Airlines will not allow passengers to check in or board aircraft with international destinations without the required documentation, including a passport and the appropriate student visa (where applicable) for the country to which they are going. Information will be provided to students regarding how and when to apply for their visa by either the CIP or the Kalamazoo Partner Program directly.
Applying for a student visa is in most cases a very straightforward process; however, it can be very frustrating for students because a lot of the preparation for fall/winter2 and fall/winter/spring 3 quarter programs takes place during spring quarter. Individual consulates have the right to be very specific about the kind of documentation required and in some cases the requirements change with short notice. The CIP will keep students informed as to new requirements and procedures. Because of this, we count on students to be meticulous in checking email and instructions and turning in required materials on time.
The Center for International Programs coordinates the visa process on behalf of students who participate in the following programs; Ecuador, France, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Senegal, and Spain. These students are required to turn in the visa application materials by the due date indicated. In the case where a student has committed to the program, but not turned in the visa application materials by the due date, the CIP will assume that the student has chosen to apply and pay for the visa on their own.
In most cases, students are required by the host country’s US-based consulate to apply or pick-up the visa in person. For residents in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin or Minnesota, this will most likely require a visit to the appropriate consulate located in Chicago, IL or Detroit, MI. For students who reside in other regions of the United States, you will be required to apply to the consulate in your region or use your school address to apply in Chicago or Detroit. For students applying during the summer prior to study abroad in fall, you will need to schedule your appointment at least eight weeks prior to departure. Students participating in a Kalamazoo program and applying for their own visa must provide proof of their visa to the CIP before the departure date. Late departures will not be arranged for students who are unable to obtain their visa prior to the group departure date.
The CIP does NOT coordinate visa applications or entry documents for the following Kalamazoo Partner Programs: Australia, Border Studies, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, Greece, Jordan, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Korea, and Trinidad. Students preparing to participate in these programs are responsible for obtaining the required application documents, payment of any processing fees and communicating directly with the appropriate consulate and host institution.
Students preparing to study on Kalamazoo Partner Programs are expected to use the following resources to become familiar with visa requirements and applications:
- Visa section of the CIP Program Brochure
- Country Specific Information Sheets searchable on this U.S. Department of State Website
- Host country consulate and embassy websites
- Visa and immigration pages of the host program/university website
- Instructions from your host program/university
- Contact person for your host program/university
- Questions that cannot be addressed by the information offered by the above resources should be brought to the CIP.
- When required, the CIP provides proof of admission and financial support and a statement of good standing. In a few cases the CIP forwards to students the enrollment certifications from the program partner institution.
Kalamazoo College, together with our partner institutions, is restricted to endorsing visas for academic study only. Due to the increase of visa controls, students should be aware that various countries may be interpreting visa documents and regulations in different ways. Therefore, students traveling at the end of the study abroad program will want to be informed about the visa regulations for travel.
International Students: International students may have specific requirements for the student visa based on their passport. In some cases, they may be required to apply in their home country.
Students with F-l visas should make sure they have the required travel endorsement on the I-20 before departure from the U.S., in keeping with federal regulations. Failure to do so may prevent students from being admitted to the U.S. upon return. International students with an F-1 visa who participate in study abroad must inform the CIP of their plans to return to the U.S. so that an updated I-20 with valid travel endorsement can be sent to that student abroad before they return to the U.S.