If you're reading this, it probably means you don't have a passport yet – that makes you just like most Americans. In fact, 70% of your fellow citizens don't have a passport. But why run with the crowd? Make a statement: get a passport.

The fact is, if you don't have a passport you can't leave the U.S. to go anywhere – not even to Mexico or Canada.

So once you've done the smart thing and gotten that passport, use it to change your life: study abroad! Check out our study abroad resources to find the program for you and help you find the money to make it happen.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PASSPORT

Getting a passport is easier than you think. Here's what you do:

• Fill out an application form
• Take 2 passport photos – make sure they meet the requirements
• Prove you're a U.S. citizen
• Show your ID
• Pay the application fee
• Drop it all off at a Passport Acceptance Facility

Talk to your study abroad office about finding the program that is best for you and what programs your campus offers. You can also search over 9,000 other programs that are available by visiting IIEPassport at the link below. Be sure to check with your own campus to see which programs will be eligible for academic credit at your institution.

No cash? No problem. Search for scholarships, fellowships and grants for study abroad.