What is a student visa?
A visa is an official stamp or document affixed within a passport, or given to you as a separate document, that has been issued by a foreign government granting permission for you to enter a country specifically to study.
Who is required to apply?
Typically students planning to study abroad outside of the U.S. for 90 days or more. Some countries require ALL students to apply for a visa- regardless of the length of the program.
Who issues student visas?
In general, visas are issued by consulates of the host country, which are located in various cities in the United States. Visit the U.S. Department of State web site here, to determine the consulate where you should apply for your visa.
How do I apply?
Obtain the most recent instructions from the consulate and submit your visa application along with your passport to the consulate according to their guidelines. (either in person, through an approved representative, or by mail). In some cases your program provider will provide you with detailed information on applying for a visa for your destination country.
How much time does it take to apply for a visa?
In general, filling out the visa application does not take much time, it's the other items that the consulate requires that usually take much longer to collect. Read through the complete application instructions as early as possible and plan a timeline based on how long you think it will take to collect the required materials/documents.
Examples of documents required by some consulates:
Copies of bank statements. Originals and/or copies of your acceptance letter from the program provider or institution overseas, proof that you are in a degree program at Wellesley (available from the Registrar's Office), evidence of medical insurance coverage, proof that you have a round-trip airline ticket, Biometric data (such as fingerprinting done at an approved agency or consulate), a criminal background check.
What if I am studying in one country in the fall and a different country in the spring- can I apply for both visas at the same time?
This situation can create problems. It is highly unlikely that you can apply for both visas at the same time. If you need a visa for the second country, where you will be studying in the Spring, verify the timeframe during which you can apply for that visa, it will most likely be limited. Some countries will allow you to apply for another visa from the country where you are currently studying. It is more likely though that you will have to return to the U.S. to apply for the second visa. Remember that consulates will keep your passport while they process your visa application, and some for a long time (4-6 weeks in some cases). This makes studying in two destinations in one year difficult for students.
Embassy Web Sites for Popular Education Abroad Programs:
United Kingdom
www.britainusa.com
France
www.info-france-usa.org/visitingfrance
www.campusfrance.org
Spain
www.spainemb.org
Italy
www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it
Mexico
http://portal.sre.gob.mx/usa
For links to other consulates, please visit the U.S. Department of State travel web site, here.
Other Resources
U.S. Department of State Definitions of Visa Terms
*****Adapted from a NAFSA (Association of International Educators) pamphlet, "Student Visas, What You Need to Know Before You Go!"
available at, http://www.nafsa.org/publication.sec/education_abroad_students/student_visas
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES