GO Trips

When are applications due?
There are two deadlines each year: an early bird deadline (with a discounted application fee) and a regular deadline. This year’s dates will be posted above once available — check back during the fall semester. Applications must be submitted online by midnight, and application fees can be paid in the Office of Student Discipleship and Engagement in the SUB, along with a copy of your passport and/or driver’s license.

Where do I get an application, and do I have to finish it all at once?
Once applications open, you’ll find the link above — you’ll set up a profile the first time you access the system, and use the same account later to check your GO Trip account and checklist. You don’t have to complete it in one sitting; save your progress and log back in later. We recommend saving frequently.

What if my passport is at home?
Make arrangements to get us a copy as soon as possible. We need to be able to clearly see your photo and read all the information on your passport.

I’ve submitted my application — what happens next?
Pray that God gives wisdom as applications are processed and teams are formed, and that he prepares your heart for wherever you’re placed — even if it’s different from what you expected. You’ll find out your team at the GO Trip Team Reveal, where you’ll also meet your teammates and team leader(s), receive next steps for the process, and pay your $100 deposit.

What’s involved in preparing for my trip?
All GO Trip participants are required to attend training and team meetings. This ensures you get the information and preparation you need for your trip and helps build unity with your team before you go. Large group training sessions lay the foundation, and team meetings cover the specifics for your trip.

Plan for a real time commitment — comparable to a lower-level university course. Attendance is required, and there will be preparation and assignments outside of team meetings. Excessive absences, excused or not, may result in dismissal from the team.

Where can I view my GO Trip account balance?
Log into your application to view your balance. Your account won’t be set up until you’re assigned to a team and have paid your deposit, and it may take several days for donations or payments to appear. Questions? Contact the Office of Student Discipleship and Engagement.

How much do I need to raise for my GO Trip?
Costs vary by trip based on location, ministry type, cost of living, and logistics. Trip information is available beginning in September. You’re personally responsible for your trip cost — funds you raise apply to your account but remain under the control of the GO Trip Program per the Support Raising Policy. Deposits and payments are due by the posted deadlines; missed deadlines may result in late fees. You’re also responsible for immunization and passport costs. If you’re unable to go, all funds — including application fee, payments, and gifts — are non-refundable, and you’re responsible for reimbursing any prepaid expenses.

What does the trip cost cover?
All on-field expenses: airfare and/or rental vehicles, local transportation, housing, food, ministry supplies, visa fees, and miscellaneous costs. It also includes travel insurance, transportation to/from the departure airport, a t-shirt, a background check fee, a team leader cost supplement, and an administrative fee (covering training, materials, Global Focus events, and general program costs). It does not cover your passport or immunizations, though you may be reimbursed for these if you have excess funds after your trip is paid in full. Trip cost is an estimate based on information from the field and is subject to change; we’ll communicate any increase as early as possible.

Will I get help raising support?
Yes — one of your GO Trip Training sessions covers biblical principles for giving, ideas for raising funds, how to write a support letter, program policies, your account responsibilities, and payment deadlines.

Will my team do a fundraiser?
That’s up to each team — it’s not required, but it’s an option if your team wants to.

How do donations to my trip work?
Checks can be mailed to Union (attn: GO Trips, 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, TN 38305), or given online. Gifts to Union are tax-deductible, and donors receive a receipt — but the GO Program retains full discretion and control over how funds are used. If you’re unable to go, your contribution stays in the GO Program fund.

Can I charge my GO Trip cost to my student account?
No.

When is my deposit due, and is it refundable?
Your $100 deposit is due at the GO Trip Team Reveal and is non-refundable, regardless of the reason or timing of withdrawal. We encourage you to pay this deposit personally as a first step in your own sacrificial giving toward the trip.

What if I can’t raise all my money?
Students who start early and stay consistent in prayer and effort are usually able to raise what they need. Support Raising Training will walk you through the process, and our office is available to coach you along the way — the more you communicate with us about your situation, the more we can help.

What happens to leftover funds in my account?
In order: (1) reimbursement for immunization/passport costs with documentation, (2) covering remaining needs on your own team, (3) covering needs on other GO Trip teams, (4) held for one program year toward a future GO Trip, after which unused funds roll into the GO Trip Endowment for future scholarships. Leftover funds can’t be refunded to you or your donors, or used for other trips, study abroad, or outside fundraising efforts, per tax law.

Why do I need a passport if I’m not leaving the country?
New TSA ID rules mean you may need a passport even for domestic travel. If your driver’s license isn’t REAL ID compliant, you’ll need a valid passport, military ID, or permanent resident/green card to fly.

Is my current passport valid for my GO Trip?
Check the expiration date — if it’s already expired or will expire within 6 months of your return date, you’ll need a new or renewed passport.

How do I apply for or renew a passport?
New passport: fill out and print the DS-11 form, and bring it — unsigned — along with a certified copy of your birth certificate, two passport photos, and payment to a Passport Acceptance Facility. In Jackson, the Main Post Office and Humboldt Post Office both accept applications by appointment; you can also look up other locations. Passport photos can be taken at Walgreens (Oil Well and Walker Road).

Renewal: fill out, sign, and date the DS-82 form, and mail it with your most recent passport, two passport photos, and payment to the address listed on the form.

Passport processing typically takes about two months, so don’t wait to start — we need your passport information on file to book your ticket.

What does a passport cost, and is it covered by my trip cost?
Passport fees are not included in your GO Trip cost, though you may be reimbursed if you have excess funds once your trip is fully paid. Fees are subject to change — check current pricing on the State Department site before applying.

Where can I find the most current passport information?
Passport rules, fees, and processing times change. Always check state.gov/travel for the most up-to-date requirements before applying.

What shots do I need for my trip, and where can I get them?
Visit the CDC’s travel vaccination page and search by country to see what’s required and recommended for your destination. Vaccines generally fall into three categories: routine (standard vaccinations everyone should be up to date on), recommended (based on your destination, health, and travel season), and required (yellow fever for parts of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America; meningococcal for travel to Saudi Arabia during Hajj). Your doctor can advise which apply to you — if you have a compromised immune system, talk to your doctor before receiving any vaccinations.

You can get immunizations through your primary care physician, Health Services on campus, or your local health department. Call ahead to confirm availability, since some immunizations require weeks or months of lead time or are given in a series — don’t wait until the last minute.

Are immunizations covered by my trip cost?
No — immunization costs aren’t included in your GO Trip cost, though you may be reimbursed if you have excess funds once your trip is fully paid.