Education Abroad

Visa Updates

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee

of the

Education Abroad Regulatory Practice Committee

NAFSA: Education Abroad Regulatory

Practice Committee

Chair:

Michael Steinberg

IES

Government Liaison

Financial Aid Subcommittee Chair

Consular Affairs Liaison (CAL) Subcommittee Chair

Consular Affairs Liaison Representative

Regulatory Compliance Representative

NAFSA: Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee

Chair: Kirsten McKinney

Hollins University

Country Coordinator: France

Consular Liaisons: France

Country Coordinator: Italy

Consular Liaisons: Italy

Country Coordinator: Spain

Consular Liaisons: Spain

Country Coordinator: UK

Consular Liaisons: UK

Country Coordinator: World-at-Large

Consular Liaisons: World-at-Large

www.nafsa.org/eavisas

Visit: www.nafsa.org/eavisahelp

Select one of the top four countries

or any “other” country.

Visit: http://www.nafsa.org/eavisahelp

Visit: http://www.nafsa.org/eavisahelp

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UK • Two Student Routes

• Short Term Student Route

• Less than 6 months (no work, internships or

volunteering permitted)

• General Student Visa under Tier 4

• For courses longer than 6 months, and all

courses involving study + work/internship

• Streamlined application process for students

from low-risk countries attending Highly

Trusted Sponsor institutions

• Not required to include evidence of funding

• Consulate could still request proof

• Submit application to UK consulate at least

6 weeks before program start date

• Or choose Priority Processing ($156) at time

of application mailing

• UKVI aims to process most applications within

15 business days

• New Tier 4 Biometric Residency Permit

• New Health Insurance surcharge

Country Coordinator

Laurence Tuccori

University of Kentucky

Regional Liaisons

• Amber Schneider

• Christine Menand

• Katharine Reinhart

• Jessa Boche

SPAIN

Background checks

• Only required for student stays of more than 180 days. May be State Police issued check WITH Apostille stamp, or FBI Check.

Batch processing by study abroad offices/universities

• Allowed at most of the consulates except DC. San Francisco and NY allows batch drop-off and will mail passports back to students when finished.

• There are different requirements for individuals than for batch processing. Be sure to check their website!

Appointments vary

• Check with your specific consulate for times available for batching.

• Most consulates have on-line companies handling the scheduling of appointments and will not take walk-ins. DC takes walk-in (first-come, first-served) and does not accept appointments. Check the consulate websites to see updated information.

• The New York Consulate is piloting a program in 2014 that will no longer require in-person visits and may be all done by mail. Batch processing still does require an appointment, however.

Non-U.S. citizens

• Most consulates accept Schengen and student visa applications from non-U.S. citizens

• Always check Consulate website before submitting as changes can happen without notice.

Country Coordinator

Holly Zimmerman-LeVoir

University of Minnesota

Regional Liaisons

• Boston: Lee Frankel

• Chicago: Danette Bontrager

• Houston: Curtiss Stevens

• LA: Monica Reynolds

• Miami: Regina Foster

• NY: Eliza Camire-Akey

• SF: Stacy West

• Washington DC: Hilary Hartley

ITALY Two-step Immigration process

Student Visa Requirements (90 days or more) • US & Non-Schengen or –EU Nationals: Visa is required; use

National visa application form; no cost for study visa

Visa Requirements (less than 90 days) • US and Nationals of visa-waiver countries: No Visa • International students from non-visa waiver countries (China,

Haiti, etc.): Visa is required; use Schengen visa application form

Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit of Stay) • All students (not including Schengen citizens) staying 90 days

or more in Italy must complete the PDS kit

• Schengen citizens must make a declaration of presence if their

stay will be 90+ days

• Cost can vary depending on length of stay and other

circumstances but is generally ~155€ (split into various fees)

Updates and Important Notes • Fingerprinting requirement for Short-Stay Schengen visa

applicants (i.e., students from China, Vietnam, etc.) • Private program providers can no longer batch process • LA: Batch processing only • NY: Student’s name must be on bank letter • SF & Chicago: only accepts USPS for passport return (NOT

FedEx or UPS like most other consulates) • Chicago & Miami: Only AACUPI members may batch apps • No 1 problem: Financial documentation • Visa Requirements vary by consulate – check websites!

Encourage students to begin the application process as soon as possible within the 90 day window before their program start date.

Country Coordinator

David Younger

University of Notre Dame

Regional Liaisons

• Boston: Aliki Karagiannis

• Chicago: Angela McNutt

• Detroit: David Younger

• Houston: Maria Jose Angel Mex

• LA: Katerina Georgieva

• Miami: Sarah Egerer

• NY: Gael Noyes

• SF: Noah Kuchins

• Washington, DC: Karen Wardzala

Open Liaison Positions – Inquire if interested:

• Philadelphia

FRANCE • CampusFrance Updates

• Assigned consulate will be enforced. Students need to be mindful as they create their PASTEL account.

• Passwords can no longer be retrieved by CampusFrance staff. Consider using a single password for group.

• Group mailings are now possible. Reduces processing time from three weeks to roughly one week from receipt of materials. New option for school to submit single check or money order for whole group. (See handout)

• Consulate Updates

• Most consulates are experimenting with batch processing for U.S., Canadian and Australian passport holders, but until there is an official announcement, the current process remains in effect unless otherwise noted.

Country Coordinator

Jason Sanderson, PhD

Georgetown University

Regional Liaisons

• Boston: Emily Brazer

• Houston: Loy Macari

• LA: Briana Sapp

• NY: Rebecca James

• SF: Noah Kuchins

• Washington, DC: Jason Sanderson

• Chicago: Brock Price

• Atlanta: Sally Turnbull

Open Liaison Positions – Inquire if interested:

• Miami

SCHENGEN

STATES

• Schengen and the E.U.

• 6 E.U. member states (U.K., Ireland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania) are not currently part of Schengen Area

• 4 E.U. non-member states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are part of the Schengen Area

• Biometrics

• Effective May 15, 2014 all U.S.-based consulates of Schengen countries are linked to the Visa Information System (VIS). All applicants’ biometrics will be taken at their appointment

• Schengen vs. National Visas

• Schengen visas are limited to 90-day stays in the Schengen Area

• U.S. passport holders are generally exempt from obtaining a Schengen visa

• 90-day limit out of 180 rolling calendar days (see handout for calculator website URL)

• No central authority to refer cases – each country may interpret treaty differently

Coordinator

Jason Sanderson, PhD

Georgetown University

World-At-Large • WAL Team offers best

practices

• Based on information and

visa processing experience of

the group members

• Do not have consulate

Liaisons

• Reference the

www.nafsa.org/eavisas for

updates on recent visa changes

for various countries

Country Coordinator

Miguel Ayllon

University of Missouri

World-at-Large Liaisons

• Lisa Brown

• Clementine Hakizimana

• Rochelle Keesler

• Debbie Miller

• Joe Milostan

• Joe Sevigny

• Jolie Roetter

• Mike Trost

FBI Record

• First determine if the consulate does indeed want a record from the FBI. Otherwise, a state police record may suffice and is much faster to obtain. Your consulate website should indicate what they require.

• When authentication of the FBI record is required, send record to the Office of Authentications at the US State Department to request an Apostille stamp.

• Fingerprints from any police station or local law enforcement office will be required. Call ahead for fingerprinting office hours. Request 2-3 sets of prints.

• Processing time is approximately 10 to 12 weeks.

• Students with strict time limits who wish to expedite the Department of State authentication process are encouraged to work with a visa processing service (may be able to get authentication within 24 hours) It is recommended that you work with an FBI approved channeler for this process.

• Nearly 25 percent of requests for records are denied because of missing information, illegible fingerprints, or incorrect payment.

• FBI: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/faqs

International Student Visas

• Many Countries require visa for non-US students

• Countries may require entry visas (even if U.S. citizens are not required to obtain a visa)

• Visa fee may vary based on the country of origin of the applicant

• Students may have to appear in person

• Some countries may require transit visas even if that country is not the student’s final destination

• Countries may require a valid US. Visa at the time of application

• Non-US citizens should check with their advisors to obtain information for reentry to the US prior to travel for study abroad

Visa Process

• Visa application process:

• Home institutions takes charge of application process

• Program sponsor takes charge of application process

• Student is responsible for application process

• Consider the possibility of using a visa processing agency

for relevant countries to ensure accurate review of visa

applications and support

Upcoming Collegial

Conversations

• Wednesday, June 10th - Student Visas for France

• Tuesday, June 16th - Student Visas for the United

Kingdom

• Thursday, July 9th - Student Visas for Italy

NAFSA Help

• Committees

• Education Abroad Regulatory Practice Committee

• Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee

• Online

• Visa Updates: www.nafsa.org/eavisas

• Visa Assistance: www.nafsa.org/eavisahelp

• Publication

• Student visas: What you need to know before you go

Publication

• Student Visas

• Top 10 do’s and don’ts

• FAQs

• Passport information

• Helpful web sites

• Glossary of visa terms

• Purchase online

Thank You

Get involved: Receive visa updates - Make connections with your

consulate - Help others in the field!

To find out about volunteer opportunities with CAL or the Visa Education Subcommittee, please visit www.nafsa.org/openpositions