Looking for a Visa?

All international exchanges and Study Abroad programs require students to posses a valid passport. Most countries require students on exchange or study abroad programs longer than 30 days to have a student visa as well. You can find your program's country's embassy below. Some countries have an online application, others have a downloadable application, and others require you to contact them for any visa information. If you find any additional information that would make this page more user friendly for your fellow student, please contact International Engineering Studies and Programs at international@engr.wisc.edu.

Passports

If you are a United States citizen and do not have a valid passport, you will need to apply for one through the US Immigration Service. Full details on the requirements are provided with each application form. To obtain a passport, you must complete the application form, provide two current passport photos (which you can purchase at Kinko's, Walgreens, and the UW travel center), and pay $50. You must also provide original evidence of United States citizenship and any previous American passport. You should apply early in order to ensure you have plenty of time to obtain a visa, if necessary. It is possible to apply on line with the US Immigration Service: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.

NOTE: U.S. passports are not issued abroad.

Visas

Your best resource is the internet. You should start your visa process by reading all the information given on the embassy website. Be aware that each country has different regulations about student visas. You will need to contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country you will be traveling to at least 90 days before travel date. Contact details for the closest embassies and consulates for our exchange and study abroad destinations are below. Also, you can contact any embassy by using the embassy electronic recourse system found at http://www.embassy.org.

Here is a generic list of materials needed for Visa acceptance (each country may have additional information needed to obtain the student visa):

• A valid passport
• A completed visa application form, dated and signed by the applicant
• At least one passport-size photograph, affixed to the application form in the space indicated
• The original Certificate of Eligibility or acceptance from the university or college where you plan to study.

Be certain to photocopy everything and keep a copy for yourself.

Australia

Australian Consulate in Washington DC
1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington DC
Telephone: (202) 797-3145
Fax: (202) 797-3040
Office Hours: 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. Monday - Friday
Embassy Website: http://www.austemb.org/DIMA
Online Student Visa: http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/students.htm

All students require a visa. Australia has an online visa application! As an American, you should use the online application. Any visa questions you might have must be directed through the Washington D.C. consulate. Applications for student visas generally take from 4 to 8 weeks to process although processing times may be longer depending on the circumstances of each case.

Austria

Embassy of Austria in Chicago
Wrigley Building, Suite 707, 400 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (312) 222-1515
Fax: (312) 222-4113
E-mail: chicago-gk@bmaa.gv.at
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
Embassy Website: http://www.austria.org
Visa Regulations: http://www.austria.org/visa_reg.shtml#uscit and http://www.austria.org/internet.shtml

All students require a visa. You can find all the needed information on the websites above. Down load your application and send it in to the consulate. Everything you need to know is on the website. The visa is free of charge.

Chile

John Hancock Center
875 North Michigan Avenue Suite 3352
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (312) 654-8780
Fax: (312) 654-8948
E-mail: cgchicus@ameritech.net
Website: http://www.consuladoschile.org/servicesframeset.htm#student

To obtain a student visa application, the student will call the visa office and give them a fax number accessible to the student. The visa office will fax all the necessary materials for the student to obtain a student visa including a list of requirements and an application. The student will send in all original copies to the address given in the student visa package. Processing takes up to four weeks. When they finish processing your visa, they will call the student and set up an appointment to sign and fingerprint the document. After a payment of $100, the student will obtain the visa.

Denmark

Royal Danish Embassy New York
885 2nd Avenue 18th Floor
New York, NY
Telephone: (212) 223-4545
Fax: (212) 754-1904
E-mail: wasamb@um.dk
Website: http://www.denmarkemb.org
Office Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday - Friday (Friday 4:30 PM)
Downloadable Application: http://www.denmark.org/consular_services/student.htm

Please get a visa through the New York Embassy. The visa fee will be $128.00. The website has a downloadable application!

Finland

Embassy of Finland, New York
NW 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 250
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 750-4400
Fax: (212) 750-4418
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
Student Visa Information: http://www.finland.org/doc/en/consular/visa.html

Application

The application fee is $68.00. Please call and ask the consulate to send a student application. You do not need to appear in person; however, you must send it in by mail. They are willing to express mail your visa for $17.00. With your application send two pictures and the university acceptance letter. Anticipate at least a month to process.

France

Consulate General of France in Chicago
205 N Michigan Ave
Suite 2700
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone: (312) 327-5200
E-mail: visas@consulfrance-chicago.org
Office Hours: 9a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Calling Accepted: 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, except holidays

Application

We have found that the Consulate of France is very difficult to contact, so try to allow extra time for the visa process. The student (or "long stay") visa cost is 99 euros. Your best resource is their embassy website.

Germany

German Consulate
676 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3200
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (312) 580-1199
Fax: (312) 580-0099
E-mail: chicago@germanconsulate.org
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
Calls Accepted: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 8:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. on Friday
Student Visa Information: www.germanyinfo.org and http://www.intstudy.com/visager.htm

Application

All students require visa. Except for rare instances, you have to submit your application in person. Upon submission of all required documents the application will be forwarded to the Aliens' Office (Ausländeramt) competent for your intended place of residence in Germany. Student visa applications take about 25 days to be processed. After the application has been approved by the Aliens' Office the Consulate will issue a residence permit in the form of a visa. The Aliens' Office requires all residence permit holders to register upon their first arrival. A final residence permit for the duration of your studies will be granted in Germany after arrival. $40 student visa fee.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Immigration Department
fax :(852) 2824-1133
Web site: http://www.info.gov.hk/immd/
E-mail: enquiry@immd.gcn.gov.hk

Immigration Tower7 Gloucester Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Telephone: 2824-6111
Homepage: http://www.info.gov.hk/immd

Chinese embassy
Suite 110 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington DC 20007
Telephone: (202) 338-6688
Fax: (202) 265-9809
E-mail: chnvisa@bellatlantic.net
Webpage: http://www.china-embassy.org/visa/english/lq.htm
Office Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

If you are accepted by a Chinese school, the prospective student would apply for the student visa (X visa) through the Chinese Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over where he lives. Proof of acceptance by the school as well as adequate finances would have to be submitted along with the completed visa application forms. A local sponsor must also be nominated. Students are not permitted to work without the permission of HKID. Read closely the student visa information found at http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng/qzhz/. Visa fee is $50.00.

Hungary

Hungarian Consulate in New York
223 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022
Open from 9:30 - 12:30 Monday - Friday in New York
Telephone: (212) 752-0669
Fax: (212) 755-5986
Website: http://www.kum.hu/newyork/

In order to receive your visa, send a fax explicitly asking for the Student Visa Application with your name and address. The maximum processing time is two months. The cost is $60 for a student visa to Hungary.

• Hungarian University Application Requirements. Send email to boston-consul@hungary.com or contact directly the college or university of your choice. If you don't know its address, use the Hungary Online Directory
• Educational Opportunities and Resources Pertaining to Hungary. A report available through the Hungarian American Coalition.

Israel

Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest
111 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 1308
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone: (312) 297-4800 / (312) 297-4885
Fax: (312) 297-4855
E-mail: press@chicago.mfa.gov.il
Calling Hours: 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
Office Hours: 9:30a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Website: http://israelemb.org/chicago/consular.html
Student Visa Information: http://israelemb.org/chicago/Images/form4.gif

American citizens can stay up to three months without student visa. The embassy prefers to send student visa application directly to the student who plans to study more than 3 months. Contacting the embassy and requesting an application is the suggested method of applying. Fee is $25.

Italy

Consulate General of Italy in Chicago
500 North Michigan Ave - Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60611
Email: visa@italconschicago.org
Telephone: 312-467-1550
Fax: 312-467-1335
Website: http://www.italconschicago.org/english/index.htm and http://www.italconschicago.org/english/index.htm

Application

Your application for a student visa must be submitted within 90 days prior to your departure for Italy. A successful application requires one official visa application form, completely filled out in ink and signed by the applicant, with one recent passport-size photograph. The student visa fee is $62.50.

Japan

Consulate General of Japan at Chicago
737 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Telephone: (312) 280-0400
Fax: (312) 280-9568
Office Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 1:00 - 4:00 Monday - Friday
Website: http://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/
Student Visa Information: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/apply-form.pdf

This information is for the non-exchange student. After acceptance into your program, the college will apply for a Certificate of Eligibility with the embassy for you. The university will send your Certificate of Eligibility to you. Then, down load the application from the website. Go to counselor services and follow the link to form 1C. Next, submit by mail or in person a passport, application form, one passport photo, Certificate of Eligibility, and a photo copy of the Certificate of Eligibility to the Chicago embassy. If you submit the materials by mail, it is recommended that you send a fed ex air bill with the student address as both the sender and receiver. Before submitting the materials, please call ahead to make sure you have everything. They are there to help you. Visa's are free of charge.

Mexico

300 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl.
Chicago, IL 60651
Telephone. (312) 855-1380
fax: (312) 855-9257
E-mail: visas@consulmexchicago.com
Office Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
Website: http://www.consulmexchicago.com/
Student Visa Information: http://www.consulmexchicago.com/visas.htm

Start to apply by reading the website links given above. You will find all the information you need through these resources. If you have questions, be certain to contact the embassy.

Netherlands

Netherlands Consulate in Chicago
303 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2600
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone: (312) 856-0110
Fax: 312-856-9218
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Website: http://www.cgchicago.org/ and http://www.cgchicago.org/article.asp?articleref=AR00000409EN

Download the student visa application online. All applications must be made in person. You can apply for the residence permit at the aliens police the moment you have entered the Netherlands. You can only apply in person with the aliens police. The visa cost is $50.00.

Norway

The Consulate General in New York
New York, NY
Telephone: (212) 421-7333
Fax: (212) 754-0583
E-mail: cons.gen.newyork@mfa.no
Website: http://www.norway.org/VisasandPassports/visas/Visas.htm
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

Allow at least two months to process visa. The applicant must be able to finance his/her studies and must have a place to live. Another requirement is that the foreign national must return to his/her country of origin after completing the studies. A study permit does not confer the right to take employment in Norway. However, students may apply for a part-time work permit or a permit to work during vacations when employment would not hamper their schooling. Full-time employment for a restricted period of time may also be applied for. Before a student who is a foreign national may apply for a work permit, s/he must have received a concrete offer of employment. Students who wish to go to Norway must submit a complete plan for their education in Norway. In order to renew a residence permit, a student must prove that he or she has satisfactory study progression. When assessing study progression, the guidelines from the State Education Loan Fund will normally be used.

Singapore

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Tanglin, Singapore 248163
Email: mfa@mfa.gov.sg
Telephone: (65) 6379 8000
Telephone in Chicago: (312) 853.7555
Fax: (65) 6474 7885 / 1-800- 476 8870
Website: http://www.mfa.gov.sg/consular/visa/idx_visaFor.htm

Be certain when you go to Singapore you have a valid passport because all visa processing takes place in Singapore. The university in Singapore will apply for the student visa for the student. $20 for the student visa.

South Korea

Kyu-ho Choo
Consul General
Consulate General of The Republic of Korea
455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Suite 2700
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 822-9485
(312) 822-9849 (fax)

Application

Application requires visa application forms with passport sized photos. Student visa cost is $45.

Spain

Consulate General of Spain in Chicago
180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone: (312) 782-4588
Fax: (312) 782-1635
E-mail: cgspain.chicago@mail.mae.es
Website: None
Office Hours: 9a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Friday

Spain requires that all student visas be applied for in person (or by a legally authorized representative) at the Consulate in Chicago. During the summer and fall, visa applications are accepted by appointment only, and can take up to three months to complete. Applications are not accepted less than four weeks before the date of departure, and there is no "rush" or "expedited" service. Please see the Consulate webpage for specific visa information.

Sweden

Consulate of Sweden
150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite1250
Chicago, IL 60601-7593
Telephone: (312) 781-6262
Fax: (312) 781-1816
E-mail: swedconsul@aol.com
Website: http://swedenchicago.com and http://www.kth.se/eng/education/useful_information/preparation/index.html
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and Wednesday 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Application

Student Visa application on website. Download the application then send to the New York consulate. Plan for processing to take six - eight weeks.

Internships

Students may have the opportunity to intern with a Swedish company before or after their study abroad program. In that case both a student visa and a working visa is necessary during the student's stay. First, contact the consulate in Chicago. Then, contact the Swedish employer and have them fill out an ANS 714. The student will need both the ANS 714 and the acceptance letter from the university. Processing takes at least two months.

Turkey

Consulate General of Turkey, Chicago
360 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1405
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Email: chicago@trconsulate.org
Telephone: (312) 263 0644
Website: http://www.trconsulate.org/

Those traveling to Turkey for educational purposes are required to carry a visa. A student may complete an application form and submit it to this Consulate General at least six weeks before departure. An official acceptance letter from the high school or university in Turkey and a consular fee of $100 US must be included. Please note that within one month of arriving in Turkey, students must apply for a residency permit at a local law enforcement agency (Emniyet Mudurlugu). Please click here to download education visa application form.

United Kingdom

British Consulate-General
The Wrigley Building, 13th Floor
400 N Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (312) 346-1810
Fax: (312) 464 0661
Websites: http://www.britainusa.com/chicago/

Applications

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/guidance/Study_in_the_UK.asp

United States citizens are not required to obtain a visa when studying in the United Kingdom for six months or less. However, they need a valid U.S. passport and a dated letter of acceptance that proves acceptance to study with a university to obtain the proper stamp at entry. Non-United States citizens need to contact a British Consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of residence to find out whether a visa is required. The consulate will be able to assist with specific visa instructions and requirements. It is recommended that you start this process immediately (allow two months). $162 fee.