A visa is special permission, usually as a stamp or endorsement on your passport, granted by a foreign government to enter their country. Visas are granted for travel, extended stay, work, and study. In most cases, you will need to obtain the visa before leaving the United States. As with your passport, please allow plenty of time for your visa to be processed.
Visas can only be obtained by applying directly to the foreign government via their diplomatic offices in the U.S. Be aware that some countries do not accept applications through the mail and require you to appear in person at their U.S. office in order to secure your visa.
Check with your program to see if you require a visa, and if so, which type of visa you need. Check also to see if your program will process the visa for you. If your program does not process visas for its participants, you will be responsible for securing your own visa.
The easiest way to obtain a visa is by applying to a foreign consulate (located in most major U.S. cities) or to the foreign embassy in the U.S. If you are unsure as to the nearest location of a consulate or embassy, you can check or you can refer to the State Department’s website: http://studentsabroad.state.gov/
As visa application processes vary between countries, please check with the consulate or embassy for information regarding application fees, requirements, and regulations regarding visa validation upon arrival in country. Photocopy everything before submitting it and use certified mail both ways. Usually, visas are stamped directly in your passport and you will likely have to submit your passport along with your application (possibly photos as well). Certified mail will ensure that this valuable document can be traced if lost.
