Visas for U.S. Students Studying Abroad: Tips, Pointers and Help ! Education Abroad Practice Resource

Visas for U.S. Students Visas for U.S. Students Studying Abroad: Tips, Studying Abroad: Tips,

Pointers and HelpPointers and Help!!

Education Abroad Practice Education Abroad Practice ResourceResource

Created by:Created by:

Joe SevignyJoe Sevigny

AVP of Enrollment AVP of Enrollment ManagementManagement

IES AbroadIES Abroad

Ismael J. BetancourtIsmael J. Betancourt

Director of Education Director of Education AbroadAbroad

Northern Arizona Northern Arizona UniversityUniversity

Adapted from their 2010 NAFSA Annual Conference Presentation

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Overview of the State of Student VisasOverview of the State of Student Visas

Best Practices for Processing Student Visa Best Practices for Processing Student Visa ApplicationsApplications

Preparing Students/Parents for thePreparing Students/Parents for theVisa Application AdventureVisa Application Adventure

NAFSA Knowledge Community & Visa NAFSA Knowledge Community & Visa SubcommitteesSubcommittees

Q & AQ & A

The State of Visas Today

• Driven by current political climate• Driven by state of relationships between nations• Visa regulations are an easy political target

The guiding principle in determining

visa regulations between nations:

RECIPROCITY!AKA: TIT FOR TAT

RECIPROCITYIn international relations and treaties the principle of reciprocity states that favors, benefits, or penalties that are granted by one state to the citizens or legal entities of another, should be returned in kind.

RECIPROCITY IN ACTION:

Visa feesRequired documentsRequired financial support amountsRequirement to appear at embassy/consulateProcessing timeLength of visa validity

RECIPROCITYThe Flip Side

WHY ARE ‘THEY’ DOING THIS TO ME????

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO THEM?????

Helping students understand the concept of reciprocity in the realm of student visa regulations will help better prepare them for the adventure ahead by adding important context and history to the experience. In addition understanding reciprocity will hopefully add to their intercultural competence.

Processing Visa Processing Visa ApplicationsApplications

Three Methods For Processing Visa Three Methods For Processing Visa Applications:Applications:

Direct ApplicationDirect Application

Batch ProcessedBatch Processed

Obtain Required Document After Obtain Required Document After ArrivalArrival


DIRECT APPLICATIONDIRECT APPLICATION

Student applies directly to consulateStudent applies directly to consulate

Important Considerations:Important Considerations: Personal appearance (travel)Personal appearance (travel) Dealing directly with consular officersDealing directly with consular officers Understanding of which documents to bringUnderstanding of which documents to bring Relinquishing passportRelinquishing passport TimingTiming


DIRECT APPLICATIONDIRECT APPLICATIONStudent applies directly to consulateStudent applies directly to consulate

Pitfalls to Avoid:Pitfalls to Avoid: Insufficient/incorrect documentsInsufficient/incorrect documents Time required to obtain documents (FBI clearance)Time required to obtain documents (FBI clearance) Is an appointment required and did you make one?Is an appointment required and did you make one? International travel during the application processing International travel during the application processing

periodperiod Correct payment typeCorrect payment type Securing the return of your passportSecuring the return of your passport


BATCH PROCESSED APPLICATIONSBATCH PROCESSED APPLICATIONSSchool/Office collects and delivers batches of School/Office collects and delivers batches of visa applications to consulatevisa applications to consulate

Important Considerations:Important Considerations: Sufficient StaffingSufficient Staffing Establishing relationship with consulateEstablishing relationship with consulate DeadlinesDeadlines Required DocumentsRequired Documents Time required to process/follow upTime required to process/follow up Maintaining security of documentsMaintaining security of documents Travel to consulateTravel to consulate Liability issuesLiability issues


BATCH PROCESSED APPLICATIONSBATCH PROCESSED APPLICATIONS

School/Office collects and delivers batches School/Office collects and delivers batches of visa applications to consulateof visa applications to consulate

Pitfalls to Avoid:Pitfalls to Avoid: Unclear/ambiguous communication with consulateUnclear/ambiguous communication with consulate Setting up appointment(s)Setting up appointment(s) Method for return of passports (courier or postal service?)Method for return of passports (courier or postal service?) Clarity of deadline to studentClarity of deadline to student Time required to process/follow upTime required to process/follow up Budgeting for travel to consulateBudgeting for travel to consulate


APPLY FOR REQUIRED STATUS ONSITEAPPLY FOR REQUIRED STATUS ONSITE

Student applies for required non-Student applies for required non-immigration document after arrivalimmigration document after arrival

Important Considerations:Important Considerations:

Must bring required documents Must bring required documents Pre-program travel within countryPre-program travel within country


APPLY FOR REQUIRED STATUS ONSITEAPPLY FOR REQUIRED STATUS ONSITE

Student applies for required non-Student applies for required non-immigration document after arrivalimmigration document after arrival

Pitfalls to Avoid:Pitfalls to Avoid: Understanding the correct documents to bring (Understanding the correct documents to bring (officialofficial

transcript, financial support documentation, police transcript, financial support documentation, police clearance, etc.)clearance, etc.)

Pre-program travel within country (ticking clock)Pre-program travel within country (ticking clock) Fees for processesFees for processes Relinquished passport timeRelinquished passport time

Preparing Students and Preparing Students and Parents for the Visa Parents for the Visa

Application AdventureApplication Adventure Mandatory visa orientation meeting(s)Mandatory visa orientation meeting(s)

Highlight importance of visas by creating Highlight importance of visas by creating a stand-alone visa orientation separate a stand-alone visa orientation separate from main pre-departure orientationfrom main pre-departure orientation

Provide concise, pertinent informationProvide concise, pertinent information Create a timeline with datesCreate a timeline with dates Create step-by-step process guidesCreate step-by-step process guides

Example - Visa ChecklistExample - Visa Checklist

Example - Visa Application Example - Visa Application FormForm

Example - Visa Application Example - Visa Application KeyKey

Example - Visa Consulate Example - Visa Consulate ListList

Example - FAQsExample - FAQs

Top 5 Ways to Prepare Top 5 Ways to Prepare Students for the Visa Students for the Visa Application AdventureApplication Adventure

5) Contact consulate immediately and 5) Contact consulate immediately and gather your documentsgather your documents

4) Mind your “P”s: 4) Mind your “P”s: Patience, Patience, Persistence, PolitenessPersistence, Politeness

3) Understand the concept of 3) Understand the concept of RECIPROCITY RECIPROCITY

2) Double check all documents before 2) Double check all documents before submissionsubmission

1) Read 1) Read everythingeverything… TWICE!… TWICE!

THE END RESULT!!!THE END RESULT!!!

NAFSA Visa ResourcesNAFSA Visa Resources

NAFSA recently approved a change to the NAFSA recently approved a change to the structure of the Education Abroad structure of the Education Abroad subcommittees responsible for student visa subcommittees responsible for student visa issues, concerns and information.issues, concerns and information.

Education Abroad Consular Affairs Liaison Education Abroad Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee (reporting to the EA Subcommittee (reporting to the EA Regulatory Practice Committee)Regulatory Practice Committee)

Education Abroad Visa Education Education Abroad Visa Education Subcommittee (reporting to the EA Subcommittee (reporting to the EA Knowledge Community)Knowledge Community)


Education Abroad Consular Affairs Education Abroad Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee: The MissionLiaison Subcommittee: The Mission

Chair: Heidi Soneson – University of Chair: Heidi Soneson – University of MinnesotaMinnesota

Respond to visa related questions from EA Respond to visa related questions from EA professionalsprofessionals

Liaise with consulate staff to clarify visa Liaise with consulate staff to clarify visa proceduresprocedures

Disseminate regulatory information to the fieldDisseminate regulatory information to the field Make recommendations to the EA KC’s Visa Make recommendations to the EA KC’s Visa

Education Subcommittee for needed Education Subcommittee for needed educational resources related to student visaseducational resources related to student visas


Education Abroad Consular Affairs Education Abroad Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee: In Action Liaison Subcommittee: In Action

Monitor input/questions from the field Monitor input/questions from the field (discussion forums, listservs, IssueNet, KC, (discussion forums, listservs, IssueNet, KC, etc.)etc.)

Identify/prioritize countries and consulates Identify/prioritize countries and consulates needing the most attentionneeding the most attention

Respond to submissions and point them Respond to submissions and point them toward existing resourcestoward existing resources

Identify, develop and maintain contacts at Identify, develop and maintain contacts at consulatesconsulates

Collaborate with KC and KC Subcommittees Collaborate with KC and KC Subcommittees to create resources for the fieldto create resources for the field


Education Abroad Consular Affairs Education Abroad Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee: In Action Liaison Subcommittee: In Action

Consular Liaisons - Initial Country Consular Liaisons - Initial Country List:List:

FranceFrance

ItalyItaly

SpainSpain

United KingdomUnited Kingdom

NAFSA Visa ResourcesNAFSA Visa ResourcesEducation Abroad Visa Education Education Abroad Visa Education

Subcommittee (EAVES): The Subcommittee (EAVES): The MissionMission

Chair: Joe Sevigny – IES AbroadChair: Joe Sevigny – IES Abroad Provide visa related educational resources for Provide visa related educational resources for

professionals in the fieldprofessionals in the field Monitor input from the field and determine Monitor input from the field and determine

when new resources are neededwhen new resources are needed Ensure that posted resources and information Ensure that posted resources and information

are up-to-date, accurate and authoritativeare up-to-date, accurate and authoritative GOAL: Make the EA-KC area of the NAFSA GOAL: Make the EA-KC area of the NAFSA

website website thethe definitive source for visa-related definitive source for visa-related information, research and resourcesinformation, research and resources

NAFSA Visa ResourcesNAFSA Visa ResourcesEducation Abroad Visa Education Education Abroad Visa Education

Subcommittee (EAVES): In ActionSubcommittee (EAVES): In Action Currently auditing EA KC section of NAFSA Currently auditing EA KC section of NAFSA

website to organize resources and prioritize website to organize resources and prioritize future needsfuture needs

Ideas for future resources:Ideas for future resources: A Guide to Working with a Consulate A Guide to Working with a Consulate Information about the various international education associations Information about the various international education associations

(AACUPI, APUNE, AASAP, etc) (AACUPI, APUNE, AASAP, etc) What happens to students when they arrive at a border? What happens to students when they arrive at a border? How to successfully batch process student visa applications How to successfully batch process student visa applications An aggregated list of consulate contact information by country An aggregated list of consulate contact information by country Helping parents understand the visa application process Helping parents understand the visa application process Webinars on various visa-related topicsWebinars on various visa-related topics

NAFSA Visa ResourcesNAFSA Visa ResourcesNAFSA Website Resources Related to Student NAFSA Website Resources Related to Student

VisasVisas

IssueNetIssueNet


VisasVisas

Main EA KC Regulatory PageMain EA KC Regulatory Page


VisasVisas

Updates on Student VisasUpdates on Student Visas


VisasVisas

EA KC Discussion ForumEA KC Discussion Forum

Questions?Questions?