Visa
You generally have to obtain a visa before entering the country. The approval process may take several months, depending on the respective country. You can obtain information from the relevant embassy. For the USA, it is not the embassy but certain organizations or their German partners that are responsible for arranging entry documents. One of these organizations is the US Diplomatic Mission to Germany. The function of this organization is, among other things, to guarantee the legal conditions of entry and residence for the USA as a partner of the US authorities.
Leave of Absence
To study abroad - whether within an exchange program or independently organized - you should not exmatriculate under any circumstances, but if necessary take a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for a maximum of two semesters by submitting a confirmation from the host university. The application (see Leave of Absence) must generally be submitted by the start of lectures, but no later than five weeks after the start of lectures (only if this cannot be foreseen earlier). The semester fee (student union and administration fee) must still be paid. However, the tuition fee does not apply.
Attention!
During a semester on leave of absence, it is not possible to take exams at TUM. Resits, however, are possible as well as the recognition of credits earned abroad.
Within EU incl. Associated Countries
If you are a member of a statutory health insurance or are included in the family insurance (up to the age of 25), you can apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can obtain the card, by contacting your German health insurance, as an alternative to the former E 128 form. With the EHIC or the form, you can have treatment in other European countries and the respective health insurances, which are linked via the social security agreement, will settle the costs with each other.
Outside EU
If you are staying outside the EU, you have to take out additional health insurance for abroad with a private health insurance company.
As you usually remain enrolled at TUM, you have to pay health insurance in Germany as well. This means that you must continue to pay your contributions to the statutory health insurance during your stay abroad, i.e. in parallel to your private health insurance abroad. If you are privately insured, talk to your health insurance company about the possibility of taking out health insurance cover abroad.
It is important that the insurance benefits meet the minimum requirements for enrolment at the host university (e.g. visits to the dentist). You should therefore also find out about the respective requirements regarding health insurance cover at the university abroad. Whether you have statutory or private insurance, you should always take out repatriation insurance to cover the costs of transportation to Germany in case of an emergency.