All students participating in Abroadco programs are responsible for obtaining the appropriate permissions to study in their host country. Some countries require visas to study no matter what length of time a student is there, while others may only require a visa for longer stays.

Visa Requirements

Be aware that in most cases you will be required to apply in person for your visa. You need to add this to your overall study abroad budget.

The visa requirements for our program countries (as of May 2007) are:

China

All students are required to obtain a student visa. Because the official invitation letter from China requires your passport number, you will need to have that when you apply for the program or shortly thereafter. We recommend using a visa processing service for your Chinese visa such as http://www.visarite.com.

France

All students are required to obtain a student visa. Locate the consulate for your permanent address: http://www.info-france-usa.org/intheus/consulates.asp. Students studying for a semester or academic year must first register with CampusFrance. All students should read through Visas – France for detailed instructions on how to register with CampusFrance as well as how to obtain a visa. Please make sure to read through all the instructions and contact Abroadco if you have any questions.

Germany

All students will be required to obtain a residence permit once they arrive in Germany. This means that you do not have to visit the German Consulate before your departure.

Italy

All students are required to obtain a student visa. Locate the consulate for your permanent address: http://www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington.. Please make sure to read through all the instructions and contact Abroadco if you have any questions. Students can also use the Platform3000 visa processing service: https://www.platform3000.com/en/visasystems_studentvisa.php.

Spain

Visas are required only for students studying abroad for more than 90 days. Locate the consulate for your permanent address: http://www.mae.es/Embajadas/Washington/en/MenuPpal/Servicios+Consulares/. Please make sure to read through all instructions and contact Abroadco if you have any questions.

Important Note: If you are planning on studying in two different countries or are going early to travel, you need to look at your host country’s regulations on when you can apply for a visa. For example, if you are studying in France with a program start date of September 1, you cannot apply for your visa before June 1. Please take into consideration visa processing times and make sure that you have enough time to secure your visa prior to departure.

Abroadco will not assume responsibility for any consequences students face who do not secure their visas.

Documentation

Abroadco will provide all students with the following documentation for their visa applications:

Original Official Acceptance from Host Institution and Verification of Enrollment from Abroadco
Medical Insurance Enrollment Letter from HTH Worldwide and Verification of Medical Insurance from Abroadco
Financial Guarantee Letter

Please note that if you apply after the application deadline, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to secure your official host institution acceptance letter in time for you to apply for your visa. If you want your visa documentation expedited to you, you will be charged a fee to cover this cost.