Preparing for your trip abroad: the "to-do list" before departure
Bank procedures, medical precautions, what about administrative status during your absence… Languages and Travel details how to prepare your language stay abroad through a “to do list” so you don’t forget anything before departure!
Steps taken with the bank
If you are traveling outside the Eurozone, such as on a Working Holiday Visa, certain steps with your bank are essential. First, we always advise you to carry some local currency to cover any unforeseen expenses, such as taking a taxi or buying food and drinks. But most importantly, you must activate your bank card (this also applies to trips within Europe). If your card does not allow you to withdraw cash abroad, you will need to apply for a Visa card.
What documents are required?
Some people still confuse passports and visas. A visa is simply the written document that guarantees your right to enter a country; it is affixed to your passport. Customs officials will issue your visa when you cross the border. Therefore, no passport means no visa. Some countries require passports to be valid for one to six months after your return date. Be sure to check the requirements for your destination to ensure you meet them. Furthermore, US authorities require you to register beforehand on the State Department website to obtain your ESTA travel authorization for $14. Canada recently introduced a similar document for Belgian residents. You will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to visit or transit through Canada. The eTA application can be completed online in a few minutes for $7.
What about my administrative status during my absence?
You have just finished your secondary school diploma or higher education, or you have stopped your studies and are registered for a long-term stay under a working holiday visa, for example, or for a paid job in England. Do you need to register with an organization like FOREM or ONEM before your departure?
If you plan to resume your studies upon returning to Belgium, the answer is no. It wouldn't make sense to register as a job seeker at this stage. If not, then it's advisable to register as a job seeker now with Actiris if you live in the Brussels-Capital Region, with FOREM for the Walloon Region, with VDAB in Flanders, and with ADG in the German-speaking Region. Why? Because these organizations can recognize your language stay abroad as part of the professional integration internship (formerly known as the "waiting period"). In other words, the time spent abroad can count towards the 12-month internship, and you'll be able to receive unemployment benefits more quickly if you don't find a job at the end of the 12 months.
The C94C form must be completed and submitted to the ONEM / RVA / Arbeitsamt
Once registered with FOREM/VDAB/Actiris or ADG, download form C94C online in your region's language (type C94C into your search engine) or obtain it from your nearest National Employment Office. The C94C consists of two parts: Part I, which you fill out yourself, and Part II, which is completed by the language immersion organization. We will send you the completed Part II upon request; you will then submit both parts of the C94C to your nearest ONEM/RVA/Arbeitsamt office.
What status should I have during a language stay abroad?
If you go abroad, you are no longer a student in Belgium nor a job seeker , at most you are in training during your professional integration internship.
What about family allowances?
If you go abroad on a language course and are not enrolled in any classes or training, your parents will generally lose their family allowance benefits (this is often offset if you are going on a paid work placement or working holiday visa). If you are enrolled in classes, your parents will need to request a document in your name from their Family Allowance Fund called a "Certificate of the Teaching Institute" or E402, in the language of the country where you are attending classes or training. In English, this would be "Certificate of the Teaching Institute," "Bewijs van voortgezette studie," etc.
Family allowances will be paid to them as long as you are attending courses/training. Any month of training started is due in full. Some parents have told us they continued to receive allowances for the entire duration of the language stay, even after the courses ended, but we have no way of verifying this.
Go to the doctor(s)
Remember that the healthcare system is very different in the vast majority of countries compared to Belgium, and that medication can be expensive, sometimes very expensive, outside our borders. Therefore, be sure to consult various specialists before your departure (dentist, gynecologist, doctor, etc.) and bring basic medications with you to deal with any potential health issues. The same applies to those who wear glasses or contact lenses; they should plan accordingly, depending on the length of their stay, working holiday visa, or internship. Finally, depending on your destination, certain vaccinations may be required.
Practical items that will make your life easier
A map of the city or region you're visiting will be invaluable and help you quickly find your way around. As for your first-aid kit: don't forget to pack bandages, disinfectant, pain relievers, fever reducers, anti-diarrheal medication, and allergy medication. Few countries restrict the amount of medication you can bring into their territory, so don't be afraid to pack plenty. Also, remember to bring a power adapter, a padlock, and photocopies of your ID, bank statements, and insurance documents, as these may be requested at any time.
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