Immunizations

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ROUTINE

You must be up-to-date on all routine immunizations outlined by the CDC, including:

• DTAP
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Meningococcal
• MMR
• Varicella (Chickenpox)

As a reminder, a copy of your immunization record is due by March 1st, 2026. Please reach out to your primary care physician as soon as possible to begin the process of obtaining your records.

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TYPHOID

We highly recommend that you receive a Typhoid vaccination prior to your participation in  FutureVets Abroad. We recommend that you schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or a nearby travel clinic as soon as possible if you are not already vaccinated.

Please note that either administrative routes (intramuscular injection or oral medication) are accepted for the program.

Please visit the CDC website for additional information on prevention and resources for getting vaccinated against Typhoid.

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RABIES

We highly recommend that you receive a Rabies vaccination prior to your participation in  FutureVets Abroad. The Rabies vaccine is given over multiple doses depending on whether or not you’ve been previously vaccinated against it. We strongly encourage families to begin this process as soon as possible to avoid potential issues as the program approaches.

For more information, please visit the Rabies Vaccine Information Sheet on the CDC website.

Passport Information

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GETTING OR RENEWING YOUR PASSPORT

Your passport will need to be valid through February 15, 2027, in order to enter Guatemala. Guatemalan immigration requires all passports to have at least 6 months’ validity beyond our departure date. Check the expiration date on your passport.  

This is a VERY IMPORTANT STEP AND TIME SENSITIVE as you will need a valid passport through February 15th, 2027 in order for us to secure your international flight.

If your passport is VALID through February 15, 2027, take a picture of the photo page of your passport and upload it in the “Submit Documents” section as soon as possible. 

If your passport is NOT VALID through February 15, 2027, visit the State Department website for instructions on how to renew your passport.

 If you DO NOT HAVE A PASSPORT, please visit the State Department website for instructions on how to apply for a passport immediately.

NOTE: Passports can take up to four weeks to arrive, so please make sure you apply immediately to avoid delays. All students are required to have a valid passport book to travel to Guatemala. Passport cards are not valid for international travel to Guatemala. 

Additionally, confirm that you have signed your passport on the page opposite the photo page. A U.S. passport is only valid once it is signed! If you have NOT signed your passport, use a non-ballpoint pen and make sure the ink is dry before closing your passport. We recommend that you add your contact information in pencil on the Personal Data and Contact Information page as well. If you lose your passport, this will give you the best chance of getting it back.

You must submit a copy of your passport into the “Submit Documents” page by March 1, 2026.

Please inform the Admissions Team of any possible delays in obtaining your passport by emailing admissions@allaccessvet.com, or by calling us at (888)986-6563.

 

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SUBMITTING YOUR PASSPORT

As a reminder, we need your passport information in order to attain your ticket for your international flight to Guatemala. The details from your passport ID page are provided to the airline and are required in order for you to be ticketed for our international flight. Please ensure that the photo you upload meets the following standards:

• Shows your passport as being valid for at least 6 months beyond our departure date from Guatemala: February 15th, 2027
• All of the details on your passport must be clearly legible and free from obstructions (fingers, light glares, shadows, etc…)
• All four corners of your passport ID page must be within the frame of the photo
• Your passport must be lying flat on a neutral surface
• NOTE: Scanned copies of your passport must be in color

We will reach out to you directly if your passport does NOT meet the following requirements. These are time sensitive requests and should be handled in a timely manner. If we do not receive your passport by the deadline, or if we do not hear back from you, you will risk enrollment cancellation.

Domestic Travel Information

BOOKING YOUR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

Our flight to Guatemala City is scheduled to depart from Miami International Airport (MIA) in Miami, Florida on August 2nd at 5:35 PM EST. You must book your domestic flight to and from MIA and provide us with a copy of your trip itinerary so that we know when to expect you. Plan your travel so that you arrive at MIA by 12:00 PM EST on August 2nd, 2026. 

Our flight home will arrive at MIA around 11:15 AM EST on Saturday, August 15th. We recommend that domestic flights leave between 3:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on August 15th, 2026 to ensure that students have enough time to navigate through immigration, collect their luggage at baggage claim, and check-in for their flights without fear of missing their flight. Our Admissions Team is happy to help weigh in on potential itineraries as needed – please feel free to reach out.

 

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ARRIVAL TO MIA – August 2nd, 2026

There will be FutureVets staff on the ground at MIA waiting for you at Concourse D near the American Airlines check-in area (door 4, by the pre-departure Starbucks). It is crucial that you check in with the FutureVets team upon arriving at MIA because you CANNOT check-in for our international flight without the group. Any additional instructions for navigating to the group check-in area will be provided to students using our WhatsApp group chat the day before travel.

After you have picked up your luggage from baggage claim, you will need to follow the signs to the air train which will take you to Concourse D departures. Upon arrival into Concourse D, follow the signs to check in and locate the American Airlines check-in desk. Please check-in with a FutureVets team member and await further instructions. More information on navigating Miami International Airport can be found here.

If you are unable to find the group meeting point after exiting your domestic flight, please send a message in the WhatsApp group chat notifying staff members that you have arrived and are having trouble finding the group. A member of our staff team will call you and meet you where you are in the airport.

You will be provided with a neck wallet/name badge upon checking in with FutureVets staff. Note that your name badge must be worn at ALL TIMES throughout the program unless otherwise specified by FutureVets Staff. Depending on what time your domestic flight lands, you may be waiting outside of security for awhile. This serves as an opportunity to get to know your chaperones and peers! If you are driving into MIA, follow signs to Departures – American Airlines. Drop off between 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST.

Our group will begin moving through the American Airlines check-in line at approximately 1:00 PM on August 2nd. NOTE: The group will not wait for individuals. 

Special notes to remember for flying to MIA:

• The night before you travel, check online flight departures for any delays on your domestic travel from your hometown.
• The morning of your flight, check again for any delays. Apps like flighttracker.com can be used to check delays or you can type your airline and flight number into Google.
• If you have any issues at all with your travel plans or disruptions, please call us immediately so we can put the appropriate measures in place ahead of time. (We will provide you with the emergency number closer to program lift-off)
• Once you arrive at MIA remember to pick up all of your luggage at the baggage claim before heading to the group meeting point! Concourse D, American Airlines. Your baggage will NOT automatically check through for our international flight.
• If your baggage is lost or delayed upon arrival into MIA airport, please call the Admissions Team to inform us. We will give you instructions based on connection time for our international flight.

 

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FutureVets Policy on Missed Connections

FutureVets will assign one staff member to oversee your wellbeing and ensure you make your rescheduled flight if you miss your connection. If you miss your international flight on departure day, you will be rescheduled on the next available flight to the host country. If you miss your domestic flight home on arrivals day, or if your flight is canceled, you are responsible for organizing your travel arrangements home.

You will be responsible for all expenses incurred as a contingency, including:

• Additional airline fees, change fees, agent fees, and baggage fees for yourself
• Meals for yourself
• Overnight accommodations for yourself, if necessary
• Transportation costs, if necessary

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for peace of mind and to safeguard against unexpected trip interruptions. We’ve partnered with IMG Insurance to offer their iTravelInsured Choice plan, which provides a great safety net and peace of mind. It has well-rounded coverage, with the option to expand your coverage in key areas.

→ Purchase your travel insurance now

International Travel Information

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INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT DETAILS

Coming soon…

Clothing

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PACKING LIST

Shared below is a basic packing list for FutureVets Abroad. Many items are hyperlinked to our suggested products. Keep in mind this list is intended to provide basic guidance for essentials. This does not necessarily include every item that you may personally require.

Carry-On Items:

• Phone charger and chargers for any other electronics
• Pen(s)
• Small notebook
• Entertainment for the plane ride (headphones, phone, playing cards, book, etc…)
• Empty reusable water bottle (you’ll need to fill it up after you get through airport security)
• A change of clothes for 2-3 days – It is very important to include a set of scrubs, a casual outfit, and a lab coat in your carry-on. In the event that your checked luggage is lost in transit, you will need to be prepared for the first couple of days of the program. Lost luggage normally takes between 1 to 3 days to be returned.
• Prescription medications and supplements
• Valuable electronics
• Any cash or currency

Clothing Items:

• 5-6 sets of scrubs for rotations. Packing 5-6 sets of scrubs (and planning to do laundry once or twice) should cover the trip. 
• 1 white full-length lab jacket(s). Short sleeved lab jackets are acceptable.
• Surgical cap reusable or disposable for surgical rotations.
• Headlamp for surgical rotations
• Waterproof boots
• Lightweight, foldable wide brim sun hat
• Lightweight rain jacket
• 1-2 pairs of clean sneakers for touring and indoor facility work. (your favorite brand that you can stand/walk in for 12 hours)
• 2 pairs of ankle length jeans with no rips
• 1 business casual outfit and appropriate footwear 
  • MEN: Trousers/khakis and collared shirts, laced dress shoes or loafers
  • WOMEN: Knee-length dresses or skirts, trousers, collared shirts, blouses, flats, loafers, wedges
  • NOTE: No jeans, shorts, or athletic wear to be considered as business casual wear
• 2 casual, breathable warm-weather outfits for our weekend excursions, which MUST include long pants and suitable closed toe shoes for outdoor activities such as hiking.
• Pajamas/sweats for your overnight accommodations and hanging out
• Socks and undergarments
• Bathing suit 

Toiletries/ Other Items: 

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Brush/comb
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash or soap
• Sunscreen (SPF 50 or above is recommended)
• Small first aid kit
• External charger for electronics
• Glasses/contacts, contact case and solution
• Bug spray
• Ladies, please be mindful that feminine hygiene items are difficult to come by in brands and styles you might be comfortable with. Be sure to pack these items with you if you’ll need them on our trip.
• Advil, Midol, Imodium, Vitamin C, Hydration tablets/packs ….to name a few of the most common items
• 3-4 packs of travel tissues

 

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DRESS CODE

Travel to and from Guatemala:

Ultimately, comfort plays a large part in making flights memorable. Always wear comfortable clothes, and this includes your travel shoes. 

• Wear layers – You will need pieces that you can easily take off or put on to help you combat the varying temperatures you encounter throughout your journey
• Wear something that you can keep on for the next 12 hours – travel time to Guatemala City and to our destination once in-country will be at least 6 hours
• Wear clothes that don’t restrict you
• Wear natural, breathable fabrics
• Wear socks and comfortable footwear

 

At Clinical Facilities: 

Students will be asked to wear scrubs (all sessions) and a white lab coat for some sessions at the veterinary facilities. 

• Scrubs can be any color/pattern/short sleeve/long sleeve. We recommend ours!
• Lab jackets are required for some rotations. We recommend ours!
• Students will be on their feet for long periods while on rotations, so comfortable shoes are always recommended. All shoes worn on rotations must be closed-toed. Boots are advisable during certain rotations in rural areas. Steel toe shoes/boots are forbidden.

NOTE: Absolutely NO athletic wear, jeans, or shorts

Overnight Accommodations

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Students will be staying in modern hotels with updated amenities nearby our clinical facilities.

Access:

All students will be given a room key upon arrival. You must keep this on you at all times to access your hotel room.

Remember, our team of experienced staff will also be available 24/7 should you need any assistance at all.

Air Conditioning:

The hotel rooms are not air conditioned as the evenings tend to cool off quite a bit. Windows can be opened inside hotel rooms for air flow and additional fans can be provided upon request.

Summer months in our area are generally sunny, with daytime temperatures in the low to mid 80s. There are occasional rain showers.

Laundry:

Laundry service is available to students by the hotel. Laundry service is provided by the hotel and items will be returned to students clean and folded within 1 day of pickup. Laundry service is not complimentary and students should be prepared with cash to pay for their laundry. The price of laundry is calculated by weight and/or type of items. The FutureVets team will provide further instructions on how to prepare laundry for pickup in our pre-departure webinars, as well as on-site.

WIFI:

The hotel offers free Wifi.

Lounge/Study Area:

Each room offers a quiet and peaceful place to rest and relax. There is also a dedicated desk for study in each room.

Otherwise, each hotel has plenty of communal areas for study or relaxation.

Meals and Water

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MEALS

Breakfast and dinner will be provided at the hotel. A selection of food will be available including authentic Guatemalan fare, and a variety of American classics. Lunch will be provided on location during our Monday – Friday activities. On the weekend, we will dine at several local restaurants.

Snacks and room service are available for purchase at the hotel. Trips to the local convenience store can also be arranged with chaperones upon request.

Be sure you have updated any special dietary requirements on the portal so we can be sure to prep the chef ahead of your arrival. 

 

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WATER

It’s recommended to refrain from drinking tap water. Brushing teeth is typically fine. You will be able to purchase bottled water everywhere and chaperones will be available 24/7 to assist students if needed.

Electronics

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POWERING ELECTRONICS

The voltage supplied in electrical outlets as well as the outlet type varies in countries throughout the world, so in order to charge your devices when you visit another country, it’s important to check the voltage and outlet requirements of your host country. 

In Guatemala, the standard voltage is 120 volts, which is the same as U.S. wall outlets. The power outlet types in Guatemala are also the same as in the U.S. You will find both the 2-prong and 3-prong outlets you’re familiar with from the U.S. in Guatemala. However, if you are packing any electronics with a 3-prong plug, you may want to pack a 3-to-2 prong adapter in case 3-prong plugs are not available. 

Remember to pack additional battery packs and any charging cables you may need.

 

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INTERNATIONAL CELL PHONE USE

In all likelihood, your cell phone plan does not accommodate international texting, calling, or data use. If you use these functions while traveling abroad, you will likely rack up a huge roaming bill – possibly in the thousands of dollars. To ensure this doesn’t happen, be sure to turn off your cellular data and put your phone in airplane mode before we depart on our international flight. You will still be able to connect to Wi-Fi where available while on airplane mode. It’s safest to leave your phone in airplane mode for the duration of the trip, and only use Wi-Fi for internet access, in order to avoid a surprise phone bill when you get back.

Alternatively, you can explore options with your cell service provider for international travel plans. Most cell service providers offer a daily or monthly plan ranging from $5-$20 per day for international travel. Be sure to explore all the limitations before traveling.

Currency and Payment

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FutureVets includes all program costs, international airfare, accommodations, local in-country transportation, and meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students should prepare seperate funds their own personal expenses, laundry, shopping, personal care items, souvenirs, snacks, etc. ($250-$300 should be more than adequate).

In advance of your trip to Guatemala, we recommend you have a discussion with your parents on how you will pay for personal expenses while abroad. You may choose to carry a credit card, withdraw Guatemalan Quetzales using an ATM or debit card, or some combination of these options.

Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in Guatemala; Discover and American Express are not as widely accepted. If you plan to use a credit card while in Guatemala, your parents should ask their credit card company about their international transaction fees and alert them of your international travel plans beforehand to avoid security holds. Check the expiration date on your credit/debit cards and make a separate note in a safe place of their numbers and the service number on the back of the card. 

It is also advisable to carry some small denominations of local currency for small purchases. Most purchases have to be over a certain amount in order to pay by card.

The Quetzal is the currency of Guatemala, named after the national bird of Guatemala. One USD equals about $7.70 Quetzales. U.S. bank ATM cards can also be used in Guatemala to obtain Quetzales. Students should check with their bank about foreign ATM transactions and conversion fees.

Insurance

We recommend that all students consider purchasing travel insurance that includes medical coverage. This is the best way to ensure you are financially and medically protected if something unexpected happens.

We’ve partnered with IMG Insurance to offer their iTravelInsured Choice plan, which provides a great safety net and peace of mind. 

It has well-rounded coverage, with the option to expand your coverage in key areas, such as medical.

As a reminder, In the case that a student falls ill, we will escort them to the closest top-tier medical institution in collaboration with our Medical Partners. We do not pay medical bills for students. Be aware that doctors in our program location do not accept U.S. health insurance. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you purchase the iTravelInsured Choice plan, which includes primary coverage for emergency medical and dental expenses while abroad.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO

An after-hours emergency number will be available for families when the Admissions Department is outside of regular business hours from August 2nd – August 15th.  The emergency number is coming soon… This number should be reserved for emergencies only.

After-hours non-urgent calls should go to the Admissions Team at (888) 986-6563, and, should you leave a message, a team member will return your call during regular business hours.

FUTUREVETS SHOP

Shop scrubs, lab coats, accessories, and more HERE

Recommended Activities:

Interested in taking a few language classes? Get 70% off a trial lesson with a native language tutor HERE

Webinar Recording and Transcript

Coming soon…