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Passport/Visa Information
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Passport Information
All students going abroad will need a valid passport.
If you do not have a current passport, you
should apply for one as soon as possible.
Also please note that certain countries will not issue
a visa or allow you to enter the country if your Passport
is set to expire within 120 days.
Current information for U.S. citizens on how to obtain
a passport can be found on the State
Department website. Generally you will need to
submit the following materials:
- Proof of Citizenship (a birth certificate issued
by the local registrar of vital records, not the
hospital; or an expired passport)
- Two recent, identical 2"x 2" photographs
- Current Valid Photo Identification
- Federal
form DS-11 (for new passports) or DS-82 (for renewals)
-- these application forms can also be obtained
at a local post office or the Washington Passport
Agency.
- Passport fee
Most students choose to apply for a passport through
a passport acceptance facility such as a Post Office
or a Clerk of Court in your area. Use the
State Department website to find a passport acceptance
facility near you. The processing time will be approximately
6 weeks.
Detailed information on applying for passports can
be found at www.travel.state.gov.
For more detailed information, you may also contact
the Department of State Passport Information Line
at (202) 647-0518.
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Visa Information
Students in all programs have the responsibility
to investigate requirements and obtain all necessary
documents needed to obtain their visa(s). While AU
Abroad or its Partner institutions will provide students
with a letter of enrollment, students are expected
to furnish all supplemental documents as mandated
by the embassy or consulate of their host country
or countries. AU Abroad is not authorized to provide
any visa advice. Students without the proper visa
may be refused admittance into a county or be forced
to leave after arrival.
AU Abroad can NOT provide proof of international
health insurance for visa purposes. Please contact
your health insurance provider for a letter of verification
of coverage in your host country.
The student visa or residency permit application
process is often time and labor-intensive. You may
find yourself frustrated and overwhelmed with embassy
business hours, staff, and procedures; starting the
application process early and verifying you have every
document required with you when you submit your application
will help to minimize this frutration. Many countries
require you apply for a visa in person; in some cases,
students may need to travel out of state to the appropriate
consulate that corresponds to their home jurisdiction.
Patience and preparation are the key to visa success!
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Visa FAQs
- What
is a visa? And what is the difference between an
embassy and a consulate?
- Can
I get my visa while I apply for my passport?
- Can
I apply for my visa by mail?
- Can
I get my visa when I arrive at my program site abroad?
- What
do I need in order to apply for my visa?
- Where
do I apply for my visa?
- What
if I have questions that aren't answered here or
on the embassy web site?
- Do
I need a visa if I plan to travel before or after
my program? to other countries during my AU Abroad
semester?
- What
happens if I do not get my visa in time for the
start of the program?
1. What is a visa? And what is
the difference between an embassy and a consulate?
A visa is an official authorization
appended to a passport, permitting entry into and
travel within a particular country or region. An embassy
is simply a building where ambassadors live or work.
A consulate is the residence or workplace
of a consul. A consul is an official
appointed by a government to reside in a foreign country
and represent his or her government's commercial interests
and assist its citizens there. Visas services are
provided under the "consular" section of an embassy.
2. Can I get my visa while I apply
for my passport?
No. A visa is typically a stamp
or seal affixed inside your passport, so you must
always turn in your original passport when you submit
your visa application to the consulate.
3. Can I apply for my visa by
mail?
In some instances it may be possible.
Most embassies usually require individuals to apply
for all visas in person; you should contact your consulate
to inquire about your options. There are some embassies
for some countries that will allow applicants to Fed
Ex applications, particularly in instances where you
live far from the consulate for your jurisdiction.
Another option might be to have your parents apply
in person on your behalf. Again, please consult the
embassy web site or call the embassy to find out if
either of these options would be available to you.
4. Can I get my visa when I arrive
at my program site abroad?
No. If a visa is required for you
to visit or study in your host country, you will need
that visa before you enter the country.
5. What do I need in order to
apply for my visa?
Students applying for a tourist or student visa will
need a valid passport and other documents requested
by the consulate where you are applying. You can check
with the Embassy for more information. Often, students
will need an official visa letter from the sponsoring
institution. If you need such a letter, please contact
your AU Abroad Partner school.
6. Where do I apply for my visa?
In order to apply for a tourist or student visa,
you would normally apply in person at the DC consulate
or the consulate nearest to your current location.
7. What if I have questions
that aren't answered here or on the embassy web site?
If you have read through this information and the
information provided on the embassy web site and you
still have questions, you should call, fax,
or e-mail the Consulate with your unanswered questions.
Please be patient and take note of consular days and
hours of operation. Many students find contacting
various embassies and consulates extrememly difficult,
so be prepared to make repeated attempts until you
get the answers you need.
8. Do I need a visa if I plan
to travel before or after my program to other countries
during my AU Abroad semester?
If you are planning independent travel before, during,
or after the standard AU Abroad program, you are responsible
for securing any necessary visa(s) for your travel.
9. What happens if I do not get
my visa in time for the start of the program?
If you are do not obtain your visa before the start
date of the program, you may not be allowed to enter
your host country or even board the plane. If you
are able to enter the country, you may run into trouble
when registering with the local police, traveling,
etc. You may be asked to leave your host country.
There are a number of things that can happen to individuals
who do not obtain the necessary documents to travel
and study overseas. Students who can not complete
their study program because they failed to secure
the proper visa will NOT receive any tuition or program
refund. Don't take your chances: Be smart
and apply early!
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Embassy/Country Specific Visa
Information Webpages
- Argentina
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Costa
Rica
- Czech
Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt
- England
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Kenya
- Korea
- Lebanon
- Mexico
- Peru
- Spain
- Netherlands
- New
Zealand
- Poland
- Russia
- Scotland
- South
Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Turkey
- United
Arab Emirates
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