PASSPORT & VISA

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PASSPORT APPLICATION

Perspective study abroad students are welcome to apply for their program of interest without having a valid passport, but it's important to secure one as soon as possible. Instructions to apply for or renew a passport can be found on the U.S. State Department website. You can also find passport application materials at local post offices and you can visit the USDOS Passport Fees page to find the cost of a new or renewed passport.

How do I know if my passport is valid?

Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after you plan to return from your time abroad in order to be valid. If this is not the case, you must renew your passport as soon as possible (allow 4-6 weeks of processing time). If you find yourself pressed for time, you can have your passport expedited at an extra cost.

VISA APPLICATION

Unless you are an EU citizen or have dual citizenship in an EU country, you will need to apply for a student visa to study in Italy.

This process requires you to gather several documents, which you will use to apply through the University's batch visa process (pending eligibility) or directly at the Italian Consulate in Chicago.

Your study abroad advisor will provide instructions on how to prepare for the visa application process, a list of all the documents that are necessary to apply, and:

- Support letter that confirms your enrollment as a full-time student, health insurance coverage, and proof of housing
- Support letter that confirms your enrollment at the University of Pavia.

For more general information, see this Passports + Visas page.

Batch visa process

The University of Illinois offers a batch visa process for students studying abroad in Italy during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Students in committed status (i.e., who have submitted the signed COP and changed their status to "Committed") will receive visa information via email in October (Spring cohort) and March (Fall cohort).

NOTE: Visa application rules change frequently and the university cannot control visa acceptance. You are responsible for providing the appropriate documentation to the Consulate or Embassy.

GATHERING YOUR VISA MATERIALS

Step 1

Use the Visa application webtool form to confirm if you will be applying for a visa through the batch process or independently.

Who can apply through the batch process?

If you are planning to travel internationally any time before your depart to study abroad (e.g. Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break), you cannot use our batch visa process, because the University cannot guarantee that you will receive your visa/passport returned to you on time.

If this applies to you, you will need to apply independently by in-person appointment or mail-in at the Italian Consulate in Chicago. If you plan to apply for the visa independently in person, it is very important to make your appointment immediately using this website: https://prenotami.esteri.it/.

Step 2

Book your flight to and from Pavia.

IMPORTANT:

The program start date corresponds to the move-in date and the program end date corresponds to the move-out date.
Visit the Flights & Arrivals page for further tips on booking your flight and navigating the airport.
Submit the Flight Itinerary questionnaire on your MyStudyAbroad portal.

Step 3

Retrieve the Visa Application Form and Visa Application Guide_Pavia in the Documents section of your MyStudyAbroad portal. Use the Visa Application Guide_Pavia to fill out the Visa Application Form.

IMPORTANT:

- Students applying through the batch process: sign both fields #36-37 on p. 3.
- Students applying independently by appointment at the Consulate: you will sign both fields #36-37 on p. 3 during your appointment at the Consulate.
- Students applying independently by mail-in: you must sign both fields #36-37 on p. 3 in front of a notary public.

Step 4

Use the Visa Packet Checklist to start gathering your visa materials.

IMPORTANT:

Your PHYSICAL passport needs to be surrendered together with the other application materials.
If an Affidavit of Support is needed, it must be signed in front of a notary public.
All materials should be printed out.

Step 5

Once you have collected all the visa materials as indicated in the Visa Packet Checklist, hold on to them until you receive the following documents from LAS International Programs:

An official letter of acceptance from an accredited academic institution in Italy (which includes 'proof of lodging')
A letter of enrollment from your home academic institution
Proof of health insurance coverage abroad

For students who will apply through the batch process: LAS International Programs & IAGE will add the first three documents to your application packet after you submit your complete visa packet to us.

For students who are applying independently: contact Elena Broscritto (elenab3@illinois.edu) to have these documents sent to you electronically.

FAQs

Q: What if my flight is a one-way ticket because I’d like to stay and travel some and want to keep my return flexible?

The Consulate requires a round-trip ticket if your stay in Italy is shorter than 6 months.
You can consider booking a flight with flexible dates.

Q: I am not able to use the batch process and want to apply in person independently. I tried to make an appointment at the Consulate, but all their appointments are completely taken.

If there are no appointments available, in order to get an appointment, you have to check the server every day at 5 PM CT (midnight Rome time). This is when they update the system and make certain dates available.
Assuming you’ll be departing for Italy in late January, with an appointment in early to mid-January, it is still possible to get your visa in time. You should make an appointment that is at least 2 weeks before your departure; otherwise, it is very likely the Consulate will not have enough time to process your visa application.

Q: I am not able to use the batch process and want to use the mail-in option. What documents do I submit and where do I mail them?

You will mail all your documents to this address:
Consulate General of Italy in Chicago
Attn: Visa Office
500 North Michigan Ave.
Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60611 2.

When the consulate has completed your visa/passport, you can either opt to pick it up in person at the consulate or have them mail it to you. If you live near Chicago, we recommend you pick up the visa/passport in person at the Consulate when it’s ready. They will notify you when it’s ready to be picked up. If you do not live near Chicago and need to have the Consulate mail the visa/passport to you when it’s ready.

If you need the Consulate to mail your visa back to you, you must submit two extra things:
1. The form “Consent to send by mail” found in the Documents section of your MyStudyAbroad portal.
2. Return envelope: provide an envelope (United States Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail, FedEx, UPS, etc.) with a tracking number, pre-paid and self-addressed and photocopy of the label.
3. You need to have your visa application form and affidavit of support (if applicable) notarized in front of a notary public. A list of notary public services available in the Champaign-Urbana area is available in the Documents section of your MyStudyAbroad portal.

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