Do I Need a Visa for IP?
The majority of the countries with IP locations require students to secure official immigration paperwork before moving there to study for 4-8 months. The IP Office is here to guide you through the process.
What is a visa?
A visa is an official endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country. This visa allows you to legally enter the country and stay for the duration of your program.
So, do I need a visa?
To determine if you need a visa for your program, check out the graphic below. If the box says "YES," guess what? You need a visa! Remember that this information is only valid for U.S. passport holders.
Note: Visas may also be required for Educational Field Trips or International Study Tours. The IP abroad staff will either give you instructions if you need to obtain this visa before arrival or they will assist you in obtaining the visa after arrival at your program. If you are attending a summer faculty-led program, it is possible that you need a visa. We will contact you if this the case.
What if I'm not a U.S. passport holder?
The requirements may differ for you, so you should start doing research ASAP. Check out the "International Students" section on this page for more information. We will also send you additional information via email, so keep an eye out for that.
How do I get a visa?
First, make sure your passport is up to date. Next, attend the mandatory visa workshop for your program. All visa workshop dates and times will be listed on our Calendar Page. At your visa workshop, you will receive all the instructions you need to get a visa.
Help! I'm so confused!
After attending your visa workshop and reading the visa manual provided, everything should be much more clear. If not, please contact our office! We're happy to help.
What do I do with my visa once I have it?
First, celebrate! Second, follow the instructions on the IP Document Submission Form to verify that your visa is valid. Then take a photo and upload it to the IP Document Submission Form so that we can triple check that everything is in order. Visa copies must be submitted to our office by the deadline, and no later than 2 weeks prior to departure.
Securing a visa is not easy, but once you're done, you'll have a fantastic feeling of accomplishment. Remember to START EARLY to avoid stress! Sadly, we can't wave a magic wand and get you a visa, but we're happy to do what we can to help!