Lehigh University - Study Abroad

Visas

Most countries will require you to get a student visa. It is extremely important not to wait until the last minute. Starting early is important as student visas can take up to 2 months to process. **Please follow the steps below carefully. Visa restrictions and regulations change yearly. What a friend did last fall is not necessarily what you need to do. Please make sure you find out this information for yourself.

For students direct enrolling, contact Katie Welsh (610-758-4735 or kaw8@lehigh.edu) for assistance with the visa process and/or you may also attend a Visa Information Session. Students going through programs (IES, CIEE, Syracuse, Butler, etc.) should contact the program directly for help with visa questions. If you run into problems, please do not hesitate to seek out assistance.

** Please note, there are a few countries, such as Australia, that have gone to an on-line system for processing visas. If the Embassy or Consulate web page says you can do it on-line, then you do not have to appear in person or send in anything.**

If studying in the UK, please go directly to the British Council web site.

Please follow the following steps:

Go to the U.S. Department of State Consular Information web site and click on the country in which you will be studying. Read the State Department’s description on the country.

Find the section in the country description that says “Entry Requirements.” Use links to find Embassy or Consulate information. If your country’s web site on the State Department link does not take you to the site you need, do a Google or other type search for “Spain and Consulates” or “Denmark and Embassy”.

Figure out what jurisdiction you fall under. This is typically based on your permanent address, which is most likely your home address. Some consulates allow you to go to the consular office in the vicinity of your home university.

Read through the information provided on visas. Print out a copy of the visa form, and any instruction page the web site provides.

Make yourself a checklist of things that need to be done. Having a list, knowing what you need to do, and giving yourself deadline dates is a useful tool.

Pull together all the required documents. This will most likely include information from the institution you will be visiting.

Find out whether or not you are required to appear in person. If you are required to appear in person, see if there are any clauses that say someone may appear on your behalf (some Consulates will allow a parent to appear in person for his/her child). Set a date to go to the Consulate.

Prior to going or sending in your application, check and recheck the packet. Make sure you include all the photocopies they request, and ALWAYS keep photocopies of what you sent. If the Consulate will be mailing back your passport/visa, make sure you have a pre-addressed stamped envelope or some Consulates require you to have a Federal Express or Certified Mail envelope. Check this out ahead of time.

Examples of required documents:

Letter stating full time student status: Registrar’s Office (allow 3 days for processing)

A physical or other health related forms: Health Center – A Lehigh doctor can sign off on your forms. Just make sure the forms on are University Health Center letterhead.

Bank statements: Many countries now require you to show that you have X amount of money for a trip. You will need to have copies of bank statements verifying you have access to that amount of money. It can be you, your parents, or another relative.

Notary: There are no notaries on campus. The two closest to campus are the John Yurconic Agency (110 E. 3rd St. 610-997-3100) and Car Village Title and Notary (323 S. New St. 610-865-1220). There are other agencies out there as well, check the phonebook for listings. The Study Abroad Office does not endorse either of these agencies.

Letter from host institution: Always keep your acceptance letter and any other information that is sent to you. You never know when you might need certain documentation. If your visa requires a letter from the institution at which you will be studying, they will provide this to you.

Police or FBI Clearance: Some consulates require you to get a police or FBI clearance. The FBI clearance is something you apply to via the West Virginia FBI Office (FBI CJIS Division – Record Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306) and the police clearance needs to be done through a local police station. If it specifies you need to get it from your home town, you cannot use Lehigh Campus Police.

Visa Lingo

Always look to see if a visa has an information sheet on what each question means, and to whom it applies. The information below is to be used as a guide. If you are unsure, ask or try to find more detailed information.

Short Stay vs. Long Stay: TYPICALLY a short stay is less than 90 days and a long stay is 90 days+.

Address in country: If you do not yet have an address, use the host institutions Program Center or International Office as the address in country.

One, Two or Multiple Entries: If you will be traveling extensively outside the country, you most likely should check “Multiple Entries”.

Schengen States: The Schengen Agreement allows people that are legally present in European countries that are party to the Agreement to move about freely without having to show passports when crossing internal frontiers. (The term 'Schengen Agreement' comes from the name of the village Schengen in Luxembourg where the Agreement was signed in 1985).” For additional information, please visit Free movement of people within the Schengen Zone

On-line Resources

U.S. Department of State Travel Website