Travel & Financial Policies

Trip Dates are Approximate

International ticketing and travel is a complex matter. We’ve done our best to give you the approximate dates of trip offerings, but we recommend you not do any other travel within a 3-day window of published trip dates.

Probation Policy

Students on probation (academic, financial, student life, or ProDev) are not permitted to take part in an international trip required for graduation including Summer Internship, Da Mission, or Immersion.

Students may appeal this rule by stating why they should be able to participate while on probation by submitting a request for an exemption to registrar@instituteforgod.org and fac@i4god.org (Financial Advising Committee). 

Commitment to Safety

G.O.D. International follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and consults the U.S. State Department travel advisories for decisions related to international travel.

Meaures we implement:

• We continually monitor travel warnings issued by the US State Department. If there is a level 4 warning issued for the destination country, or if there are travel restrictions in place by the U.S. or foreign governments, we will examine plausible options and make the safest and most reasonable decision as to how we will continue with (or potentially cancel) travel plans.

• We are registered with the U.S. State Department's Safe Traveler's Enrollment Program (STEP), and are receiving live updates regarding concerns surrounding Coronavirus or other relevant travel warnings. We will communicate pertinent updates as we receive them.

• Individual travelers have to undergo a health screening with their physician of choice prior to the trip beginning.

Financial Policy

Trip applicants must pay their non-refundable $500 deposit within 30 days of applying for the trip. Failure to do so will result in removal from the official trip roster. Trip applicants who do not complete their first three payments 45 days before the trip begins will lose their spot on the official trip roster. 

If a student has not completed their first three payments within 45 days of the trip start date, they will receive a notification from the accounting department. If they still wish to participate, they must provide their plan for meeting their costs to the Finance Staff.

This policy protects GOD International from purchasing airline tickets for a student who cannot reasonably pay for their mission experience.

Cancellation Policy

If the trip is canceled by the organization for any reason, all funds raised for a participant’s experience, less the initial deposit, can be held for a future trip for up to 1 year with the organization, including other programs like The Institute for GOD or Students Living a Mission. If the pending amount is not spent after 1 year, funds will be released to the organization. If participants choose to keep a credit within the organization, we will work with participants to find alternative locations and dates at no additional cost.  If participants do not participate in another trip with the organization after 1 year, remaining funds paid towards the trip will be used on a future organizational mission trip or project at the discretion of the board of directors.

If participants choose to receive a cash refund, the refund will be provided for the amount remaining after the initial deposit, incurred trip costs, and donations received. The organization will provide a check upon request directly to the participant. For further information about donation refunds, refer to our donation refund policy.

If cancellation occurs after plane tickets have been purchased, participants will have the option of keeping their airline credit towards a future trip with GOD International or attempting to receive a travel voucher in their name. Travel vouchers are not guaranteed as restrictions differ from airline to airline. If an individual opts to elect a travel voucher (which is not guaranteed), they will be invoiced for the number of hours required of GOD International staff to complete the transfer, capped at $250.