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 Government Liaison Financial Aid Subcommittee Chair Chair: Consular Affairs Liaison Michael Steinberg (CAL) Subcommittee Chair IES Consular Affairs Liaison Representative Regulatory Compliance Representative
NAFSA: Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee Country Coordinator: Consular Liaisons: France France Country Coordinator: Consular Liaisons: Italy Italy Chair: Country Coordinator: Consular Liaisons: Kirsten McKinney Spain Spain Hollins University Country Coordinator: Consular Liaisons: UK UK Country Coordinator: Consular Liaisons: World-at-Large World-at-Large
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• UK Two Student Routes • Short Term Student Route • Less than 6 months (no work, internships or Country Coordinator volunteering permitted) Laurence Tuccori • General Student Visa under Tier 4 University of Kentucky • For courses longer than 6 months, and all courses involving study + work/internship Regional Liaisons • Streamlined application process for students Amber Schneider • from low-risk countries attending Highly • Christine Menand Trusted Sponsor institutions • Katharine Reinhart • Not required to include evidence of funding • Jessa Boche • 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
Background checks • Only required for student stays of more than 180 SPAIN days. May be State Police issued check WITH Apostille stamp, or FBI Check. Batch processing by study abroad offices/universities Country Coordinator • Allowed at most of the consulates except DC. San Holly Zimmerman-LeVoir Francisco and NY allows batch drop-off and will mail passports back to students when finished. University of Minnesota There are different requirements for individuals than • for batch processing. Be sure to check their website! Appointments vary Regional Liaisons • Check with your specific consulate for times available for batching. • Boston : Lee Frankel • Most consulates have on-line companies handling the • Chicago : Danette Bontrager scheduling of appointments and will not take walk- ins. DC takes walk-in (first-come, first-served) and • Houston : Curtiss Stevens does not accept appointments. Check the consulate websites to see updated information. • LA : Monica Reynolds • The New York Consulate is piloting a program in Miami : Regina Foster • 2014 that will no longer require in-person visits and may be all done by mail. Batch processing still does • NY : Eliza Camire-Akey require an appointment, however. • SF : Stacy West Non-U.S. citizens • Most consulates accept Schengen and student visa • Washington DC : Hilary Hartley applications from non-U.S. citizens • Always check Consulate website before submitting as changes can happen without notice.
Two-step Immigration process ITALY 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 Country Coordinator Visa Requirements (less than 90 days) • US and Nationals of visa-waiver countries: No Visa David Younger International students from non-visa waiver countries (China, • Haiti, etc.): Visa is required; use Schengen visa application form University of Notre Dame Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit of Stay) All students (not including Schengen citizens) staying 90 days • or more in Italy must complete the PDS kit Regional Liaisons • Schengen citizens must make a declaration of presence if their • Boston : Aliki Karagiannis stay will be 90+ days • Cost can vary depending on length of stay and other • Chicago : Angela McNutt circumstances but is generally ~155 € (split into various fees) • Detroit : David Younger Updates and Important Notes • Houston: Maria Jose Angel Mex • Fingerprinting requirement for Short-Stay Schengen visa • LA : Katerina Georgieva applicants (i.e., students from China, Vietnam, etc.) • Private program providers can no longer batch process • Miami: Sarah Egerer • LA: Batch processing only • NY: Student’s name must be on bank letter • NY : Gael Noyes • SF & Chicago: only accepts USPS for passport return (NOT FedEx or UPS like most other consulates) • SF : Noah Kuchins • Chicago & Miami: Only AACUPI members may batch apps • Washington, DC : Karen Wardzala No 1 problem: Financial documentation • • Visa Requirements vary by consulate – check websites! Encourage students to begin the application process Open Liaison Positions – Inquire if as soon as possible within interested: the 90 day window before their • Philadelphia program start date.
• CampusFrance Updates FRANCE • Assigned consulate will be enforced. Students need to be mindful as they create their PASTEL account. Country Coordinator • Passwords can no longer be retrieved by Jason Sanderson, PhD CampusFrance staff. Consider using a single password for group. Georgetown University • Group mailings are now possible. Reduces processing time from three Regional Liaisons weeks to roughly one week from receipt Boston : Emily Brazer • of materials. New option for school to • Houston: Loy Macari submit single check or money order for LA : Briana Sapp • whole group. (See handout) • NY : Rebecca James SF : Noah Kuchins • • Consulate Updates • Washington, DC: Jason Sanderson • Most consulates are experimenting with Chicago: Brock Price • batch processing for U.S., Canadian and • Atlanta: Sally Turnbull Australian passport holders, but until there is an official announcement, the Open Liaison Positions – Inquire if current process remains in effect unless interested: otherwise noted. • Miami
SCHENGEN • Schengen and the E.U. STATES 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, Coordinator • Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are Jason Sanderson, PhD part of the Schengen Area Georgetown University • 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
• WAL Team offers best World-At-Large practices Country Coordinator • Based on information and Miguel Ayllon visa processing experience of University of Missouri the group members World-at-Large Liaisons • Do not have consulate • Lisa Brown Liaisons • Clementine Hakizimana Rochelle Keesler • • Reference the Debbie Miller • www.nafsa.org/eavisas for • Joe Milostan updates on recent visa changes • Joe Sevigny • Jolie Roetter for various countries 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
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