Visas

Depending on where you choose to study off-campus you may be required by your host country to obtain a student visa to study and live there legally.

Obtaining a student visa can be a complicated process comprised of bringing together many documents, and therefore can require preparation and patience.

Processes vary widely depending on your nationality and your host country. Your program/university (not OCS) is your point of contact for any visa questions. OCS can serve as “common sense” advisors, but it’s beyond our scope to know the visa process of every country. Your host institution and/or your host country's U.S.-based embassy, on the other hand, will know exactly what you’ll need (and when and how) for your visa. If you’d like to have us be a second set of eyes on your paperwork or to use our scanner/fax you’re welcome to!

Questions to consider regarding the visa process include:

Does my nationality require a visa in my host country?
Is a visa obtained prior to departure or upon arrival?
Is there a cost associated with the visa process?
What documents/supporting materials do I need to gather?
Where do I apply for my visa? Online, in person at a consulate, or upon arrival?

If your visa application requires a letter of enrollment confirming your status at Bowdoin, we are happy to provide such documentation on official letterhead, however we ask for at least a week's notice. If the program/university's visa advising is not sufficient, students may wish to utilize a visa processing service such as Travisa.