You will need a passport to get into the UK or any other country. If you do not already have a
passport, you should apply for one as soon as possible, as they can take several weeks to arrive
via mail-in application. One can acquire a passport application at major branches of the US Post
Office. For US citizens, a US passport will be enough to get you into the UK, any EU country,
and most other European countries. Some countries, though (e.g. Russia) will require you to
have a visa or other special documentation to cross their borders. If you have citizenship other
than US, you may need a visa to get into certain countries (UK included), so it is best to check
with your embassy regarding necessary documentation. For traveling around Europe, you can
often get visas that cover all EU countries, which is very convenient. For all travelers, if you are
visiting a country other than the UK, for a short while, you should carry a photocopy of your
passport and visas, if applicable. In case you lose your passport, this copy should facilitate your
getting assistance from your embassy.
Before leaving for England, you will need to get a visa that will allow you to study in the UK for
a year (by proving that you are enrolled in Cambridge and of sound financial standing). To get
this, you will need to submit an application and fee (about $70) to the British Embassy. In
addition to allowing you to enter the country without a problem, your visa will also entitle you to
work in the UK during the summer or vacations (between terms) and for a maximum of 20 hours
per week during the school year. However, Cambridge University does not allow students to
work during the terms (despite your visa saying you can), so you can only work during
vacations, when there is no limit on your hours.
Immigration rules change often, so be sure to check the relevant authorities (UK and CME) for
latest information:
UK: http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/index.htm
CME: http://web.mit.edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/cmi/ue/mit-admitted-students.html#passport.

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