Visiting Students

All U.S. nationals who will reside in Italy longer than 90 days must have a visa from an Italian Consulate in the U.S.  Therefore, every student is required to obtain a study visa unless he or she is a citizen of a country of the European Union.  In such a case, the student must possess a valid passport for that country.  If a student is a dual citizen of an EU country and of the USA, then he or she must hold valid passports for both countries.

Summer Students who are USA or EU citizens do not need a study visa.  All other non-US, non-EU citizens should check with the Italian consulate to apply for a visa.

**Only after you are accepted to the JFRC and you have confirmed your intent to enroll will you receive instructions from our Chicago team on how and when to apply for your study visa. 

**Failure to secure a study visa prior to your departure for Italy will mean dismissal from the program.

Citizens of all non-EU countries must acquire a study visa; consequently all USA citizens need a visa and should read carefully through this entire message before taking any action.  Questions should be addressed to rome@luc.edu

NOTE:  Visas to other countries which require them may be obtained in Rome or in the United States, although it may be easier to obtain these before departure.

Study Visa Procedure

Before starting the visa application process, please do the following:

• Locate your passport (be sure you have signed your passport).

• Purchase your flight, either with the group or independently, and print a copy of your e-itinerary or of the group confirmation letter.

• Obtain a recent passport photo.  There are updated specifications about the size of the passport photograph (1.2’’x 1.5’’ = 3x4 cm.); the photograph must be taken professionally for the purpose of the visa application.

• Peruse the guide to Italian consulates in the USA (click here for guide).  It will tell you in which city each consulate is located and which states are under its jurisdiction.  It will also tell you where there are branch locations. You can also visit the Italian Embassy website for a list of consulates.

• Decide at which consulate you will apply.  You may have two choices.  You are always eligible to apply to the consulate having jurisdiction over your state of permanent residence.  As a full-time student, you are also eligible to apply at the consulate having jurisdiction over the state in which your home institution is located.  YOU MAY ONLY APPLY AT A CONSULATE HAVING JURISDICTION; you cannot apply just to any consulate. 

  Example: You live in northern California but attend university in New York, so your options would be the San Francisco consulate or the New York consulate.   But if you live in Tennessee and attend university in Ohio, your only choice is Detroit. 

• Check with your home institution to see if your study abroad office will be assisting you in the visa application process.  It is possible that a workshop on the visa process and/or a group submission of the visa application may be scheduled so you may prefer to apply through your home institution rather than apply on your own.  St. Louis University students, check with your study abroad office to find out when a JFRC representative will be on campus to collect applications for a group submission to the Chicago consulate.

• If you will be applying on your own ... bear in mind that there is a start date and an end date for applying for the visa; the start date is 90 days prior to the beginning of the study abroad program.  The Fall 2013 JFRC program begins on August 28, 2013 so the earliest a student may apply for his or her visa is Thursday, May 30, 2013.  The latest one should apply is 30 days' prior to the program's start so July 26, 2013 is your cut-off date.  if you have not applied by that date, you run the risk of not getting your visa in time.

• Once you have selected the consulate to which you plan to apply, go to its website; just Google "Italian consulate in _________ (name of city)" and you should be able to get the link to its home page.  Once you are on the consulate's home page, click the link in the upper right-hand corner to change the language to "English," then click onto "Visas" in the appropriate column.

  READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY. Most consulates will require you to make an appointment; you cannot just walk in and apply for a visa.  Schedule now even if your appointment is for a month from now. You should also be able to go to one of your consulate's branch locations to have all your documents notarized, then mail everything to the primary consulate for processing, but you will still need an appointment with the consular representative.

  **Please note that each consulate is different.  Students applying for a visa from a consulate other than the Chicago consulate should read through the above and check with the specific consulate they are applying through to see if they need any other documentation.

• When you are ready to fill out the visa application, locate "Forms" on the consulate's website; select "National Visa Application (Long-Term Visa, more than 90 days)."  Complete pages one and two of the form; you should be able to type directly onto the form.  You will need both your passport and your itinerary in order to answer specific questions; your passport for questions #13, #14, #15, #16, and your itinerary for questions # 23, #29, and #30.

• The answer to question #25:

  • Fall = 107 days / Spring = 107 days / academic year = 247 days

• The answers to questions #31 and #32 are

  #31. "For ... Study, ..., give (school) address in Italy."

  John Felice Rome Center, Via Massimi 114/A, 00136 Rome, ITALY  / E-mail: rome@luc.edu / Telephone & fax: (06) 355-881 & (06) 355 88 352

  #32. "Name and address of inviting company/organization."

  Loyola University Chicago, John Felice Rome Center, Via Massimi 114/A, 00136 Rome, ITALY / Telephone & fax: (06) 355-881 & (06) 355 88 352

  "Name and last name, address, phone, fax and e-mail address of contact person ..."

  Paula DeVoto, Rome Center's Chicago Office, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago IL 60660 / 773 508-2760 / 773 508-8797 / rome@luc.edu

• Once you have completed pages one and two of the visa application form, print off all three pages of the form.  Attach the photo to the first page where indicated.  When you appear in person either at the consulate or a branch location, you will need to sign and date the application in the presence of the visa officer or the consular representative.

• Gather all the documents specified by the consulate.  All consular web sites should have a visa category called "study" and will have a list of the documents you are required to submit for your visa.  Some consulates require more than others, so be sure that you gather ALL the documents specified by the consulate to which you are applying.  For a list of the basic documents needed for any consulate click here, but your consulate may require additional documents (for example, the NY consulate always requires a transcript from the home school, a letter from our Rome campus, etc.)  so be sure you know what you must bring with you before you present yourself at the consulate for your visa appointment.  When in doubt, e-mail the visa officer at the consulate for clarification.  BE PREPARED BEFORE YOU GO.    

• Our Chicago office prepares the two copies of the "official letter of acceptance" (lettera d'iscrizione), with the university seal affixed, mentioned in the documents' list.  But we cannot prepare this letter without first receiving your round-trip itinerary from you.  You must e-mail rome@luc.edu either with your e-itinerary (if you have purchased independent flights) or with the confirmation letter from the travel agency for the group flights.  You must allow our office at least a week to prepare the letters. 

All students must coordinate preparation of their documentation for the study visa with the Rome Center's Chicago Office. Consulates require that a student appear in person so it is imperative that visa applicants communicate early and frequently with the Rome Center Office to be sure that they are not lacking any credentials before they go in person to their respective consulate. Many consulates also have satellite offices at which students may present themselves; these locations are listed on the consulate's website.

Non-U.S. Citizens

Any non-U.S. citizens participating in the Rome Center program are advised to obtain all the necessary information concerning visa requirements of countries they plan to visit in addition to Italy. Often the procedures are easier, faster and more economical if completed in the United States. Updated information is usually available at their consular offices.

A student who is not a U.S.A., Canadian, or E.U. citizen and who does not carry a U.S.A., Canadian, or E.U. passport should keep in mind that, even though planning to travel with an officially- sponsored Loyola group, he or she may encounter obstacles -- may in fact be denied permission to travel -- from officials for other countries if the student has not obtained all the necessary visas for his or her particular citizenship status.

Permission to Reside in Rome (permesso di soggiorno)

Under Italian law, all foreigners must obtain permission to live in Rome (the permesso di soggiorno) within eight days of arrival. The John Felice Rome Center staff will assist students in the application process upon their arrival at the Rome Center. Students must show the study visa stamp inside their passport to apply for the residency permit.  The required fees cover a tax stamp (€14,62), electronic notification (€107,50), and a postal handling charge (€30,00). A total of $200 is billed on a student's account to cover these fees.

Upon arrival at the JFRC, be sure to have this documentation with you for your permesso di soggiorno:

• Four (4) legible copies of the picture page and three (3) copies of the visa page of your passport

• Three (3) copies of the official letter of enrollment (lettera d'iscrizione) written in Italian imprinted with the seal and stamped (notarized) by the Italian Consulate

• Four (4) passport sized photos (can be done at CVS or Walgreen’s, among other places)

• Three (3) of proof of international health insurance coverage (CISI or equivalent)

Two copies of the official letter are initially provided to each student to submit with the visa application. The Italian Consulate will notarize one and return it with the student's passport and visa stamp. Failure to bring this notarized letter may result in dismissal from the program.

Inoculation Certificate

There are no vaccinations required for travelers to Western Europe. However, certain vaccinations may be required for persons traveling to Eastern Europe, Africa, and Middle Eastern countries. It is wise to check the regulations of countries in which students intend to travel. It is suggested that students consult with their physicians regarding routine inoculations when having the Medical History Report completed.