How does GIA’s gem lending system work?

Students taking the Gem Identification course who live outside the United States and who will not be using a GIA Student Workroom for practical assignments must submit an $800 USD deposit for the stone sets that will be loaned to them, along with their initial course payment. Stones are sent on loan for specified periods of time. Upon return of the stone sets in their original condition, GIA will refund the $800 deposit to the original submitter of the funds via the same method of payment by which it was submitted. Due to continuously changing customs regulations beyond GIA’s control, it may not be possible to ship Gem Identification stone sets to some locations outside the United States.