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.
Country Project
You are required to complete a project that will deepen your knowledge of your host country. Complete ONE of the two options below.
DUE DATE: Monday of 4th week of the quarter prior to your departure.
1. Do a Report about your host country.
2. Take a Class about your host country.
Disability Services
If you require special 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 (e.g., ADHD, learning, psychological condition) disability, you will need to obtain a letter from the UCI Disability Services Center describing your needs. Further instructions are located in your UOEAP Participation Instructions.
Read more on the EAP web site about What Students With Disabilities Should Know.
EAP Fees
Program budgets, payment instructions, and payment due dates will be posted on the Participants section of the EAP web site. You will receive an e-mail when your program information is available. Choose your country, program, and year abroad and then click on the “Finances” tab.
- Fees and payment deadlines are found in “Student Budget Worksheet and Payment Coupons.” Choose your program. Make your payments on time! Late fees will apply to late payments.
Note: Financial aid recipients are not required to make the first payment. No action is required to defer this payment.
- There are two forms, "Release of Financial Information to a Third Party Authorization/Restriction" and "Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Authorization", at the bottom of the page on the Finances tab on the EAP web site which may require your action. Review them and take action as needed.
Health Clearance
ALL students are required to obtain a Health Clearance in order to study abroad on EAP. You will receive an e-mail when it is time to pick up the hard copy Health Clearance Instructions and Forms from CIE. It is your responsibility to complete this process by the deadline specified on your UOEAP Participation Forms and Instructions (PFI).
Since the health clearance can be a lengthy process, do NOT wait until the last minute to schedule your physician appointment(s) and do NOT wait until your clearance is complete to return any other forms to UOEAP. Read more about the Health Clearance in the General Information Guide on the Participants section of the EAP web site.
Health Insurance While on EAP
- Health insurance information is provided on the EAP web site under Participants (choose your country, program, and year abroad and then click on the “Insurance” tab).
- The Insurance Instructions are at the top of the Insurance tab in the yellow box. Read these first.
Health Insurance Before and After Returning from EAP
- If you typically waive out of USHIP insurance, do NOT apply for a USHIP waiver for the term(s) you are on EAP. Since you do not have USHIP while you are on EAP, there is no need to waive out of it for those term(s). If you are leaving on EAP mid-year and applied for a USHIP waiver at the beginning of the year, please tell the USHIP office which term(s) you will be abroad on EAP. You will need to reapply for your USHIP waiver for the term you will return to UCI.
- If you rely on USHIP as your only health insurance, read the below carefully (or give this to your parents).
USHIP Insurance: The dates of coverage for the 2009-10 academic year are posted on the USHIP web site and are as follows:
| Term |
Effective Date |
Termination Date |
| Fall |
9/21/09 |
1/4/10 |
| Winter |
1/4/10 |
3/24/10 |
| Spring/Summer |
3/24/10 |
9/20/10 (first day of fall quarter 2010-11) |
- Example of a gap in insurance coverage before EAP: The EAP GAP Insurance only covers you AFTER returning from EAP - it does not cover you before the start of EAP. Therefore, you may have a gap in insurance coverage before your program begins. Example: You are enrolled at UCI in Fall and depart on EAP on February 1st. You WILL have a gap in insurance coverage from January 5 until January 17 (14 days before the start date of the EAP program). Since students in this situation cannot purchase the EAP GAP Insurance, if you do not have private insurance, we STRONGLY encourage you to purchase some kind of short-term insurance to cover you during this gap.
- Example of a gap in insurance coverage after EAP: You are abroad on EAP for the academic year and have the EAP Insurance instead of USHIP. If you return to the US on July 1st, you will NOT be covered by the EAP Insurance, and NOT be covered by USHIP until the first day of fall quarter, on September 20. This is a gap in insurance coverage. If you do not have private health insurance to cover this gap, you are advised to purchase the EAP GAP Insurance.
- NOTE to SUMMER-ONLY EAP Participants: All registered undergraduate students who paid full-time student fees, attended UCI, and had USHIP in spring quarter do NOT have a GAP in coverage in the summer. As noted above, the spring USHIP insurance does not terminate until the first day of fall quarter. Even though you will have the EAP insurance while on EAP, USHIP will cover you when you return to the US during the summer until the first day of fall.
Make sure you are not left without health insurance at any time!!
Orientations and Quiz
Programs beginning in Summer or Fall.
Programs beginning in Winter quarter.
Programs beginning in Spring quarter.
Passport
All Students:
- A valid passport is required for all participants. If you do not currently have a passport that is valid until at least six months after the end of your program, apply for one immediately.
- 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. Do not officially change your name during EAP processing.
U.S. Citizens:
- Routine processing for a U.S. passport can take up to 8 weeks. You may visit the UCI Passport Office web site for more information on obtaining a passport.
Non-U.S. Citizens:
- Non-U.S. citizens must obtain a passport from the embassy of your country of citizenship.
- If you are unable to obtain a passport from your home country, make an appointment with your EAP Advisor immediately.
- If you are considering applying for U.S. citizenship, or are already in the process, make an appointment with your EAP Advisor immediately.
UOEAP Participation Forms & Instructions (PFI)
- The Participation Forms & Instructions (PFI), provided by the Universitywide Office of the Education Abroad Program (UOEAP), includes IMPORTANT information such as visa instructions, arrival information, and more. Note deadlines AND turn documents in on time! Failure to return forms by the deadlines specified may result in your dismissal from EAP.
- You will receive an e-mail from UOEAP one or two quarters prior to departure with a link to your PFI. When available, the link can also be found on the Participants section of the EAP web site. Choose your country, program, year abroad and then click on the “Before You Go” tab to find your PFI. If there are multiple PFIs listed, be sure to click on the PFI for your program.
- The Health Clearance forms described in the PFI are available for pick up at CIE.
- Note that some PFI forms may require your signature in the presence of a Notary Public. For Notary information, see: Notary Information (PDF).
- If your PFI indicates that you need to turn in passport photos for your student visa or other, you can obtain them at the UCI Passport Office or the Photo Boutique across the street from UCI in the University Center.
Student Visa
U.S. Citizens:
- Information on how to obtain a Student Visa for U.S. citizens is included in the UOEAP Participation Instructions.
Non-U.S. Citizens:
- Non-U.S. citizens should contact the consulate of your host country immediately to inquire as to the paperwork necessary to obtain a visa. Processing can take up to 6 months.
Withdrawing from EAP
- If you decide that you cannot participate on EAP, you must contact your UCI EAP Advisor as soon as possible. Your official withdrawal must be in writing.
- Note that you will be charged $300 by EAP if you withdraw at anytime after your withdrawal deadline. Additional withdrawal fees may apply, some of which may be before your EAP withdrawal deadline. Refer to your UOEAP Participation Forms and Instructions (PFI) for additional information.
Update Your Contact Information
If your local or permanent address or phone number(s) change at any time before or after departure, you MUST update your contact information with:
