Cougar Travel Registry
Introducing the Cougar Travel Registry
Washington State University supports international opportunities as an important component of an undergraduate or graduate student’s educational program, whether done ‘for credit’ or ‘not for credit’.Beginning in fall 2011, WSU will require WSU students participating in a university sponsored, affiliated or promoted not-for-credit activity abroad to register with International Programs prior to going abroad. Such experiences would include:
- Conducting your academic research in a foreign country,
- Enhancing foreign language skills in a non-academic program associated with WSU,
- Working or interning abroad at a placement secured through WSU;
- Participating in an international service-learning project that is not-for-credit and associated with WSU.
- Attending an international conference
- Traveling with any registered student organizations (RSOs)
- Traveling with faculty advisor or other WSU faculty or staff for a university-related activity
- Traveling as a part of a WSU Athletic Team, WSU Sport Club Team, or other WSU affiliated sport
Instructions For Registering Your Not-for-Credit International Experiences:
Note: If you are going abroad for academic credit, please find your program and apply through the Education Abroad Office.
Before you begin your application, note that you will need the following items:
- Passport
- Itinerary including: In-country accommodations, personal in-country contact info, exact dates of experience
- Contact information of the company or person you are dealing with abroad
- 2 passport-sized photos so that we may issue you an ISIC card
Please complete this registration as soon as plans are finalized for your not-for-credit international experience or at least one week before the start of your experience. However, if it is less than one week before you leave please continue registering, but note that our processing time for the ISIC card is one week from when we receive pictures, and delivering pictures with less than a week may result in only an ISIC card number and not the physical card.
Please click the “Apply Now” button and follow the steps below to register your not-for-credit international experience. You will log into the application using your WSU network ID and password. You will be able to come back to your application after you start it.
Step 1: Locations and Dates
When you begin your application you will be asked to select the location and dates that you will be abroad. If you will be traveling to multiple destinations during your time abroad, please select all the locations you will be in, and for the dates please select the entire length of time that you will be abroad. You will be asked to provide a more detailed itinerary later. If your destination(s) does not appear in the list, please email travel.registry@wsu.edu with the city and country so the location can be added and attached to your registration form.
Step 2: Provide a Detailed Itinerary
It is very important that you provide WSU with your itinerary. WSU will use this information to register you with the U.S. State Department and to locate you and provide assistance in the event of a medical emergency, or the rare event of a natural disaster or political unrest.
Please complete the appropriate number of destination itineraries that correspond to the amount of destinations you will be going to while abroad. It is very important that you provide us with the location, dates, accommodations, and information for contact in each location.
Step 3: Complete the items found in the online registration checklist.
Registration items include online signature documents and questionnaires for you to complete. You will also be asked to upload a copy of your passport. If you need assistance completing any of the items please contact International Programs for assistance at travel.registy@wsu.edu or 509-335-4380.
Step 4: Check your WSU account and submit payment as specified.
The registration fee of $75 will be charged to your WSU account when your registration form has been received.
Step 5: Read the pre-departure online handbook.
The online pre-departure handbook provides valuable resources and advice to help you prepare for your international experience. Please feel free to contact International Programs at travel.registry@wsu.edu or 509-335-4380 if you have any questions about the content.
Cougar Travel Registry FAQs
- I’m traveling abroad, do I need to register?
- Why do I need to register?
- I’m going abroad to do research as a graduate student for my thesis/dissertation and I’m enrolled in general research credits through my department; do I register with the Cougar Travel Registry?
- What is an ISIC card?
- What is STEP?
- I tried registering, but the place I am going was not one of the options. What do I do?
- Will your office get me my visa?
- I am traveling abroad with a Registered Student Organization, do I need to register?
- Why do I need to pay a fee when I am not receiving academic credit?
- I’m going to more destinations than I am given options to fill out itineraries for, what do I do?
- I’ve decided I want to get academic credit for what I’m doing, can I do that?
- Where can I get passport-sized photos?
Q. I’m traveling abroad, do I need to register?
A. If you are traveling internationally with a University-affiliated group or on University-related business that you will not be receiving academic credit for then yes you will be required to register. If you are receiving academic credit for your experience abroad then no you do not register; instead, you must apply to study abroad through the Education Abroad Office.
Q. Why do I need to register?
A. All graduates and undergraduates are now required to register their travel on the Cougar Travel Registry. Our primary goal is to keep you safe when you travel and give you resources to assist you. While you are gone we monitor what is going on in the world, and if you are in a place where an emergency situation arises we attempt to contact you and assist you accordingly.
Q. I’m going abroad to do research as a graduate student for my thesis/dissertation and I’m enrolled in general research credits through my department; do I register with the Cougar Travel Registry?
A. No, if you’re going abroad while registered for those credits and working towards your thesis or dissertation then you need to apply through the Education Abroad Office.
Q. What is an ISIC card?
A. An ISIC card is your International Student Identity Card. This card provides travel and health insurance, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Students can also receive certain discounts with their ISIC card. If you already have a valid card we will not need to make you another one, but we will need to be notified and given a photocopy of the card.
Q. What is STEP?
A. STEP is the US Department of State’s Safe Traveler Enrollment Program. Our office registers your trip with STEP so that you can receive notifications of travel alerts and so that the Department of State is aware that you are abroad in the event of an emergency. Enrollment in STEP is an additional reason why it is crucial to have accurate itinerary information.
Q. I tried registering, but the place I am going was not one of the options. What do I do?
A. Contact our office at travel.registry@wsu.edu with the city and country and we will add the location for you.
Q. Will your office get me my visa?
A. No, you are responsible for obtaining your own visa if it is applicable. Visit the US Department of State website for country information including entry/exit requirements and links to the country’s embassies.
Q. I am traveling abroad with a Registered Student Organization, do I need to register?
A. Yes, RSOs are university-affiliated and all international travel affiliated with an RSO must be registered. Every student travelling must register independently, and any faculty or staff going must register as well.
Q. Why do I need to pay a fee when I am not receiving academic credit?
A. The registration fee covers certain services that we provide to undergraduate and graduate students. This includes things like enrollment in STEP, an ISIC card, risk management and assisting students with pre-departure preparations.
Q. I’m going to more destinations than I am given options to fill out itineraries for, what do I do?
A. Contact the Cougar Travel Registry Coordinator at travel.registry@wsu.edu and we will help take care of it for you.
Q. I’ve decided I want to get academic credit for what I’m doing, can I do that?
A. More than likely, yes! If you are doing an internship or research abroad it is often possible for you to get credit for it. If you are interested in receiving credit please contact the Education Abroad Office at edabroad@wsu.edu or 509-335-6204. They can set you up with an advisor to talk about how to receive credit for your research or internship.
Q. Where can I get passport-sized photos?
A. Several places offer passport sized photos including Fedex-Kinko's, Rite Aid and WSU's BCU imaging service unit. BCU is located on campus in Bustad 123, and they offer 6 photos for $9.95.