Visas and Passports: What Study Abroad Students Need to Know
All Exploration Seminar students are responsible for ensuring that they have the required and necessary travel documents in order and in hand prior to their program. The UW does not provide assistance with passports or visas except in extremely rare circumstances. This means it is up to you to find out what you need based on your travel plans and your citizenship, and to take the necessary steps to ensure that you have what you need before and during your international experience. Not having travel documents in order can jeopardize your eligibility to travel, and is not sufficient grounds for a refund of any fees paid or owed to the University of Washington so please read this information carefully.
Applying for or Renewing a Passport
If you do not have a passport OR do not have a passport valid for at least six months after your return to the U.S., you need to apply for one as soon as possible. The processing time is typically 4-6 weeks. If you are short on time, you may request to have your application expedited for an extra fee (approximately $60) plus delivery costs, which generally takes 2-3 weeks. The cost of a passport is approximately $100 (first-time passport), $75 (renewal), and an extra $60 on top of those fees if you request expedited service.
Special Note for Non-U.S. Citizens
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you are responsible for understanding the rules and regulations involved in leaving the U.S. for a period of time for the purposes of temporarily studying in another country. Please contact the University of Washington International Students and Scholars Office (http://iss.washington.edu/) to ensure that you will not jeopardize your current status by participating in a program abroad. You will also need to contact the embassy or consulate of your destination country to obtain the visa requirements as they relate to your country of citizenship; be aware that often these are located in San Francisco and could potentially (though rarely) require you to appear in person to obtain a visa.
Passport Photos and Where to Obtain Them
For information on passport photos, please visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/faq/faq_881.html. You can obtain passport photos at most Seattle-area Rite Aid pharmacies, as well as several places on University Avenue. You will need passport photos if you are applying for a passport, renewing a passport, or applying for a visa. FYI: you may NOT use a photocopy or scan of your current passport picture page as substitution for official passport photos.
Obtain a Visa (if required by your host country)
A visa is an official document issued by the government of the host country that grants entry. Visa regulations vary widely from country to country, and may take anywhere from two weeks to two months to issue, depending on the country. In general, study abroad programs lasting less than 90 days require only a valid passport and do not require a separate study visa. However, there are exceptions to this. It is your responsibility to verify the visa requirements of your host country and, if necessary, to obtain your student visa. You should start this process EARLY and may wish to begin by inquiring with your program director or visiting the consulate web site of your host country. Generally, you must give up your passport in order to obtain your visa, so international travel during the months before your program departure date is not recommended. |
