GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENT VISAS

(PLEASE READ FIRST BEFORE APPLYING)  

(Updated May 2th. 2008)

STUDENT VISA APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED BY APPOINTMENT DONE THROUGH EMAIL REQUEST ONLY: conspainchicago@sbcglobal.net (FROM APRIL until AUGUST and from OCTOBER through DECEMBER).

(For an appointment, please suggest a few specific DATES and TIMES in your order of preference (Monday through Friday, from 9:00am to 12:00 noon), and we will try to accommodate you according to availability).

I. Short stay (90 day maximum): NO Student Visa is required for US passport-holders, as well as for some other nationalities. If your nationality does not appear on this link, a visa is required.

II. Long stay (more than 90 days): A Student Visa is required for all nationalities, except citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

STUDENT VISAS must be applied for at the consulate with jurisdiction over his/her state of permanent residence. The Consulate General in Chicago has jurisdiction over the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. (The student must prove his/her residence with one of the following documents: U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. State ID Card or Voter’s Registration Card.)

STUDENT VISAS TAKE ALWAYS MORE THAN 6 WEEKS TO PROCESS. It is strongly recommended to apply as soon as possible—as early as three months in advance or earlier—to allow enough processing time. Applications will not be accepted, in principle, less than 4 weeks before the date of departure. THERE IS NO “RUSH” OR EXPEDITED SERVICE. 

STUDENT VISA APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (FROM APRIL through AUGUST and from OCTOBER through DECEMBER). Appointments only can be made by e-mail (conspainchicago@sbcglobal.net) and must be made individually by the student or his/her legal representative. WHEN REQUESTING AN APPOINTMENT BY E-MAIL, GIVE FULL NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.

 All documents must be presented at the same time. If any of the required documents is missing, the application will not be accepted. If the documentation presented is complete and correct, the passport with the affixed visa should normally be ready for pick-up within 6 to 8 weeks. No telephone consultations can be attended by this office regarding the visa processing status. About 4 weeks after applying for the visa, the status of the visa may be checked by email at conspainchicago@sbcglobal.net. Please indicate: first and last names, nationality and student visa. 

Make photocopies of the documents you present at the Consulate before applying. The Consulate does not return the original documents, nor makes photocopies of your documents. The Consular Administration has authority to evaluate and request additional documents—the submission of which does not guarantee the issuance of a visa—as well as to request a personal interview.  On the visa, note the order of dates in Europe: day/month/year. As a general rule, a student visa does not allow the student to work.

REQUIREMENTS

To apply for a student visa you should provide this office with ALL of the following (all documents must be originals unless indicated otherwise):         

1.      Schengen Visa Application Form, plus (US Citizens: 1 PHOTOCOPY; Non-US Citizens: 1 PHOTOCOPY). Before being copied, the form must be signed and filled out in print. Illegible or incomplete forms cannot be accepted. Information on date of arrival and departure from Spain in #30 and #31 are essential.

2.     US citizens: Original Passport signed by the bearer and still valid for at least 1 more year from the date of application, with at least one blank page to affix the visa.

Non-US citizens: Foreign Passport signed by the bearer and still valid for at least 1 more year from the date of application, with at least one blank page to affix the visa, plus “Alien Registration Card” or a U.S. Visa with I-20 / IAP-66.

3.      Proof of residence in this Consulate´s jurisdiction: Photocopy of ONE of the following: U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. State ID Card or Voter’s Registration Card.

4.      Recent standard passport  photographs: US citizens: 2 photos; Non-US citizens: 2 photos. GLUE one photograph to each visa form.( DO NOT STAPLE THE PHOTOGRAPH)

5.      Proof of admission to Spanish Academic Center as a full-time student, from the Spanish Center or U.S program, indicating nature of studies and registration number of the center of studies with the Ministry of Education (if not registered, state so)

6.      Proof of financial means for the period of stay in Spain, proof could be:

·  Letter from the Institution organizing the studies stating educational and living expenses have been paid for in advance, or

·  Notarized letter of parents/custodians, assuming financial responsibility while student is in Spain, or

·  Current statement of student’s bank account.

7.      Proof of Medical/Accidental Insurance with international coverage, Written confirmation from insurance company of a valid health/accidental insurance with full international coverage in Spain and rest of Schengen countries with a minimum coverage of $37,000. Or Travel/accidental insurance coverage for the entire trip.

8.      Medical Statement (only if your stay is for more than 6 months ) : a doctor’s recent statement (issued within 3 months from the application date), on doctor's or medical center's letterhead, indicating that the student has been examined and found in good physical and mental health to travel and study abroad.

9.      Non-refundable visa processing fee US citizens: $100.00. Non-US citizens: $92.40  ($53.90 visa fee for the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Republic f Macedonia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine) Paid by Money Order ONLY (payable to the Consulate General of Spain). Cash or personal checks CANNOT be accepted

10.    If period of study in Spain is longer than 6 months, Certificate (s) by Police authorities of ALL PLACES where applicant resided during the last five years, as to the absence of police record. If the country is not the U.S., the certificate must be legalized by the Spanish Consulate in that country. You will be issued a 180 day visa with multiple entries, and once in Spain, you will have to request –within a month upon arrival– from the Spanish Police (Office for Foreigners), an authorization to extend your stay until completion of studies, and the necessary  ID card, which will allow the student to travel in and out of the country.

If the period of study is less than 6 months, no Police Certificate is needed. The visa will be issued for 6 months with multiple entries and will allow the student to stay in Spain for the duration of studies up to 6 months.

11. For applicants under 18 years of age, a notarized authorization from both parents, with the Apostille of the Hague Convention (contact the Secretary of State for your state of residency) and a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate showing parents’ names.

The Schengen Countries are: