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Passports and Visas

Passports and Visas

 

Passports

Applying for a passport takes up to 8 weeks if you do not have one. Visit the link at travel.state.gov for information on how to apply for a passport.

If you already have a passport, it must be valid. To view passport validity requirements for your destination(s), you need to visit the country information sheet at travel.state.gov and look up the destination country. In addition to passport validity, make sure that your passport has enough blank pages. You can find this information there as well.

View this video to learn more about passport validity:

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For example, for any travel to France, U.S. passports must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.

If you have a passport, take it out and look at it. What is the Expiration Date?

Look up your intended destination country. What are the Passport Validity Requirements?

Does your passport comply? If not, you need to apply for a new one!

Not a U.S. Citizen?

For Non-U.S. Citizens, countries have different requirements for passport validity based upon your country of citizenship. All non-US citizens must determine the passport validity requirements for the country they are going to. Check with USF International Services if you have any questions.

Visas

Not all countries require a visa. And if you are not a U.S. citizen, visa requirements can be very different for you than a U.S. citizen.

If your program adviser does not provide assistance for the study abroad group to apply for visas, it becomes your responsibility to acquire one.

For U.S. citizens to find out if a visa is required for a particular destination, visit travel.state.gov, just like you did for Passport Validity. A visa is an entry/residency permit granted by the authorities of a country. A visa allows you to enter and remain in that country. You will need a passport prior to applying for a visa. Applying for a visa can be a very long and complicated process. It is much more difficult than applying for a passport. Whether or not you need a visa depends on your citizenship and where you are traveling. You can apply for a visa through the country’s Embassy/Consulate. A visit to an Embassy/Consulate may be required in-person to apply for a visa. To find the appropriate Embassy/Consulate for your destination country, visit http://embassy.goabroad.com/ 

Not a U.S. Citizen?

All Non-U.S citizens will need to check with Consulates or the Embassy of your destination to see if a visa is required for you. International students studying on a visa at USF must see an International Student Advisor at USF before departing the U.S. You can make an appointment on the USF International Services website.