Stanford Students Going Abroad

VISA

 

Visa Information

A visa stamp --acquired through an application to a foreign country’s consulate or embassy-- is permission to apply for entry into that country to travel, study or work for a specified period of time. In order to determine whether or not a visa is required to visit the country to engage in the activity the traveler intends (e.g. travel, study, work), go directly to the country’s consulate or embassy website. A list is provided of consulates in San Francisco some of which have visa-issuing capabilities. If the country you intend to visit is not in the list of consulates in San Francisco, or that consulate does not have visa processing, then the website for the embassy in Washington will instruct you which location is appropriate for you to submit your petition.

Please also remember the following:

• A visa does not guarantee entry into a country.You may be denied entry into a country for which a visa stamp has not been obtained in advance. U.S. embassies cannot intervene on behalf of citizens who have been refused entry into a foreign country.

• You must learn about and maintain compliance with the visa requirements for all countries from which you receive a visa.

Visa Processing

Each country has its own requirements for processing visas. The length of time required for processing depends upon the intended activity of the applicant in the country of destination as well as the amount time needed for that activity. There are professional companies, which --for a fee-- will expedite your visa application for you. As these companies vary in the quality of their service, the I-Center cannot endorse them, but several are listed here:

All countries: Peninsula Visa

All countries: Zierer Visa

India: Travisa

China: USChinaVisa

Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine: RussiaHouse

Please remember that most countries require that your passport be valid at least six months into the future and for foreign nationals applying within the U.S. for travel to a third country, proof of legal visa status within the U.S. (copies of I-94 card, DS-2019 or I-20) is invariably required as well. Please remember that if you are applying for a visa stamp within the U.S. as a foreign national, you should expect longer processing times than U.S. nationals. Be sure to check processing times with the individual consulate or embassy.

 

Most common reasons for visa processing delays and refusals:

• Applicant forgets to submit an original, valid passport with a page free for their visa

• Applicant forgets to submit a passport photograph

• Application form not properly completed or incomplete details

• Applicant fails to submit financial documents (if required)

• Financial documents (if required) submitted are deficient

• Applicant applies too late

Please note: If you have received any of the scholarships administered through the Overseas Resource Center at the I-Center (e.g. Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes, Churchill etc.), the visa process will be explained to you by your sponsoring program.

 

TOURIST TRAVEL FOR U.S. CITIZENS - A GLOBAL OVERVIEW:

 

The section below is intended to be a general overview for U.S. citizens seeking to travel in tourist status to various regions around the world. Please note, this information is correct as of March 2012. Always check with the appropriate embassy to ascertain if a tourist visa is needed. Due to the ever-changing international political landscape, the list below is subject to revision at any time and the sudden onset of international tension or conflict and/or severing of relations between countries may impact your ability to travel at any given time. Please be sure to double-check the Department of State’s website for the most up-to-date travel information for any given destination.

TRAVEL IN EUROPE

U.S. nationals do not require a visa for tourist travel to most of Europe with the exception of Russia, Belarus and northern Cyprus (Turkey and Albania issue visas upon arrival for U.S. citizens). If you plan on being in Europe for more than three months, however, you may need a visa (more than one month for some eastern European countries) or if you are traveling for reasons other than tourism or business, you may need a visa.

Non-European foreign nationals, see discussion of the Schengen Visa below.

TRAVEL IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

U.S. nationals traveling to Panama and the Dominican Republic will be issued tourist cards upon arrival, but travel to the rest of Central America and the Caribbean—with the exception of Cuba-- for tourist purposes, does not require a visa.

See How New Travel Policy to Cuba Affects Stanford Community

Tourist travel to Cuba* has recently become more accessible for U.S. nationals as select tour companies with educational objectives have been granted licenses through the Treasury Department. All other types of travelers (e.g. journalists, researchers) allowed to visit Cuba must apply for a license from the U.S. Treasury Department.
All travelers to Cuba must purchase state-mandated health insurance upon arrival.
Stanford students, staff and faculty who are traveling on behalf of Stanford to Cuba should refer to Traveling/Working Abroad for Stanford. Any travel on behalf of Stanford to Cuba must be reviewed by University Export Control Officer.

TRAVEL IN SOUTH AMERICA

Although most South American countries—with the exception of Brazil—do not require tourist visas for stays of 30-180 days, many charge reciprocity fees (paid in cash or credit card at the port-of-entry) of both U.S. nationals and some other foreign nationals (e.g. Canada, Australia).

TRAVEL IN AFRICA

Most countries in Africa require visas of U.S. citizens, with the exception of Senegal, Lesotho, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. Visas are issued upon arrival in Burkina Faso, Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. With proof of a hotel reservation and sufficient funds, Seychelles will waive the visa requirement. Mauritius does not require a visa if you can submit a proof of funds and a return airline ticket. Sudan* and Libya have refused visas to U.S. citizens whose passports demonstrate previous travel (visa, entry/exit stamps) to Israel. Mauritania requires a sponsor in order to obtain a visa and Guinea Bissau requires U.S. nationals to apply for the visa through its embassies in Portugal or Senegal. Any travel on behalf of Stanford to Sudan must be reviewed by University Export Control Officer.

TRAVEL TO THE MIDDLE EAST

Visas are required for Bahrain, Iraq, Iran*, Syria* and Yemen. Visas are issued upon arrival in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. Travel to Saudi Arabia is approved only with an approved group. U.S. citizens who travel to Israel and plan to visit other countries in the Middle East should confirm entry requirements for these countries. Any travel on behalf of Stanford to Iran or Syria must be reviewed by University Export Control Officer.

TRAVEL TO ASIA AND OCEANA

Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore do not require U.S. citizens to obtain visas for visits of 90 days or less and New Zealand and Vietnam offer visa exceptions to U.S. travelers. Australia requires a visa, but it is a part of the Electronic Travel Authority and is completed quickly online. Visas are issued upon arrival in Indonesia, Laos, the Maldives, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste.

However, China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan all require visas in advance. Travel to Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar) North Korea* is limited to specially approved tour groups. Any travel on behalf of Stanford to North Korea must be reviewed by University Export Control Officer.

SCHENGEN VISA FOR NON-U.S. VISITORS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

For many non U.S. citizens, travel to Europe will require a Schengen visa, a visa named after a town in Luxembourg where a group of European countries formed a treaty to end check points and border controls for travel. The Schengen visa may be used to circulate freely in 25 countries in Europe (please note that Ireland and the UK are not a part of the Schengen agreement).
A Schengen visa generally allows for a stay of up to 90 days for tourist purposes within a 6 month period. A multiple entry Schengen visa allow the visa holder to leave and return any number of times within an 180 days period. The applicant applies for the Schengen visa in the country that is the main destination and/or the most time will be spent.

Nationals of the countries listed below need a Schengen visa:

Afghanistan Algeria Angola Antigua and Barbuda Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad China Colombia Comoros Congo Cuba Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Fiji Gabon Gambia Georgia Ghana Grenada Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ivory Coast Jamaica Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagscar Malawi Maldives Mali Marshall Islands Mauritania Micronesia Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Niger Nigeria Northern Marianas Oman Pakistan Palau Papau New Guinea Peru Philippines Qatar Russia Rwanda Saint Helena and dependencies Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa São Tomé and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vietnam Yemen Zambia

Health insurance coverage is a requirement of the Schengen visa. Below are several companies, which offer this insurance, although the I-Center cannot endorse them:

Schengen Visa Insurance

American Visitor Insurance

Insubuy

Disclaimer: All of the above information is subject to revision and change at any time. For the most up-to-date information concerning the entry/exit requirements for any given country, please consult that specific country’s embassy website and for U.S. citizens, the U.S. Department of State website for each individual country.

 

*Any travel on behalf of Stanford to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria must be reviewed by University Export Control Officer.

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