Frequently Asked Questions

Policy

Student international travel has two policies, the Travel and Activity Planning Policy and the Undergraduate International Travel Policy. Students should reference these policies, including the Pre-Departure Requirements, and use this website to navigate travel planning. 

Officers of instruction, officers of research, officers of the libraries, and postdoctoral fellows/scholars traveling with students are required to register international Columbia Travel. They must ensure that they comply with the International Travel Planning Policy and ensure that all student travelers have complied with all Pre-Departure Travel Requirements.

All CU-related international travel must be registered in Crisis24 Horizon.

If you are running a global program or course that is open to undergraduate students, please see the Travel Program section of the Undergraduate International Travel Policy and reach out to [email protected].

If you are traveling to your home country for Columbia related business (research, conferences, meetings, etc.), then yes, the Travel and Activity Planning Policy (TAPP) and/or Undergraduate International Travel Policy applies to you. 

If you are traveling to your home country, strictly for personal/leisure travel, these policies do not apply. 

International travel is any location outside of the 50 United States. 

Trip Registration

Yes, you are required to register your international Columbia-related travel. Registering in Crisis24 Horizon helps our office contact you in the event of an emergency, such as political uprisings and natural disasters.  

If you are traveling with students, see 'Policy' above. 

No, the University does not govern personal travel. 

If you are traveling to your home country for research, meetings, or anything related to your work or academics at Columbia University, you must comply with the  Travel and Activity Planning Policy (TAPP) or the Undergraduate International Travel Policy. 

Please visit the page, Crisis24 Horizon, for trip registration. 

Visa & Travel Documents

The 'certificate of coverage' letter is sometimes required for visa applications and refers to the university's coverage for medical evacuation, repatriation, and repatriation of mortal remains to home country or home campus from any other overseas country for a certain amount for Columbia University travelers going abroad on behalf of the University.

To submit a request for a letter: https://grso.columbia.edu/form/letter-of-coverage 

Please note these letters can only be issued for Columbia-related international travel. 

Columbia University does not have an outbound immigration unit, but please see the following links for information. 

You will need to contact the Columbia International Students and Scholars Office. You can also contact their office regarding your inbound visa status. 

A travel signature is relevant only to F-1 students or J-1 students (and their dependents) who are planning to travel abroad and return to the U.S. in F or J status. You must have an unexpired travel signature on the date you re-enter the U.S.

Travel Signatures and Passport Renewal (F and J Students)

Finance & Global Support

Our office does not administer the Corporate Card program. Please contact Columbia Finance. 

Please visit the Travel and Business Expense (TBER) Information page. 

Questions about hiring people, making payments, conference planning, equipment, etc. while abroad are best handled by Global Support. Please send questions to [email protected]