International Travel

Trip Planning

The College’s foreign liability insurance provider, Chartis, provides all College students, faculty, and staff with a portal with information on travel, safety, and trip planning. Visit the CIP Emergency Evacuation page for more information. Students, faculty, and staff will need the College’s access numbers to access the Travel Guard portal:

  • GROUP NAME: Kalamazoo College
  • A&H POLICY/PLAN TYPE: 9135570
  • WORLDSOURCE POLICY/PLAN TYPE: 10009453

Travel Visas

In some cases, it may be more cost effective, and efficient, for travelers to use a professional service for acquiring travel visas. If a foreign consulate permits applications for visas via the web or by mail, employees should not need to use a professional service to acquire their visas. If the employee is required to drop off and/or pick up a visa in person, or the employee needs extra assistance in navigating the consulate’s process, a professional service could be used. 

Banking and Foreign Currency Exchange

For small amounts of foreign currency (up to $400), employees should deposit their travel advances into their checking accounts, and then withdraw the money from a foreign ATM.

Employees are advised to inform their bank and credit card companies of their travel plans, including PNC, if the employee will be traveling with a College credit card. In some cases, when banks and credit card companies notice unusual foreign charges and/or withdrawals, they will place holds on bank and credit card accounts. 

The Travel Expense Report includes a field for exchange rate, which should be provided by the traveler. The employee may use either the rate of exchange for foreign currency exchanged during his/her trip or an online currency converter. If a copy of the traveler’s personal credit card statement is included with receipts, reimbursement will be for the amount shown for the item on the credit card statement.

Car Rental Insurance

Car rental insurance while traveling outside of the U.S. on College business is recommended and reimbursable by the College.