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Your passport
You should obtain your passport well in advance of your study
abroad, in some cases at the same time that you are applying
for the program — especially if you also must have a
visa. A visa is a stamp in your passport from the Consulate
General or Embassy of the country you will enter, and, depending
on the country, there could be delays or complications in
obtaining it. These may pertain to official notifications
of your acceptance by your program or exchange university,
required medical examinations, or other necessary documentation.
Therefore, it is important to begin exploring these requirements
early. Start by applying for your passport, or, if you already
have a passport, make sure the expiration date is six months
past your return to the U.S. following your study abroad program.
Further information and details are available at the State
Department’s Passport Services Web site, where you
may download a passport application.
You also may pick up a passport application at any post office.
Passport applications must be submitted in person to an appropriate
passport agency. In Richmond there are agents at the Main
Post Office at 1801 Brook Road, as well as the Westhampton
Station at 805 Glenburnie Road.
Please note that applications accepted in Richmond are processed
through the New Orleans issuing office. If you are concerned
about timing, you may wish to take your application to Washington,
D.C., where they are processed on site. Although not guaranteed,
this can expedite the issuance of your passport.
Remember: Your passport is the most important document you
have when outside the United States. Know where it is at all
times and keep it in a safe place. Make copies: keep one yourself
and leave one with someone at home. Photocopy the front pages
of your passport and keep them separate from your baggage.
Once in your foreign country, keep these copies in a safe
place; ask if your program would keep a copy on hand. This
will facilitate replacement if the passport is lost or stolen.
The passport application process takes several weeks, so
plan ahead. If your passport will expire when you are abroad,
make sure to get a new one before you leave.
Visas
Many countries require a “student visa” for residence
over three months. Contact the corresponding consulate or
embassy for the visa requirements of the country in which
you will be studying. Your exchange program also may provide
information on visas. You will need a passport, proof of acceptance
by the overseas university and documentation of adequate funding
for the length of your program.
Important: In some cases it might take as
long as three months to process the required visa. You should
check into visa requirements early.
If you plan to travel while abroad, investigate the visa
requirements of each country you plan to visit. Some countries
require a visa for even short-term stays, and some require
that the visa be obtained while you are in the U.S.
Contact information for embassies is available online at
the Electronic Embassy
Web site.
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Passports and Visas