travel money comes back time doesn't

Money Comes Back, Memories Don’t: Why You Should Travel After Uni

14 Sep 2022

So, you’re just going into your final year at university, perhaps you’re wondering whether you should get a graduate job or go travelling? Well, we’re here to tell you why you should travel after uni.

You have plenty of time to make your mind up but, here us out, a post-uni gap year is an amazing idea! You’ll be going out into the big wide world and probably for the first time, you’ll be free from the education system.

If you’re on the fence about whether to go and see the world after you complete your studies, carry on reading to discover our 8 reasons why you should.

1. You Deserve The Trip Of A Lifetime

After studying for three years at university, or perhaps longer depending on your course, you really deserve to take a break and do what you want to do.

Travelling is essentially a long holiday, sure it’s more stressful as it involves more planning going from place to place, but you’re still experiencing different cultures and all the fun stuff that comes with seeing the world and being so far from home.

Not to mention, there’s been a global pandemic for the past few years which made things so much harder whilst at uni, than normal circumstances.

You might feel like a large part of your life came to a halt, and it did. We’re big believers that money returns, but your time doesn’t.

So, why not go on a trip of a lifetime? Whether it’s going backpacking or interrailing, there’s loads of budget travelling options you can make use of if you want to go travelling as a young person.

Let’s be real, uni was expensive, and you probably don’t plan on having loads of money to splash around.

You worked hard, go and live your best life!

2. Seize The Opportunity Whilst You’re Young

Not to scare you, but you’ll never be this young and free again.

Whilst you’re a uni grad in your early twenties, you’ve got little responsibilities and commitments, you’ve probably got no children, you’re probably not married, and you probably don’t have a house.

The timing has never been better, we’re not saying you can’t go travelling when you’re older, but there’s more factors that come in to play the older you get.

Your health tends to be a lot better the younger you are too.

Make the most of your young age, for some places, if you want to work whilst travelling, you must be under a certain age for a workplace visa too.

If we can’t convince you to travel after uni, take a look at this TikTok “I’ll get my money back, but I’ll never be in my 20s living my best life travelling Thailand again”.

3. There’s Plenty Of Time To Find Your Passions

As a recent graduate travelling the globe, you’ll have so much time to reflect on your life and your passions.

You can think about what you want out of life and what career route you want to take whilst you explore.

You might find that this time spent seeing the world has changed your aspirations or you may even find new career paths whilst you’re aboard!

You’ll meet so many new people and be exposed to new things, which will open your perspective on so many things, no matter where you go.

There are so many people you haven’t met, so many cultures you haven’t learnt about, so many places you haven’t experienced and so many foods you haven’t tasted yet.

So, of course this experience is going to broaden your horizons and change your view on certain things.

You might come to realise that maybe you don’t want to work in a specific field when you return from travelling and instead, you want to work in this sector or work in this location.

You’ll have so much more time to think about what it is YOU want when you travel after uni!

4. Travelling May Improve Your Wellbeing

If you struggled quite a bit whilst at university, whether it’s dealing with feelings of stress completing exams or assignments, or feeling lonely, or even just feeling like you want to be doing something more, then travelling can improve your mental health.

Travelling has been linked to stress reduction and improving your general outlook on life.

Of course, there are some anxieties that come along with it, but for the most part, you’ll feel happier taking this leap and experiencing something completely different than you ever have.

It’s not just your mental wellbeing that can be improved when you travel after uni, your physical wellbeing can take a boost too because you’ll be more active whilst travelling to new places.

5. You’ll Meet New People

As we’ve mentioned, you’ll meet so many new people from across the world whilst on this travel journey.

You may meet like-minded people who become friends for life and make memories that you’ll look back on for years to come.

Similarly, to meeting friends at university, there’s people who may be in your life that you haven’t even encountered yet!

We stand by the saying that money comes back but memories don’t. You’ll definitely bump into some other graduates whilst travelling too.

With the help of technology and social media these days, there’s many ways you can plan to meet people before you go!

If you do end up meeting new people from different countries, you never know, you might just be able to stay with them next time you go travelling.

You may even make some new connections to build up your network whilst travelling which can help boost your career prospects when you return home!

6. You Can Earn Money Whilst You Travel

Whilst you’re a graduate, you can be selfish with your money because you’ll probably be moving back home with family once you finish your undergraduate course.

So, you’ll be able to save some money by working before you travel, and you won’t have to worry about forking out on rent or living costs like you did at uni.

You can also earn money whilst you travel abroad, and your CV will look great already if you’ve just completed a university degree.

Working abroad whether it’s working within hospitality, working as an au-pair, teaching English or another foreign language, or even working as a freelancer is a great way to save money and experience local culture.

There really are so many jobs available to you so you can travel to new places and gain money whilst on the road too. Travelling doesn’t mean it’s a complete ‘gap’ from the working world!

7. You’ll Gain New Skills

Travelling, especially solo-travelling, can help push you out your comfort zone and gain tons of new skills from self-confidence to time management to communication skills to budget management to cultural awareness and so forth.

The things you learn and the situations you’re faced with daily whilst abroad can help improve your CV and career prospects for when you return home.

You may encounter some problems along the way (don’t worry too much) which you have to respond to practically, which will help you learn some valuable lessons for the future.

We’re not saying going travelling is going to secure you a job as you still have to sell yourself, but mentioning your skills and experiences can help you stand out to employers.

Travelling can also help you to learn new languages, which can be a great skill to have not only in the workplace but in the real world too.

As we mentioned earlier, travelling also helps expand your contacts which can introduce you to different jobs and opportunities.

8. You Won’t Regret It

Once you’ve finished travelling, you’ll probably feel accomplished and super happy you went on this journey of self-discovery and saw things you never would have.

We have to tell you, there’s a far greater chance you will regret not going travelling after uni than going – it’s the right decision!

There will still be plenty of jobs and opportunities available when you get back from your time abroad, so don’t rush into a graduate position if your heart is set on discovering the world.

You’ll be working for a long time to come, so go and travel around the world first!

Although, we recommend spending some time thoroughly thinking through your options and what you want when the time comes, you do have quite a while until you graduate but things might not come clear until you finish university.

One of our top tips is to weigh up the pros and cons of travelling after uni or staying and working, or even completing a master’s degree.

There are tons of post-uni choices, just find the right one for you, there isn’t a set order you have to do things in!

Remember, you shouldn’t let anyone else’s input stop you from doing what you want to do, don’t let anyone hold you back.

You don’t have to go travelling for a whole year either, you could even go for two months or a similar time frame and decide if it’s for you!

So, that’s it, the end of our post on why you should travel after uni. Have we convinced you? We hope we have.

We wish you all the best with the next academic year, it’s came around so fast!

To help you out, take a read of our blog on the best project management tools to help you keep on track of your studies.

We’re sure you’ll love what we have on offer at our Essential Student Living properties , why not see them for yourself?

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localites > stories > travel; because money returns, time does not

Travel; because money returns, time does not

A ll humans have an innate desire to explore and feed our curiosities about the nature of the world. While our ancestors, who were hunters and gatherers, travelled freely, with only the capacity of their physical strength, the humans of today are limited by money.

We might have the effective technology and transport mediums to take us to the other corner of the world, but we all are held back by our pockets and the need to continuously fill them. What we often don’t understand is that the human in its true form, is neither bound by strength nor by money but only by time.

Time is the only resource which is truly scarce and limited to any life. Indeed the resource most precious and yet the one that is most taken for granted is time. Any life that takes a form, is meant to go extinguish and disappear. Within this frame between birth and death, is what we call life, and that is all the time we have to make it count.

Today humans have somehow managed to kill this urge of ‘making life count’. We use phrases like you only live once to do the most mediocre things in life and constantly get caught up in the everyday hustle of earning money.

Don’t get us wrong. We love money and everything it is capable of bringing to our lives. But Nusseir Yasin aka NasDaily, one of the most popular travel bloggers, the famous man behind the 1000 days of 1 minute videos and now the author of the book “Around the World in 60 seconds” , recently said that “ A twice an increase in income comes with only 15% increase in happiness” Alyne Tamir, another popular travel blogger who travelled 60 countries even before she graduated has also spoken about how she would prioritize travelling over everything else in her life, and through working hard and saving consistently, she has now travelled to 70 countries and is popular around the world. Both these bloggers are extremely honest about how much they love earning money, always wanted to become rich because of the adversities of their childhood, but also wanted to make the best of their lives while doing so.

Exploration is the purpose of human life, the moment a soul does not get the stimulation it deserves from nature, meeting new people, and knowing more about the human world, it certainly dies a little every day. If we don’t start travelling in our young adulthood, we probably won’t be able to do so even when we are old and rich. Because money is not limited and it will return to your life eventually, but time once lost, is always lost.

We often make a clear idea about how we want our life to be, the jobs we would do, the house we would live in and then if there is time left, may be travel around a bit, without realizing that as we neatly jot down this plan, there is no way we know if we really have so much time in hand. Death is certain; it is life that is arbitrary.

All we are trying to say is, that from all the love and care in our hearts, we would really like you to slow down and find time for that city or country you always wanted to visit. That time when you were watching a movie or a post on social media or a documentary, and you wished that one day even you could go to the place shown. The little promise we made ourselves to take time out and go around the world. All those moments of wishes and promises, are as precious as the moments you have now and once passed they will return. So plan your next travel adventure and live your life before it passes away in front of your eyes.

While you are at it, the localites team is always here to ensure that you travel the real world and your travel adventures all are worth the effort, by bringing to you locals from your destination city and a global community of travelers.

Join the global community of localites and travel and meet people from the real world. Download the community app from Google Play or App Store and start your journey today!

Thanks for reading.

Have a good day! localites - travel the real world

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The top 5 reasons to throw away money and buy time, traveling will help you gain independence and help you utilize a fresh new perspective..

1. Money returns...time doesn't

http://planenews.com/lets-make-travel-fun/

If you are thinking about taking a trip to find some warm weather or to have a week's getaway with your girls, do it. You deserve to take a trip and spend your hard earned money on yourself. Otherwise, your paycheck will just go to bills, gas, or college books. There is no shame in being young and creating memories one day that you can look back on and think, "wow I remember when I had five mojito's and went cliff diving". If all you do is work, paychecks return. You'll probably get your next one in two weeks. Time however, does not. Each year you get older and start to regret all of the things you missed out on or didn't do, do not live with regret. Travel and and be free.

2. Opening your eyes

http://xueyang.info/traveling-can-be-fun-with-these-simple-tips/

Feeling challenged by society or do not understand how good you may have it? Traveling opens your eyes to adventure and adversity. If you cannot figure out how to be an overall well-rounded person, maybe a trip to Greece may help. Seeing how other cultures live can be surprising and seeing poverty can make you appreciate all of the little things you do have. Be in a relationship with yourself and start to appreciate different cultures, languages, and food. Traveling will help you gain independence and help you utilize a fresh new perspective.

3. Challenge yourself

http://www.catholiccharitiesdcblog.org/travel-companions-help-you-have-way-more-fun/

The same routine puts you in a boring stabilized habit of waking up at 6 a.m. every morning, pouring your cup of coffee, and putting your hair in a messy bun so you do not miss class or work. Attending college is a huge benefit, but tuition is overpriced and the money you spent alone on books for one semester can probably be equivalent to plane ride out of here. Typical college classes are not always challenging and beneficial, but going to a different country and taking the opportunity to learn through your eyes verses through a text book can be life-changing. Instead of pouring your basic cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee with almond milk upon getting out of bed, France has lattes with foam that will make you melt with joy.

4. A sense of fulfillment 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/things-that-happen-when-you-travel-with-your-best-friend_n_9494084?ec_carp=912564494145887323

Lacking something in your life but can't figure out what? Maybe that job you have had for three plus years is weighing you down because you secretly fear change and idolize yourself around comfort. A sense of accomplishment may be the most fulfilling reason to travel. Sure you can "find yourself" but giving yourself that satisfaction and clearing out your worries will really help you think more clearly. When you think more clearly, you can make decisions easier and feel proud of yourself that the goals in your life are being attained. The world has so much to offer and so do you.

5. You never know who you will meet 

http://www.worldofwanderlust.com/10-things-you-should-stop-doing-this-year/

Take that Netflix movie "Ibiza Drunk In love." Piper traveled for her job and ended up chasing a DJ that she fell in love with. I'll save the sappy s**t, but traveling also gives you cool stories. Who knows, you can be at a job interview and be asked: "what is something I should know about that is not on your resume?" Instead of a basic answer, share the story about how you learned to value culture or how you went cliff diving and realized the true meaning of life. Traveling will present a whole new set of skills and meeting locals will forever change your life.

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble .

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

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Can't make a trip? 4 tips to get some of your money back.

Sometimes life gets in the way of your travel plans

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We may be out of the days of peak COVID cancellations, but life can still disrupt even the best laid plans. If you find yourself in a situation where you can no longer go on a trip you booked, it's not just the memories you will be missing out on — any money you already paid is also on the line.

Maybe you were proactive enough to purchase travel insurance , in which case you are probably not sweating it. But if that's not the situation you are in, here are some tips for hopefully recouping some of the money you stand to lose. After all, missing a trip already stings enough. 

1. See what travel protection your credit card offers.

There is a chance you have travel insurance and didn't even know it. Some credit cards "offer varying levels of trip cancellation insurance that's designed to protect you for some unforeseen circumstances," such as "sickness, accident, or injury that affects either you or an immediate family member or traveling companion," or "severe weather that affects the start or continuation of your trip," said NerdWallet .

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Note that for this coverage to apply, "the travel must have been booked on the credit card that offers travel protection," said NerdWallet — "simply holding the card but paying with a different one won't help."

Double-check your card's benefits and if it offers travel insurance, find out what is covered. From there, make sure to move forward with filing a claim within the specified timeframe.

2. Familiarize yourself with cancellation policies.

Before you panic, take a deep breath and read the fine print. You can often go to the website of the company you are hoping to recoup money from and check out their policies. In some cases, "the airline, hotel, or vendor may already have a structure in place for people experiencing problems," said Kiplinger .

It is also helpful to enter the process of getting refunds with a firm knowledge of what you are owed. For example, "according to the Department of Transportation, passengers are due a refund if their flight is canceled " — not just that measly voucher an airline may initially try to offer you. On the other hand, if you booked a nonrefundable fare, "you'll find that some airlines charge a fee to cancel, and they might base the fee on how far in advance you cancel," said The Points Guy , which might be helpful to know in advance if you are trying to keep your cool.

3. Be ready and willing to negotiate.

While some cancellation policies do not allow for much wiggle room, in other cases, you may be surprised what you can get if you remain patient and persistent.

For instance, when it comes to getting money back on a hotel reservation, "you get what you negotiate," said Forbes . "Hotels and resorts aren't as strict about refunds because generally, it's a far more competitive industry than airlines," so you may be able to "call the property and possibly negotiate a refund or an extension" of credit.

Similarly, if you worked through a travel agent, they may be able to help you out, as "a qualified travel advisor knows the ins and outs of the refund rules, not to mention some inside contacts," said Forbes. 

And it never hurts to reach out with a polite message just to see what happens — "if you're an older traveler or have health problems, you might be able to talk yourself into a refund," said Forbes.

4. Involve your credit card company if necessary.

If a company is not cooperating or you are dealing with a cost that's non-refundable, you can try filing a credit card dispute. This offers "a way to recoup costs when a merchant doesn't deliver the product promised at the point of purchase," said Nerdwallet, though it "should be your last resort after exhausting all other possibilities."

Also note that if you are going this route, you will need to show the efforts you've already made to get your money back. "A successful chargeback often hinges on documentation," said NerdWallet, so make sure to "save screenshots and relevant emails," alongside any other relevant communications that illustrate the situation.

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Becca Stanek has worked as an editor and writer in the personal finance space since 2017. She previously served as a deputy editor and later a managing editor overseeing investing and savings content at LendingTree and as an editor at the financial startup SmartAsset, where she focused on retirement- and financial-adviser-related content. Before that, Becca was a staff writer at The Week, primarily contributing to Speed Reads. 

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18 tips to help you manage your money while traveling

International travel is full of excitement. Seeing new places, trying new cuisines, and navigating a different culture lead to memories that last a lifetime.

As a college student or young professional, travel can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend your well-earned money.

But with all the excitement of traveling abroad, you can’t forget about managing your money. In addition to having the right currency and understanding foreign exchange rates, you’ll want to take measures to manage your money well while on the move.

While traveling doesn’t have to be more expensive than your day-to-day life, there are extra considerations to take to keep money safe while traveling.

What’s Ahead:

Before you leave

1. alert your bank and credit card company.

Alerting your bank and credit card company used to be a standard practice when traveling abroad — so “suspicious” charges in another country didn’t put a freeze on your accounts.

These days, however, banks are a little better at tracking fraud. But alerting your bank and credit card company still can’t hurt — especially if you’ve never traveled abroad with your card and want to make sure you don’t run into any issues with your account.

2. Look into your cards’ foreign transaction fees

Foreign transaction fees — tacked onto any purchase made outside of the U.S. — can add up fast when you’re traveling abroad. If you’re not sure if your card company charges foreign transaction fees, give them a call before your trip to find out. While you’re on the phone, ask if there are specific ATMs to use that will help you avoid extra fees.

If your cards do charge foreign transaction fees and you have enough time before your trip, you might want to consider getting a credit card that doesn’t charge them. If you plan to do more traveling abroad in the future, a card without foreign transaction fees will save you a lot of money over the years.

3. Save copies of important information

Before you leave, make sure you have access to all of your important bank and credit card information in case something happens and you lose your cards. Keep an accessible digital record of the following:

• Your bank’s phone number
• Your credit card company’s phone number
• Your credit and debit card numbers

It might be easiest to take photos of your cards and save them on your phone. The important thing is to be able to access your card numbers and contact your bank in case of an emergency.

4. Confirm or purchase travel insurance

If you have a travel credit card, chances are it comes with travel insurance benefits. These benefits can come in handy when things don’t work out as planned — like when your flight gets delayed or your rental car windshield cracks. You don’t want to be on the hook for added expenses, especially after working hard to plan a trip within your budget.

Look up the travel insurance benefits that come with your card so you know exactly what’s covered. If you don’t have a travel credit card — or your benefits don’t cover enough — consider buying travel insurance. You can compare policies online using sites like SquareMouth and Travelinsurance.com to find the best option for your trip.

5. Get some local currency

It’s always wise to have at least some local currency on hand before arriving at your destination. You never know when you’ll have unexpected card troubles and need cash when there’s no ATM or bank around. Bring at least enough cash to get you a couple of meals, a hotel room, and transportation to tide you over until you can access a bank or ATM.

And don’t wait until you get to the airport to get cash, or you’ll pay a fortune to exchange currencies. Instead, call your bank ahead of time to see if you can exchange your money there — you’ll usually get a much better deal.

6. Consider a prepaid travel debit card

If you don’t have a credit card without foreign transaction fees — or you’re worried about using your card abroad — you can always get a prepaid travel debit card to load up with cash before your trip.

These cards, while they can be costly, come with lots of perks — like fee-free transactions, 24/7 assistance, and no ATM withdrawal fees. But just like credit cards, the perks vary card-to-card — and the fees can add up — so weigh your options and do your research to pick the best card for your trip.

During your trip

7. know when to use card vs. cash.

It’s always wise to have several methods of payment while traveling abroad. Some businesses will prefer card over cash, while others may not accept a card at all.

For example, using a credit card at a local street market may not be possible — so you’ll probably want some cash on hand. And in some countries, it’s best to tip with cash rather than on your card.

Alternatively, businesses like hotels may prefer you pay with a card — and you may save money if your card doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. And depending on how you tend to spend and budget, using a card can help you categorize and analyze your spending more easily at the end of your trip.

8. Use points

Travel hacking — or using miles or points to pay for travel — has become more popular in recent years. And contrary to what you may think, you don’t need to spend a ton of time or effort to earn and make use of points.

Travel credit cards usually issue points or miles when you pay with the card, which add up over time to help you save big on flights or hotel stays. If you have a travel credit card, read the fine print to understand how to earn points and make the most of them while traveling. If you don’t have a travel credit card, pick one that maximizes benefits you’ll actually use, doesn’t clobber you with fees, and — to get you some rewards right off the bat — has an attractive sign-up bonus.

9. Avoid random ATMs

When withdrawing money in a foreign country, be smart about what ATMs you use. First of all, if your bank allows fee-free withdrawals at particular ATMs — or they have branches where you’re traveling — make sure to use those machines to save money on withdrawal fees.

Try to avoid independent ATMs — they’ll often have higher fees and lower security than bank ATMs. And don’t use any ATM in an area that feels unsafe. Use machines in public places, and check your surroundings before making a withdrawal.

10. Protect yourself from theft

A smart way to manage money while traveling is to not keep all your money in the same place. If your wallet gets lost or stolen while you’re out, you don’t want to risk losing all your cash.

If you withdraw more cash than you need to spend at once, keep the extra bills in your hotel safe. When you’re out, carry your cash securely in a money belt or tamper-proof wallet. You might even want to invest in an RFID-blocking wallet, which protects your cards from digital theft by radio-frequency identification skimmers.

11. Choose local currency when paying with a card

When you’re paying with your credit card in a foreign country, you may notice an option to select either your home currency or the local currency when checking out. It might not seem like a big deal in the moment, but you’ll save money by choosing the local currency.

Despite having a credit card without foreign transaction fees, you may still pay a fee — usually around 3% —for paying in your home currency. And though you may have to do a quick currency conversion to determine how much you’re spending, you can end up saving a lot of money with this one easy tip.

12. Understand tipping culture

In North America, it’s not just polite — it’s expected — to tip 15% or more in restaurants and for other services. But tipping culture isn’t the same across the globe, and in some countries, tipping is even considered rude.

In Europe, for example, you’ll often pay a 5-10% service charge that’s already tacked on to the bill. In Asia, however, tipping isn’t the norm (and in some countries, like Japan, can even be disrespectful). Do some research on tipping culture in the countries you’re visiting. Consult travel guides and tourism websites to find out what’s expected before you go.

13. Check your account regularly

When you’re spending a different currency than your own, it’s easy to spend more than you realize (I am definitely guilty of this ). And when you’re using a card — in any currency — it’s easy to overspend. Now that lots of restaurants and stores are now card-only, you might be spending more than you realize.

Make sure you check your account regularly to avoid overspending your budget. You don’t want to arrive home after your trip with a pile of credit card debt that you weren’t expecting to pay.

14. Bank securely while traveling

Banking securely will help you keep money safe while traveling. And since most of us bank online these days, it’s extra important.

First of all, make sure all of your devices are password-protected before you travel. Otherwise, if your computer or phone gets stolen — and you have your passwords saved automatically — someone could instantly gain access to your online accounts.

If you can help it, try to avoid using free public Wi-Fi, which could potentially put your information at risk. If you need to log into your bank accounts, make sure you’re using cellular data or a protected Wi-Fi network.

15. Don’t forget the exchange rate

No matter whether you’re paying with card or cash, keep the exchange rate in mind when you’re spending. It’s easy to lose sight of how much you’re actually spending — and think something is “cheap” when you’re really paying with a more expensive currency.

If you need to, you can use an app to convert currency prices before making a purchase. That way, you know exactly how much you’re spending each time you swipe your card.

After your trip

16. convert your leftover cash.

Unless you know you’ll be traveling again soon, try to spend any foreign currency before returning home. If you come back with foreign cash, you’ll have to exchange it back to U.S. dollars. Exchanging money twice — to a foreign currency and then back to U.S. dollars — will cost you a lot in fees.

If you do need to exchange currency back into U.S. dollars, you’ll want to return to the bank. That’s where you’ll find the best exchange rates and lower fees. Or better yet, if you have a friend who’s planning to visit the destination you just came from, see if they’ll buy your leftover currency for a reasonable, fee-free rate. You’ll both come out ahead.

17. Pay off your credit card

When you return from your trip — and before you start dreaming up the next one — make sure to pay off your credit card. If you used your card for most of your purchases abroad, you don’t want to let that hefty balance linger.

Make sure you pay off your credit card and any travel-related expenses as soon as you can so your trip doesn’t end up costing you more down the line.

18. Check on your accounts

On a similar note, make sure you check up on your accounts after returning home from your trip. Don’t let any unfamiliar charges go unnoticed — instead, if you see something suspicious, call your bank or credit card company right away to report the charges.

Next time you travel abroad, use these tips to help keep your money safe while traveling. When you take the time to make security a priority, you can travel with a lot less stress — and spend a lot more time having fun.

Featured image:  HappyTime19 /Shutterstock.com

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Money Doesn't Have to Be the Most Stressful Part of Travel

By Alex Erdekian

We often travel to escape the tedium of meetings, the obligation of brunch dates, and the towers of dishes in the sink. But there's one stressor we can’t escape no matter how far we fly: money . Whether you’re envious of others' seemingly endless adventures or feel unsure about how to splash out on yourself, there are plenty of scenarios where money anxiety can put a damper on your trip. But it doesn't have to, according to Prudential financial wellness advocate Amanda Clayman.

Her travel philosophy is rooted in embracing your bank account. No matter what your financial situation is, you should approach it with awareness and mindfulness—never with fear or denial. “A vacation should not be a vacation from thinking about money,” she says.

We asked finance experts for advice on common money scenarios when traveling—and how to have open conversations about budgets and means.

When you're scared of being ripped off

When you're traveling, there are plenty of unknowns to deal with. Ruby A. experienced anxiety in unfamiliar cities, especially when she had to convert currencies on the go and felt unfamiliar with new neighborhoods. Then there were the unexpected local practices: "When I was in Milan , I found out the café I was in had a tourist and non-tourist menu for prices," she says. "That sort of thing got me paranoid.”

Clayman knows exactly what that feels like. “I ate very overpriced steak frites in Paris in that exact situation," she says. "There was this place that was supposed to have amazing steak frites, and I was like, these are the same thing as french fries. I was mad because it was so overpriced. But at least it wasn’t a stretch restaurant."

In her workshops, Clayman asks her clients whether $5 is too much to pay for a hot dog. The group always responds by asking if it’s a street cart hot dog, a baseball park hot dog, or a restaurant hot dog. This is because we use context to decide if we feel comfortable with prices. When traveling, however, we lack the necessary information to make the best spending decisions.

She suggests that when unfamiliar with our surroundings, we can make up for it by having complete clarity on our own money. Sure, Clayman had to relinquish control over whether the restaurant would be worth it—and it wasn’t—but at least she was able to ensure she could afford it by considering the menu and her budget before committing to the check.

“When we keep ourselves open to the idea that the unknown can bring unexpected gifts, we’re in a better position to stay grounded in reality,”

When budgets aren't aligned

Group trips —and differing budgets—can be a major source of anxiety. If you earn more than your friends but want to include them in an experience, offering to pay for part of the trip is likely the best option if it’s within your means.

But if you're on the other side of the group budget dilemma, things can feel even more complicated. I should know. My senior year of college, seemingly everyone I knew was going on spring break to Cancun booked through a tour company. The trip required fronting a sum that I couldn’t afford or justify at the time. After talking to my friends about it and hearing all the buzz, I punched in my credit card numbers and ended up committing to a series of deposits that were auto-paid once a month. The sight of the transaction confirmation in my inbox triggered a sickly pang of guilt, but I told myself it would be worth it.

After six months of charges racked up on my card—creating ping-induced waves of nausea from June to November—my lodging situation fell through. That's when the trip started to feel like a burden. After many calls with customer service, I accepted the fact that I had no chance of getting refunded. I wondered if I should cut my losses or cough up even more to make what I had already lost worthwhile. Ultimately, I chose to cut off the cycle of anxiety and debt before it doubled. I canceled the trip, and lost the deposits.

I should have taken Clayman's advice from the start—no matter how dreamy a vacation seems, I couldn't lie to myself about my balance. Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial Talks Money: Scripts, Stories and Advice for Navigating Awkward Financial Conversations , out in December, has some wisdom I could have heeded too. In fact, she has a few scripts to follow for open and upfront conversations about budgeting, group travel, and saying no.

One method is offering a short explanation to the friend who is extending the invitation. Try "I'm hoping to pay off $10,000 of student loans this year," or "We're planning to start our family next year and saving up," or "We just put a down payment on a house and our budget's tight." Being honest, as opposed to hiding the reason the invitation was denied out of shame or awkwardness, prevents hard feelings and also informs what activities are within budget for both friends for future invites and plans.

Another effective technique is the compliment sandwich. Start with a positive, Lowry says. Like, "I miss you and would love to take a reunion trip together." Then give your reason: "But a trip to Aruba just doesn't work with my budget right now because I have four weddings to go to this year." And finish with a counter-offer, "Would you be up for a trip to Miami instead? We can still get those tropical vibes at a better price point."

When it all goes wrong

Alexandra T.’s phone was stolen at the start of her six-month backpacking trip in Southeast Asia, and she no longer could count on having a smartphone as a go-to resource. She replaced it with a Nokia to keep costs down. To make matters worse, her travel partner’s wallet was stolen the same day.

By Madison Flager

By Abigail Malbon

By Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

By Lauren Dana Ellman

“We had no idea how long it would take to get [Erin’s] cards back and I was obviously concerned about not having a phone,” Alexandra says. “I couldn’t check in for flights, couldn’t show tickets on my phone, couldn’t use Venmo, couldn't get on maps—all the things you take for granted while traveling."

Clayman says that the first thing to do when something goes majorly wrong is to take precautions, like reporting the incident to your credit card company. Next up? Breathe. “You have to tell yourself, ‘I am going to have a different trip than the one that I envisioned,’” she says. But that doesn't mean everything will go south: “I often say to my clients, necessity is a friendly muse.”

Scarcity can open us to new people and experiences we would otherwise miss, she says, like being forced to ask a stranger for directions or navigating a new city without a destination. “When we keep ourselves open to the idea that the unknown can bring unexpected gifts, we’re in a better position to stay grounded in reality,” Clayman says. “I think we need to release ourselves from the idea that a good life is a life where no bad things ever happen.”

After all, the joy of travel comes from taking a break from our regular circumstances. The unplanned and unpredictable events, good and bad, are inseparable from—and a big part—of what we take away from our most memorable trips.

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Travel money card faqs.

Have a question about buying a Currency Pass, or potentially you need help with your existing card? Either way, you've come to the right place! To save you scrolling, below is our top 6 types of FAQ. If your question isn't answered here, it may be further down this page.

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• What is Currency Pass?
• Who is behind Currency Pass?
• How safe is my information & funds?
• How do I change my account details?
• Do I have to be online to use Currency Pass?
• How does a Currency Pass work?
• Is the Currency Pass a credit or debit card?
• Where can I use the Currency Pass?

Currency Pass is our travel money card, and your answer to travelling safely and securely! With Currency Pass you can load up to 10 x currencies on your card, lock in your exchange rate and use it wherever Mastercard is accepted, including at ATMs. Find out more here .

Our Currency Pass is supported by Mastercard which means you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted, including at ATMs globally.

Safety and security is important to us. With Currency Pass, none of your personal information is stored on the card, unlike a credit card which is connected to your financial institution. Your transactions are managed by Mastercard but funds are underwritten by EML Payment Solutions Limited ('EML') ABN 30 131 436 532 , AFSL 404131. In the unlikely event that you misplace your card, you can suspend the card by giving us a call on +61 (2) 8974 0856. We can make arrangements to transfer you money via Western Union. Additionally, as the card isn't linked to your financial institution, you can rest assure that if someone has it, they can't access your accounts back home.

Easy - login to my.travelmoneyoz.com and from here, click on Account Details in the menu bar. From here, you're able to edit your email address, phone number and address. For help with changing anything us, give us a call on 13 61 95, or +61 (2) 8974 0856 from overseas.

No, Currency Pass works just like your every day debit card. You can simply tap and go for every day purchases or withdraw funds from an ATM. The only time you really need to be online is if you want to manage your funds via our easy to use app or website.

Currency Pass works just like your every day debit cards. You can use it for tap and go purchases, paywave and online shopping. But we've made it just a little bit better by being able to load up to 10 different currencies so that when you're travelling you can spend the local currency and always know how much it's costing you.

Travel Money Oz Currency Pass is a debit card. You can only spend the funds that are loaded onto the card. The best part is, you won't get caught out with hefty credit card fees and interest. You're only spending your money.

We're pretty confident we have most destinations covered however Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions are affected by sanctions, which means that your Currency Card will be declined if you try to use it in these countries. Additionally, all Mastercards will not work at Russian merchants or ATMs. The list of countries in which the Currency Card does not work will be updated from time to time, so please check back here before travelling.

• How do I get a Currency Pass?
• How much will a card cost me to purchase?
• Can you buy a Currency Pass if you're under 18?
• Can I get a second card?
• What do I do if I can't buy a Currency Pass online?

Getting a Currency Pass is easy. You can order a card online via our website (this will take up to 14 business days to receive in the mail) or simply visit one of our stores to take one away immediately.

Our Currency Pass is free to buy - just make sure it's loaded with minimum $20 to get started. We don't charge any fees for issuing and loading your card in store either. (Although, merchant fees will apply if you are using a credit card to load funds). More info on fees and limits can be found here.

Yes, you can get a Currency Card if you are under 18. You will however, need to complete your identity verification in person at your nearest Travel Money Oz store. Only Australian Passport or Drivers License will be accepted as valid ID.

Unfortunately we can only give 1 x card per Currency Pass account.

To buy a Currency Pass online, you must verify your identity against several government sources (100point ID check). If your identification doesn't meet the online requirements, you still may be able to buy a Currency Pass in store if you're an Australian resident. Simply bring in a valid photographic Australian Passport, or Australian state driving license and we can set you up on the spot.

TOP TIPS WHEN USING YOUR CARD

• How do I use my Currency Pass overseas?
• What do I do if an overseas vendor asks if I want to pay in AUD?

Always select credit when making a transaction (including at ATMs!) and if given the option, pay in the local currency of the destination vs AUD, providing it's loaded on your card. This avoids you paying extra conversion fees (this is often called Dynamic Currency Conversion).

We recommend always paying in the local currency if it’s loaded on your Currency Pass (local currency of the destination). In some situations, ATMs and retailers may offer ‘Dynamic Currency Conversion’ (payment in your home currency). This however, simply allows them to dictate their own exchange rate and may result in you being charged fees associated with a foreign transaction. Spending in the local currencies means you always know what you're paying and have greater control over your funds.

REGISTERING

• How do I register online?
• What do I do if I'm unable to register my account?

Follow these steps...

• Go to the register page.
• Enter your details into the registration form and press next.
• Create your password and security questions.

Give us a call on 13 61 95, or if calling from overseas +61 (2) 8974 0856 and we'll give you a hand.

• How do I activate my card?

Just like your regular bank cards, for security reasons Currency Cards need to be activated once you've received it. To do this, follow the below prompts...

Call Mastercrd on 1800 098 231 or on +61 (2) 8974 0856 from outside of Australia

Press 1 to hear the card services line in English

Press 4 for Card activation or PIN Assistance

Follow the prompts and enter your card details

Your card is now active, continue to listen and follow the call options to hear your new PIN number

LOGIN/PASSWORD

• How do I log in to the portal?
• Who do I contact if I'm locked out of my Currency Pass account?

Easy - go to the login page and enter in your email and password. If this isn't proving to be easy, and you're having a bit of trouble, give us a call on 136195 (or +61 (2) 8974 0856 if you're overseas).

No stress - head to my.travelmoneyoz.com and select 'I have forgotten my password' to reset your account. If you're still having trouble, give us a call on 13 61 95, or if calling overseas +61 (2) 8974 0856

• How do I reveal my PIN?
• How do I change my PIN?

You've got 2 x options..

1. By phone - Give us a call on 136 195, or if calling from overseas +61 (2) 8974 0856. From here, press 11 to hear the card services line in English and then press 2 for Card Activation or PIN Assistance. Follow the prompts and enter you card details to hear your current card balance.

2. Reveal via desktop (note this won't work as well on mobile!) - Log into the my.travelmoneyoz.com portal. Click on the Currency Card link at the top of the screen. Reveal PIN is the 5th option.

You can change your PIN number at select RediATM's... but, not all RediATM's support this, so to save you time and effort - log into the Currency Pass portal, click on Currency Card and through to Change my PIN, you'll see the ATM finder where you can type in your suburb or postcode to find your nearest RediATM.

LOADING & ACCESSING MONEY

• How can I load my card?
• What currencies can I load?
• What is this SMS I need to get to reload?
• I'm get an error message when I try to reload, what should I do?
• How do I change my card's default currency?
• What is the maximum/minimum amount I can load on my card?
• How long does it take for funds to be loaded onto my card?
• What happens if I run out of funds in one currency, but have other currencies available?
• How do I transfer between currencies?
• How much will it cost for me to reload my card?

You have a few options. You can load money onto your card using the Travel Money Oz app, or by logging into your account on our website - from here, you can load via Debit or Credit Card (including using Google or Apple Pay), or via Bank Transfer (using Poli for secure and instant bank transfers), or you can load your Currency Pass in any of our stores nationwide. You can also reload your card with BPAY at any time from your online banking account (2-3 days for BPAY transfers to appear).

Up to 10! They include... USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, HKD, JPY, SGD, THB and AUD.

If you're heading somewhere and their currency isn't one of the above, no stress - load in AUD (or any of the others) and withdraw the local currency from an ATM. Or swipe/tap as normal and it will convert as you go with each transaction.

We use extra authentication as a security measure when you reload funds. The SMS is sent from your bank, not us. If you can't receive the SMS, you'll need to contact your bank to update your details. As an alternative, try reloading using BPAY, however, if we're a new payee, it's possible your bank still may need to send a SMS.

Received an error during your reload? This means your card has not been loaded (even if you see the funds pending in your bank balance). Please contact us via [email protected] before you re-attempt your transaction.

To start, make sure you're logged into the Currency Pass portal then...

Select Currency Card in the top menu, and Currency Card Settings

Then click on the set default currency button

Once this change is made, any unquoted Bank transfer or BPAY loads will land in the default purse.

The minimum amount you can load is $20 (AUD) but who are you kidding, you'll be spending alot more than that on your holiday.

The maximum amount your can load onto your Currency Pass in one load is $10,000 (AUD). If you need more just speak to us in store.

How quickly do you need the money? Credit / debit card transfers are instantly available. Bank transfers will take 1 business day (Mon-Fri) and prior to 2pm AEST. BPAY will take a little longer, this is on average 3 business days. Alternatively, come and see us in store at one of our 140+ locations for more immediate assistance.

If a purchase cannot be completed because there are not enough funds in that currency on your card and you do have other currencies, the card will automatically convert other currencies to complete the purchase. The transaction will be split across 2 or more currencies and will appear that way on your statement. Read more about this in our PDS.

Log into your account by clicking on the login/register button at the top of the Travel Money Oz website. Once you're in, click on the Currency Card tab, and select Transfer between currencies. Select the currency you wish to transfer from, and to. From here you can enter the amount you wish to transfer. You will then see the amount of the new currency, along with the rate in which the transfer is completed. Don't forget to click "Confirm Transfer" to complete your transfer.

Please refer to our Fees for more information.

BALANCE & TRANSACTION HISTORY

• How do I check my balance?
• How do I check my transaction history?
• Can I use my card for a pre-authorisation?
• Why are there pending transactions?

You can check your balance by logging into my.travelmoneyoz.com or through our app. Your balance will be on the home page once you've logged in. Or, give us a call on 13 61 95 or +61 (2) 8974 0856 from overseas and you can hear it over the phone.

Should you need to take a peak at the shopping damage, you can view your full transaction history online at my.travelmoneyoz.com or via the Travel Money Oz app. Both of these options also allow you load additional funds and transfer money to other currencies.

If you’re using your Currency Pass for pre-authorisation for a bond payment with a merchant (i.e for a hotel, car hire or cruise), the pre-authorisation amount may not be released back onto your card for up to 30 days. If you pre-authorisation amount hasn't cleared within this period, give us a call on 13 61 95 or +61 (2) 8974 0856 from overseas.

Any pending transactions will update as the merchant settles them. Once this happens it will be reflected on your transaction history. Should you need to dispute a transaction please give us a call on 13 61 95, or +61 (2) 8974 0856 from overseas.

• Can I use my card at an ATM?
• Why are there extra ATM fees on my statement?

Make sure you're using an ATM that accepts Mastercard Always press "credit" If you've entered your PIN incorrectly more than 3 times, your card will be blocked as a security measure. If this happens please give us a call on 13 61 95 or +61 (2) 8974 0856 from overseas.

Every time you use an ATM, it's likely you'll be charged a standard ATM fee, with this, there may be additional charges from that ATM provider where you withdrew money. We've outlined this in our PDS so you're aware. The difference in fees may also be due to the transaction being made in your local currency, versus the currency of the country you're travelling in. We always recommend making purchases in the local currency where possible, and being aware of the ATM fees before you withdrawal cash as the more you use an ATM, the more fees you're likely to incur.

LOST OR STOLEN CARD

• I have lost my card, or it has been stolen, what do I do?
• How do I get a replacement card?

You have 2 x options here (please promise us you'll action immediately!)

1. You can place a temporary block (or unblock) on your card when you're in your Currency Pass account.

2. Call us 24/7 on +61 (2) 8974 0856 and if your card is lost, we'll suspend it - and if it's stolen, we'll close it to prevent fraud. If you need emergency $$ you'll need to give us a call so we can check you're eligible and let you know where your nearest pick up location is

To order a replacement card, give us a call on 13 61 95 and we can sort you out with your 2.0 card! If you're having issues activitating your card, also give us a bell on the same number.

CANCELLED OR SUSPENDED CARD

• My card has been cancelled or suspended, what should I do?

Please give us a call on 13 61 95, or +61 (2) 8974 0856 from overseas.

• How do I cash out my remaining funds?

If you've returned home with leftover currency (well done, you!) you have a few options:

Your card is valid for 5 years, so you can hold onto it and use it again next trip. You can transfer any leftover funds to AUD and simply use the card for day to day transactions. You can have the balance transfered back into your Australian bank account. There's 2 x ways you can do this... 1. Online

Login to my.travelmoneyoz.com click on cash out to bank account. We'll need to confirm how much you want to cash out, your ID and your Australian bank details. You will also need to confirm your Mothers Maiden Name and DOB (this must be of the cardholder). This will take up to 5 x business days and you will be charged a $10 fee which will come out of your balance.

Give us a call on 13 61 95, or +61 (2) 8974 0856 from overseas. This will take up to 10 x business days and you will be charged a $10 fee which will come out of your balance.

MASTERCARD OVERSEAS CONTACT NUMBERS

• UK – 0800 056 0572
• USA/Canada – 1877 465 0085
• Japan – 00531 780 221
• Thailand – 001800 442 212
• New Zealand – 0800 444 691
• Hong Kong – 800 966 321
• South Korea – 00798 4434 1279
• Other countries – +44 207 649 9404

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What Happens if my Passport Doesn’t Arrive in Time?

• 58 Comments
• Expedited Passports , Know Before You Go

You’ve purchased your international flight tickets, booked your overseas hotel, and even bought a few travel guides – you’re all set for your next trip! At least you thought you were… 

Worry starts to set-in when you realize that you applied for your  passport  weeks ago via the government, and it still hasn’t arrived. Without it, there’s no chance of leaving the country, but you really don’t want to cancel this trip.  Why does it take so long to get a passport?

Waiting for the arrival of your passport right before a trip can put you on pins and needles, especially when your travel date keeps drawing nearer. 

“What happens if my passport doesn’t arrive in time?” is one of the most common questions we get asked. Here’s our best advice for the traveler who’s still waiting on their passport.

When is my Passport Expected to Arrive?

When you apply for a  new passport  or  passport renewal , keep a keen eye on the  processing times  for the three different options (routine passport services, expedited passport services, and expedited at an agency).

For routine passport services, you can expect to wait between four to six weeks, around three weeks for expedited passport services, and eight business days for passports expedited at an agency. 

That means you shouldn’t expect your passport any sooner than the minimum processing time, and it could take even longer if the paperwork wasn’t filled out properly the first time. 

You’re going to be best off using an  expedited passport service  or expedited service at an agency if you’re trip is less than one month away from the date you’re  applying for your passport . This ensures that you’ll receive your passport in time, and takes a lot of stress out of the travel planning process.

How Can I Track my Passport’s Status?

You can track the status of your passport online at the US Department of State’s  passport status page.  It typically takes 7-10 business days after you‘ve applied in order for your application to be trackable online. It’s possible that you will be able to track it sooner if you’ve opted for expedited services, and have sent your info via overnight delivery. 

Go to the  United States passport application status page , and enter your information to see exactly where your passport is in the process, and if it’s already headed your way.

You can also opt-in to receive automatic email updates on the status of your application by entering your email address after locating your pending application in the online passport status system.

How can I Contact the National Passport Information Center?

If you’re scheduled to leave for a trip in seven days or less and you’re still waiting to receive your passport, make sure to contact a customer service representative at the  National Passport Information Center . They can help you track the status of your passport, and let you know where it’s at in the process. Below is the number you can call for the National Passport Information Center, as well as the hours they’re open. 

1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 (TDD/TTY) to speak to a Customer Service Representative (Se habla español):

Monday- Friday            7:00 am to 10:00 pm Eastern Time

Saturday                     10:00 am to 3:00 pm Eastern Time

*Excluding Federal Holidays

You’re more likely to obtain information about your passport status if you call rather then requesting information over email. It typically will take 24 hours or more to receive a response over email. The automated phone passport tracking system is available 24/7; to speak to a representative, call during business hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday (except federal holidays).

How Can I Start Applying for my Passport?

Let’s face it, applying for a passport can be a hassle. There’s enough stress that comes with planning a trip, and there’s no need to add another worry to the list. 

Avoid any confusion, and any chance of your passport arriving late by  contacting  Swift Passport Services today. Swift can help you get your passport in as little as 3-4 business days. So what are you waiting for?  Let’s get started  – after all, you have a plane to catch! Have questions? Complete the contact form below and we will do our best to assist you.

58 thoughts on “What Happens if my Passport Doesn’t Arrive in Time?”

I applied on the 02/02/2017 expedit and it’s 03-03-2017 still didn’t receive it yet status show 2-3 weeks and it’s past time already

Hello, if you applied through your local post office, I would highly recommend contacting the US Passport Agency directly. You can call 1-877-487-2778 or visit travel.state.gov . You can even direct your questions via email: [email protected] .

I hope this helps!

I did all the paperwork for my daughter’s on March 13th, 2017. Our trip is May 10th in less than 10 days. A week ago they sent us a letter saying we are missing the front and back of my husband’s license, however, this is not true, we did hand that in for both of them. So we overnighted a copy with a check for each a week ago. When I called, they said they still haven’t received our overnight and that they will call us back. I have no idea what to do.

Hi Allison… You can contact the US Department of State for status updates at 1-877-487-2778; or online at https://passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp . Hope this helps!

I had applied on january 28,2017 and i haven’t received my passport yet!!what to do??

Hi Juna… You can contact the US Department of State for status updates at 1-877-487-2778; or online at https://passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_ip.asp . Good Luck!

I got mine, husband and daughter passports expedited. Tracker said they received it may 15th. I got theirs in 10 days. Still waiting for mine and it’s June 6th!!!! My trip is in 2 weeks . I am stressed out. Don’t know what to do. They basically said it’s in expedite but they haven’t reviewed it.

Hi! Sorry to hear you haven’t received your passport yet! Have you tried calling the Passport Hotline? 1-877-487-2778; or, email them at [email protected] . Hope this helps, best of luck!

Yes Rob! That website is of no help! They just tell you the same thing that the people on the phone tell you…..just sitting here in limbo.!. With no idea what’s going on with my expedited passport application.

Same exact situation with me, applied mos ago, I have mine but my minor child does not. We travelling for his bday an I dnt have his PP was told I cant even expedite it, after i was told I could. Super stressed out.

The number is of no help, they are just an answering service. We have a trip in 10 days and my daughter’s passport is not here. The best they can do is send a notification to the passport agency and have them give me a call. I was also told that if I miss the call, I will have to go through the process again and that they can only contact the agency once every 10 days on my behalf. Really?

I requested expedited service over a month ago for a trip that departs in 4 days now! I’ve spent a total of 7 hours on hold and have called at least 15 time but no one can give me any status updates, confirm my new picture was received and the website only says “processing”l for the past 2-3 weeks.

The people at the main line are totallly clueless and every single person has been giving me different information and just telling me to keep checking back!

I leave in 4 days. The can’t even do the 24 hour emergency passport now because I had to send in all my original documents! What option do I have at this point when the website is useless and customer support has no idea what the actual status is either?

Can I collect my passport from the office on the tracker its saying Friday 28th but I’m flying on Wednesday the 26 th what can I do it’s a sickness in the family

Calling the passport office does nothing. I leave in 3 days and still processing. Nobody tells u anything. Got an apt and she told me to cancel cuz i shouldn’t need it. Now i can’t do absolutely anything. And to top it off its for a child. So everybody is set to go but him and i obviously can’t strap him to the couch for 7 days i don’t know what to do. I can’t even get another appointment. He literally hv been crying all week because he feels he’s not going. This totally is unnecessary

So sorry this happen to you as well, my child couldn’t get his either, and it was for his birthday what made it worse being a single parent my 12 yr says ” you to mom, have fun”. What I look like leaving him here on his birthday. I’m still heartbroken.

We’re leaving in 13 days n still haven’t receive it. I also use the expedite service. Wish i knew about expedite agency where i can get it in one day like swift! Can i call them to stop the passport process and use a different agency where i can get it in one day? Anybody knows. I’m tired of waiting n being stress.

This is a good and very common question.Here’s another post that has all of the contact information: https://www.swiftpassportservices.com/passport-arrive-time/ You can contact them to see the status, and if the timing doesn’t fit for you, you can see about them canceling the process so you can use Swift. Often, the amount of time to cancel the process and get all of you application material in hand is too long to make logistical sense. Let us know what you find out, and we would be happy to help you figure out the best next steps!

The answers here just don’t cut it for me. I’ve been calling the National Passport Information Center and it is so useless, we could do without it.

if you live near a city with a US Passport Agency, you could show up in person to see what the status is. You can find all of their locations here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/where-to-apply/passport-agencies.html

My son goes away tomorrow morning he had a text on the 29th to say his passport will be with him in 24/48 hours so when will he expect it. they said by courier does that Royal Mail

I filled out my lost passport and had a courier service help me expedite it bc I’m leaving for a trip in 2 days. They received it aug28 and have been processing it. Its still being processed and I ended up just going to the Los Angeles passport agency in the federal building and they told me that they’re still waiting for the state dept to authorize it?!?

What can I do? They know my departure date and aren’t telling me anything useful!

Hi, this is a common situation, Have you contacted the courier service about the status? The Passport Agency goes through a series of background checks and clearances, and it is not uncommon for a US Department of State clearance on a lost passport replacement to take a little longer than expected. I would work through the courier service you hired, as they should have up to date information.

Hello, I have not received my passport .After police verification ,2 months are gone, but till now there is no news about my passport.

Was this for a USA Passport?

I expedited my passport almost 4 weeks ago as well as Express shipping when its processed and sent, my trip is in 8 days no with no passport still. I have called the Passport Agency (which is total rubbish) about 8 times now with no one being able to help me. 2 weeks after they recieved my application I recieved an email saying my birth certificate was not valid. Upset and quite pissed off, I called my state of birth and got a new one overnighted to me and then turned around and overnighted it to the passport agency, this happened about a week and a half- two weeks ago. Taking into consideration the time it took to get the proper information to the agency we are looking at about 4 weeks of “processing” as of yet. I called again today and the lady told me “it’s still processing, I’m not even sure if they have recieved your corrispondance”. What the hell did I pay for expedited services?!

My trip is in 8 days!!! I’m way too stressed for this s***

The phone number and the website/email is a waste of time in my opinion. Absolutely no help

Since you are traveling in a short time frame another option is to appear at the closest US Passport Agency to you. Here is a site that has all of the different locations throughout the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/where-to-apply/passport-agencies.html Be sure to bring proof of Tavel and inform them that you have an application in process. I hope this helps!

I’ve apply for smart I’d and a passport on the 23 of January I did receive the smart I’d but the passport I didn’t get it

Typically passports can take up to 8 weeks top process, depending on how you submitted the application

I leave in 2 days 03/28/2019, requested expedited service yesterday through service center. Still shows processing and will receive after my trip. Which when I applied I put what day I was leaving on the application.

It’s been over seven weeks they won’t tell me anything they gave me an appointment at the passport office I went and they said DC has a hold on my passport they won’t tell me why they tell me to come back on the fifth but my travel international travel date is on the 10th I’m so worried I don’t even have the visa to go where I have to go because they have my passport and won’t tell me why

Tim, did you make your trip?

I was told DC was holding mine they won’t tell me why nothing I travel in 2 days!!! This is insane they give zero information!!!

I am leaving in 6 days!!!!! I expedited and sent my passport renewal on April 1 and I am supposed to be leaving on April 17th!! I have called several times but they are absolutely NO help. They all give me the same answer and ZERO information about how I can receive it faster. I have spent extra money on 1-2 day shipping when it’s done being processed.

I am so stressed out and I am gonna lose so much money. The only appointment I am able to attend is the day before my trip!!!! Is this even enough time? I didn’t have to pay for my PP renewal because my original is under a year old. Do I have to pay for the application at an appointment or will it continue to be free? Or what??? These are all questions I’ve asked on the phone and have gotten answers completely unrelated.

I don’t know what to do?! Am I out of options???? Please someone help?!

I cleared all of my child support to $0 owed and received a letter confirming I owe no back payments as well.

I called to check on any holds with the Attorney General today. They told me there is a hold and to call this other number to see what it is for.

I’ve left voicemails and no reply. Due to high call volume I had to leave vmails.

I leave in 6 weeks. If this takes 2-3 weeks to clear me and onto the approved list. Is there any possible way of me getting my passport within a week?

I believe the best thing to do would be to contact the state agency that handles child support. Tell them you have a passport application in process and you need them to notify the US Passport Agency about being clear. With your time frame, you should be ok if the state can get the information to the Passport Agency.

The US State department website said my grandma’s passport would be in the mail May 5th (last Sunday), and it’s still not here. My mother tried calling them and they never answer. When is the passport going to arrive? We’re planning our vacation very soon.

Have you tried tracking online? here’s the Department of State’s online tracking page: https://passportstatus.state.gov

I applied for a renewal passport on April 12th and paid to have passport processed in 3 weeks. Passport got shipped on May 7th and USPS has lost the package. I have called USPS many times and they don’t have any idea what town or state my passport is in. Tracking isn’t working either. Today is Monday and my flight leaves early Friday morning. WHAT NOW!!! We have purchased everything! Flight hotel and excursions.

Depending on where you live, there may be a passport agency close to you where you could show up in person to get one re-issued. You would need to tell them it was lost in the mail system. Check out the US Department of State’s website for information on where the agencies are.

I applied for my son’s second passport on March 16th, we travel on June17th. heard nothing back. I signed up for updates, nothing. I called the National number after 8 weeks and was told to call back the next week as it was still “in processing”. I called back the next week, still no news. I called again and was told that it was still in processing, but he would put a note on the file that I had called and to expect a call back from Tucson, Arizona. Last week I unbelievably received the call from Tucson, and was told that the passport was still being processed but not in Tucson, it was actually being processed in Washington D.C. and I was told to call back and check “next week”. I called today (5/22) and was told, that there is note that I called and you’ve guessed it to “call and check next week”

I applied for my passport June 11th. The next Friday June 21st I was sent a letter advising to send in a statement about my mutilated passport. That same day I sent in my statement in which the passport center received June’s 24th Monday. I have been waiting ever since then to receive an updated status on my passport. I leave in 4 days and I have heard nothing. I called in multiple times and did everything possible to notify them I am leaving in a few days. Please I am freaking out my flight and accommodations are booked. I need this passport. What should I do?

The best bet would be to go to the closest US Passport Agency to you. You can find a list of all of the regional Passport Offices here- travel.state.gov

Can anyone here at least tell us if they did receive the passport and when? All I see here people are complaining but all the stories are similar. Than you very much!

Mine was processed on June 10th for my renewal but I did the routine service which was a huge mistake. I leave on the 21st of July and called them 2 weeks prior to see if they can expedite it. It’s been 2 days and they still haven’t accepted the payment to expedite the passport and now I’m getting nervous. Can you go to the agency and get one a day later with no appointment ? Even with all my documentation submitted already? There’s no appointments available and I need this quick. I thought about just telling the border agents that my renewal didn’t arrive to me on time but I thinks that’s a bad call.

So I have a week and half before my trip and passport is not here. Would I be able to go to the agency near me with my travel plans and explain to them that I need a passport same day or do they need the documentation that I already sent out for renewal.

If you have a week left, we would recommend going to the closest Passport Agency to you . You can bring in proof of travel and they should be able to assist you. Cannot speak as to whether it would be same day, however they can typically make that happen

Haven’t gotten my passport and it’s been 6 1/2 weeks maybe more. More than 10 days ago my parents paid for expedited but at the time they didn’t withdraw anything yet i think it’s still processing but i already missed my flight yesterday that was booked and everything. Now i need to wait for passport, and book a new flight to europe, and i’m so stressed out. The customer service people told us to call tomorrow because they’ve been closed due to bad floods and weather in New Orleans or wherever (I live in jacksonville Florida though) so i’m guessing in New Orleans is where they make the passports i don’t know, but if i call back tomorrow do you think they will send it within a few days? I mean we’ve paid from the beginning + expedited and the customer service called us in as an emergency obviously and everything. I want to know what might happen or if they can finish it so i can be less stressed and not worry about it not being done in a week or so..

My story is similar. Applied for passport about 8 weeks a go. I checked the website and it still says its processing. I have called but no help. My family traveling plans are this coming weekend. Have any of you gone to the agency and received a passport? I have an appointment but I will need to travel 8 hours in hopes that I can get it so I can join my family. Thanks!

Leo, did you end up getting your passport? If so, what steps did you take to get it in time?

I leave in 2 1/2 weeks & my parents have not received theirs yet (filed on June 15th).

Thanks to the ineptitude of the passport renewal office I will be missing the F1 Grand Prix race in Budapest on 8/3/19 and 8/4/19; the F1 Experience office which sets up these top shelf programs will not apply my 3594.00 fee to a future race. in addition, I lost all my money for my flights, about 1500.00. The passport people logged in my app on 5/28/19, eight weeks prior to sunday 7/28/19, one day prior to my departure when express mail was available. In fact the passport folks took my debit card # on 7/24/19; at that point I thought things to be OK. WRONG! On 7/15/19, at the 2 week juncture prior to my 7/29/19 departure, I started to call the worthless aforementioned numbers just to be told my app was being processed. Not once did I receive a e mail or phone call due to incomplete data. My departure date loomed from the app like a tombstone; you think the processor supervisors would prioritize the workload, placing a premium on the apps with the most immediate departure dates. Unfortunately, todays government workers have a I will get to it when I get to it attitude including vital services such as public health and safety. Lastly, the only solice they offer are the two cheapest words in the English language, I,M SORRY. I would rather be told to F#&$ Off by these lazy, corpulent worthless creatures who are not held accountable for their snafus like workers in the private sector. Since I am retired on a fixed income, the money lost came mainly from my savings. I may never be able to seize another opportunity like this again. In closing, I am bloody tired of living in a country that always PRETENDS to be another. If the folks out there think this is the fairest, most benevolent , most efficient country in the world they need to catch themselves on real fast.

My Sister applied and paid for expedited service on August 19. Her travel date is September 14, 8 days from now. On August 30, she received an email with a form attached to fill out, sign and return. Her previous passport expired in 2010. At some point shortly after that, she began the renewal process, but never completed it. The form they sent was for her to verify her old passport was lost or stolen. She checked off it was lost at home and overnighted it back via UPS to New Hampshire. They received the form from her on Tuesday, Sept 3 (Labor Day weekend the reason for the delay). On Thursday, September 5, she received an email acknowledging receipt of the requested form. She called today, Friday, September 6 and inquired of the status. They said if she doesn’t have the passport by Wednesday, September 11, they will implement “Plan B” (whatever that is).

In the meantime, I have set up and confirmed an appointment for her in San Francisco on Monday, September 9. With New Hampshire already working on it, will San Francisco be able to intervene? Or do we need to run the course with New Hampshire until Wednesday, September 11?

Any idea what the specifics of their “Plan B” is?

I’m just super pissed it’s been 11 weeks and they keep telling me check my status. No type of solutions! I’m so glad I didn’t get expedited otherwise I would have wasted money I don’t have……I can’t wait to leave this country I just want to be free.

I have 8 weeks and 2 days waitting and nothing. Tezna did you get the passport?

Seekwisdom did you get the passport?

The National visa center is a joke I sent everything needed and replied to every letter almost as soon as they arrived and 2 years later and still haven’t received my passport. I called various times to try and cancel my application because I want all my important paperwork back and they say for me to keep fighting that I already waited this long. This is something else.

How long before they start processing passports again?

As of May 27, 2020, there has not been an update provided by the US Passport Agency. Please check back here frequently for up to date information.

I have to travel overseas in two weeks but my son doesn’t receive his passport what I can do

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What to Do if Your Passport Hasn’t Arrived in Time

Lee is a freelance travel writer and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. Lee has held the Southwest Companion Pass since 2007 and enjoys being spoiled thanks to his Kimpton Inner Circle status.

Giselle M. Cancio is an editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.

She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.

She is based in Miami.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

International travel involves new adventures, sampling local delicacies and stretching your boundaries. While these trips can be memorable, some of the planning and prep work can be stressful.

In order to travel internationally, you must have a valid passport. With standard processing times, it can take up to eight weeks to get a new or renewed passport. So, what do you do if your passport doesn't arrive in time?

How long does it take to receive a passport?

Generally, it takes six to eight weeks to receive a new or renewed passport with standard processing. Depending on how far in advance of your trip you apply, you might be cutting it close or miss your trip altogether.

It is possible to expedite your application by paying rush fees, using a passport expeditor or visiting a passport agency.

How to check on the status of your passport application

The U.S. State Department offers online tools and phone numbers to track the status of your passport application.

Sign-up for email updates . Start by signing up for email updates for your passport application status.

Online Passport Status System . Check on the status of your application by providing your last name, date of birth and last four digits of your Social Security Number on their website.

Call the National Passport Information Center . If you’re unable to get the information you need, you can also call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778.

» Learn more: How much does a passport cost?

Status update descriptions

When checking the status of your passport application, you may receive one of these descriptions. These terms may seem generic or confusing, so here’s what they mean for your application.

Not available . Your application is still in transit to a passport agency or intake facility. This term is also what you’ll find if the website is experiencing a technical difficulty. Try checking back in a few hours.

Arrived . When your application has arrived at a mail facility.

In process . Your application is being reviewed at an agency or processing facility. The length of time it is “in process” depends on which type of service you selected (e.g. standard or expedited).

Approved . They have finished reviewing your passport application, and printing will begin soon.

Passport mailed . The new passport has been mailed to your mailing address. Check the Online Passport Status System for a tracking number. If you selected two-day delivery, you should receive your passport within two days of when it was mailed.

Supporting documents mailed . The supporting documents have been mailed through First Class Mail. These documents arrive separately from your passport.

» Learn more: How to get a passport for a child

What happens if my passport doesn't come in time?

While this process generally goes smoothly, there are situations where your passport may not arrive in time. Travelers who haven't received their passport in time wonder, "My passport hasn't arrived, what can I do?"

If two weeks have passed since your passport application status changed to “Mailed,” and you haven’t received it yet, call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778.

When you call, the customer service agent will help you complete Form DS-86. This signed statement indicates that you haven’t received your passport, and it will be invalidated for travel. A new passport will be issued in six weeks. However, the time is reduced to three weeks with expedited processing.

You have 90 days from when your passport was issued to complete and submit this form. After 90 days, you'll have to reapply for your passport again and pay all application fees a second time.

You may need to submit a new passport application depending on your travel dates. If you're traveling internationally within 14 days, follow the Urgent Travel procedures mentioned below.

7 ways to expedite your passport application

When you need to get your passport in a hurry, there are steps you can take to expedite your passport application.

Get expedited processing . The U.S. Department of State offers expedited processing for an extra $60 on top of the standard passport application fees. This reduces the wait time to approximately 2-3 weeks.

Purchase two-day delivery . It can take up to two weeks to receive your passport after it has been mailed. For an extra $19.53, you can add 1 to 2-day delivery through the U.S. Postal Service. This service is available for passports but not for passport cards.

Upgrade your application service type . Even if you didn’t initially order expedited processing or two-day delivery, you can call (877) 487-2778 to upgrade with either add-on by paying the necessary fees.

Submit the application through Priority Mail . Applications can take up to two weeks to arrive at a passport agency or processing center. Mailing your application through the U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail Express enables your application to arrive at a processing facility sooner, which can reduce the overall time it takes to get your new passport. The price varies depending on where you’re located within the U.S.

Expedite at the agency . If you have urgent travel within the next 14 days, you can make an appointment with a passport agency or center to get your passport.

Emergency travel appointment . In life-or-death situations of an immediate family member, travelers can get a new passport when they have to travel internationally within the next three business days.

Passport expediting service . Private companies known as passport expeditors or couriers can submit expedited passport applications on behalf of customers. These services charge extra fees, but they cannot get your passport any faster than if you booked your own appointment. However, their expertise can handle the task on your behalf while you focus on other pressing matters.

» Learn more: Need a passport for a trip? Give yourself a big time cushion

Consider travel insurance

If your timeline is looking tight, consider purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy with Cancel For Any Reason coverage to better protect your nonrefundable travel payments.

Unfortunately, your passport not arriving in time for your trip doesn't qualify for reimbursements under the majority of travel insurance cancellation policies, which is why you need to supplement with CFAR coverage .

Your credit card's travel insurance benefit may already offer some level of protection; however, only the additional CFAR protections will help you in the passport-delay circumstance.

The bottom line

After booking a trip and getting time off from work, the last thing you want to do is cancel your trip if your passport hasn't arrived in time.

When submitting your application, you can pay to expedite its processing and purchase faster shipping. You can even upgrade your processing time and shipping method if you didn't initially purchase them.

The U.S. Department of State offers online tracking and email notifications to track your passport application. When your passport ships, if you don't receive it within two weeks, contact them right away to submit Form DS-86 to get a new passport.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Travel : Your Money Will Return, Your Time Won’t

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