On International Travel: Little Things Worth Being Conscious Of | Akaba James

For the Open Dreams Community

Traveling internationally for the first time is an exciting milestone, but excitement can quickly turn to distress when unforeseen issues arise at the airport. Imagine the pain of waving goodbye to loved ones, only for an airline agent to say, "Sorry, you cannot board this flight due to some irregularities with the flight" — and the decision stands. To help avoid such traumatic experiences, here are key things you should be mindful of when booking your flights:

Open Dreams Scholar, Danie-Ashley, studying Civil Engineering in the USA

1. If you're traveling to the USA or Canada with a Cameroonian passport, avoid flights with two European transits unless you hold a valid Schengen visa.

2. Flights with one transit in Europe are the ideal

3. Flights with two EU transits might seem cheaper, but they often come with visa complications - without a Schengen visa, you would be denied boarding.

4. If you are traveling for the first time to either the USA or Canada, do not book flights that transit through the other country unless you have visas for both the USA and Canada.

5. Example: You cannot be headed to Canada and transit through the USA without a US visa, and vice versa.

6. Exercise caution with booking sites like kiwi.com

   Kiwi.com often offers some of the cheapest flight deals. However:

   • The flights may not be connected (separate tickets).

   • You might land at one airport and take off from another, requiring you to exit the airport, take a lift to the nearby airport and re-enter immigration control.

   • This setup requires visas for every transit country, which you may not have.

   • Missing flights would mean that you have to pay to rebook — unlike connected flights where the airline bears responsibility in a situation where you miss a connecting flight.

7. Cameroonian consular services abroad are expensive.

8. Make sure your passport is valid for as long as possible before traveling.

9. Renewing a nearly expiring passport before you leave Cameroon saves you time, stress, and money later.

10. A travel authorization which the Cameroon Embassies abroad issue is as expensive as a passport, but it is used just one to travel on an expired passport to return home to renew the passport. But if you spend that money to renew a passport that was left with two years to expire before you left Cameroon, you gain more

11. For a B1/B2 US visa, you can still enter the USA even one day before the visa expires.

12. At the port of entry in the USA, a Customs Officer will stamp your passport, allowing you up to six months of legal stay in the USA — even after the visa itself has expired.

13. You can also re-enter the USA from Canada with an expired visa under specific conditions.

14. Longer travel times often mean cheaper tickets (paradoxically).

15. However, Cameroonian airport police may block you if:

    • Your transit times exceed 12 hours.

    • Your itinerary takes an unreasonable route (e.g., traveling to Algeria but routed through Europe).

16. Always check the logic of the flight plan before booking.

17. Do not forget your yellow vaccination card.

18. Be swift and efficient during transit, even if it’s your first travel experience.

19. Prepare yourself by watching YouTube travel tutorials and simulations to familiarize yourself with airport processes.

20. You can enter the USA up to 30 days before your academic program begins.

21. However, arriving in the USA late — even one or two days after your program start date — could result in you being denied entry.

    
    

    Book your flights wisely to ensure a smooth arrival for orientations and classes.

We share these tips because sometimes families, ticketing agents, sponsoring institutions or organizations may book your flights without paying close attention to potential red flags. There is always a chance to make a very expensive mistake when booking flights. Missing the first days of a seminar, orientation program, or academic classes can seriously affect your experience, especially when you are traveling for the very first time. Remember, it is advisable to travel with your phone and your SIM card. They work abroad excellently.

Feel free to add more travel tips based on your experience!

• Akaba James | Open Dreams