GROUP VISA APPOINTMENT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS This guide is for students planning to participate in the group visa appointment. Before beginning this process students should review the group visa section of the pre-departure website to ensure eligibility to participate in the group appointment. It is the responsibility of the student to understand the limitations of the group appointment process as well as their responsibilities for submitting the necessary paperwork as directed. The next few pages will assist you in preparing your visa application. There are two types of documents needed for the visa those prepared by (or at the request of) the student and those prepared by Marist Italy. You will find a visa document check list on the next page of this document. It contains a list of all of the items you need for a complete visa application as well as clarification on which documents are the student s responsibility and which documents Marist will provide. Under each item on this check list are notes regarding the submission and preparation of that specific item. Be sure that you read and follow these notes or your application could be rejected. The next section of this document contains a partially prepared copy of the 4 page visa application and instructions on how to complete the application. Take note that the phrasing of questions on this application could generate various answers. We have provided line by line instructions that clarify the intent of each question. Important things to note as you prepare your application: THE CONSULATE WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS WITH WHITEOUT OR CROSSOUTS. Be sure that you are careful in completing the application. If you make a mistake, start a new application. Applications should be completed in Black pen. Do not use colored ink or pencil Print clearly in block letters. Some boxes are small for the desired text so print carefully. Finally, we have provided some guidelines on the financial soundness requirement. This is probably the most complicated part of the visa process. The directions for this are specific - please read them carefully. We suggest bringing the sample letters with you to your financial institution when requesting your letter. This process can take time - some financial institutions will not process the letters in the branch so allow yourself time to navigate the infrastructure of your particular institution. GROUP VISA APPOINTMENT APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR SPRING 2018 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Documents may be submitted as follows: Documents will be delivered to the Marist Abroad Florence Coordinator on Wednesday, November 15 between the hours of 11:00 am and 1:30 pm in Hancock Room 1021. Note: Group visa applications must be reviewed and prepared by the Marist Abroad Staff, therefore group visa applications will only be accepted during the time noted above. Exceptions will only be made for extreme circumstances with advance permission from your coordinator. Failure to submit a correct or complete application may result in your application not being included in the group appointment. Be sure that you have read and completed your application as directed on the website and this packet.
GROUP VISA APPOINTMENT CHECK LIST DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY STUDENT Passport Signed Verify Expiration is 3 months past return Must have at least 2 completely blank pages Application (4 Page Application Form) No cross outs All Fields completed as instructed Signed and dated on page 4 Color Copy of Front Page of Passport This is NOT the cover of your passport; it is the page of your passport with your personal data and photo. Color Copy of Driver s License or State ID Card (actual size do not blow up or shrink) If you do not have a government issued ID or driver s license please contact your program liaison to discuss possible substitute documentation. Color Copy of School ID (actual size do not blow up or shrink) Students who are legal residents also need to provide copies of their green card or residency papers. Letter of Financial Soundness (Bank Letter) This letter must be an ORIGINAL issued on bank letterhead and must contain a bank officers signature. Student s name must be on account as the account holder (joint accounts cannot be used) The letter must show a minimum of $5,700 for 1 semester students. Not all banks will issue this letter in the branch so give yourself ample time to organize this request. Money Order in the amount of $59.00 made payable to: the Consulate General of Italy, 690 Park Ave., New York NY 10065. Visa Document Request Form *** Signed and sent back in ORIGINAL copy *** if not previously submitted DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY MARIST ITALY Upon receipt of your original signed visa document request form Marist Italy will produce the following: Certificato D Iscrizione Proof of Lodging Marist Sponsor Letter Verification of Enrollment Health Insurance Letter Passport Style Photograph (previously submitted with your MAP Application) This must be an actual passport style photo meeting all of the passport photo regulations outlined on the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs Website (http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/photos/ photos.html) Do not submit a photo with other people in it or a landscape background This photo must be in color and on photo quality paper ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR STUDENTS WITH PREVIOUS SCHENGEN VISAS A copy of your permesso or the receipt for filing for the permesso Copies of prior visas
NY ITALIAN CONSULATE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS PAGE #1 1. Surname (s) : Your last name. If you have hyphenated last name or two last names please put both. 2. Surname (s) at birth: If your current last name is different than your last name at birth (maiden name or, adoption, etc ) enter the last name that appears on your birth certificate. 3. First Name : Your first name 4. Date of Birth: Your date of birth 5. Place of Birth: The city & state you were born in 6. Country of Birth: the country you were born in 7. Current Nationality: Your current citizenship (not ethinic origin); if you have dual citizenship note the nationality of the passport on which you will be traveling. 7a. Nationality at Birth: if different from 7 put your nationality at birth. 8. Sex: gender 9. Marital Status: Married, Divorced, Single, Separated, or Widowed 10. Guardians Information: Only for students who are under 18 years of age 11. ID Number: leave blank 12. Type of Passport: Most of you will have an ordinary passport 13. Document Number: Your passport number 14. Date of Issue : The date passport was issued 15. Valid Until: The expiration date of passport 16. Issued By: Most U.S. passports will be the U.S. Department of State. This information is on the personal data page of the passport in the middle of the page on the right side 17. Applicants Home Address & E-Mail Address: Your permanent address and Marist e-mail address. 17a. Telephone number: your home phone number 18. Residence in a country other than your country of origin, have you permission to return to that country: Leave this blank unless you are in the U.S. on a student visa, green card or other type of visa. 19. Current Occupation: Student 20. Employer s Information: Marist College, 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 USA 21. Purpose of Journey: Study PAGE #2 22. City of Destination: The city that you will be living and studying in - for most of you it is Florence 23. Member State of First Entry The first Schengen country you arrive in. E.G. - If the plane s first stop is in Munich, write Germany. 24. Number of Entries: Multiple 25. Duration of Intended Stay: length of your school program. From the first day or orientation to last day of school. (note early arrivals and late departure days are not counted in the student visa) MAP = 114 26. Schengen Visas issued in the Past 3 Years: If you have received a visa to work or study in any of the Schengen countries you will need to supply the country and dates of the visas. If no leave blank 27. Have you been fingerprinted for a Schengen Visa: 1st time visa applicants answer no. Previous Schengen visa holders who were finger printed for the Permesso process, mark yes and note the date of your finger printing. 28. Entry Permit for final country of destination: This should be left blank as Italy is your final destination 29. Intended Date of Arrival into Schengen Area: This is the date of your program arrival. MAP = January 29, 2018 30. Date of intended departure from Schengen area: The date of your program departure. MAP = May 19, 2018 31. Name of Person in Italy/Employer: 31 has 3 boxes - 1st box write: Marist-LdM, Via Faenza 43, 50123 Firenze, Italia. Leave the second two boxes blank. 32. Name of Host Company/Organization: 32 has 3 boxes - 1st box: Lorenzo de Medici /Marist 2nd Box: T +39.055.287360 F +39.055.2398920 3rd Box: Marta Cantalamessa, Registrar College Programs Marta@lorenzodemedici.it Via Faenza 43, 50123. 33. Costs of Trip are Covered By: In box on left side check boxes marked: Myself, Cash, Credit Card, Prepaid Transport. In box on the right side of the page Check second box for Other write next to Other - Marist College. Then check the boxes for accommodation provided, Other. Next to other box write Prepaid Tuition. PAGE #3 34. 37. EU Family Member - For the purpose of the study visa this section will be left blank. Note one of the statements references a visa fee. There is no visa fee for a study visa. The second statement discusses the use of the information provided in your visa application. Be sure you read this carefully. PAGE #4 On page 4 you simply need to complete the last two boxes at the bottom of the page. Place and Date: This is the location (City & State) where the application was completed and the date on which it was completed. Signature: For students over the age of 18 simply sign this box. If you are not 18 contact your program coordinator immediately
PROOF OF FINANCIAL SOUNDNESS (BANK LETTER) As of Fall 2017, the Italian Consulates in the United States are requiring that students produce a bank letter that verifies that students have approximately $50 in an account for each day they be in Italy. Based on current calculations students will need to show the following totals: Marist Abroad Students staying only one semester = $5,700 Marist Abroad Students staying the full academic year = $13,500 The Letter Format: This letter must come from a bank or other financial institution, and must be an ORIGINAL document (no copies or faxes), on bank Letterhead, signed by a bank representative. The consulate will NOT accept a statement. Proof of Financial soundness must come in letter format. For tips on drafting the bank letter please see the following page. The account must list the student as primary account holder. ** NOTE ** If you plan to use an account with joint ownership be sure that the letter only shows the student s name. A letter with multiple names will be rejected by the consulate. The consulate has provided a format and preferred text for the creation of this letter. Marist Italy highly advises that you take this sample with you to your financial institution and request the letter in the recommended format. Meeting the Minimum Realizing that these sums are large amounts, and understanding that each student has a different economic status we have provided some suggestions on how students and their families can meet this request: 1. You may use multiple accounts, in your name, noted on one letter from the same institution or multiple accounts from different institutions (multiple letters) that total the amount noted for your particular program. 2. Students may use any combination of bank account types including Savings, CDs, Money Markets, College Saving Plans, 401Ks and Investment Accounts. 3. The funds shown in this letter are not frozen, nor does the Consulate advise how long the funds need to remain in the account. The request is simply to show proof that the funds exist. 4. If you have concerns regarding this component of your visa application please contact your program liaison immediately.
PROOF OF FINANCIAL SOUNDNESS - LETTER SAMPLES
RETURN OF GROUP VISA APPOINTMENT DOCUMENTS REMINDER: Marist Italy does not have control over the date on which the consulate will return the visas to the College. Students planning on traveling internationally prior to the program departure date (as noted on the academic calendar) should carefully consider how participation in the group visa appointment may impact their travel plans Once all group visa applications have been reviewed, processed, and released back to Marist Italy, we will notify students via Marist e-mail. If the visas and passports are returned prior to the close of the Fall '17 semester students will pick up their documents in the Marist Abroad office - Hancock 2007, Monday - Friday between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm. Note: Students must pick up their own documents, we will not allow a parent or friend to take your documents. If the visas are returned after the end of the fall semester students will be given instructions on how to submit a request for the documents to be expressed to their homes.