Fall 2017 Italian Visa Application Checklist for Independent Visa Applicants Requirements of the Italian Consulate in NYC Submission Deadline of all materials to OGS: April 18-21, 2017 The Italian Consulate in NYC requires that all students participating in the Fall 2017 Discover Italy: Rome semester program submit their visa applications directly to the Italian Consulate. This St. John s University Office of Global Studies Italian Visa Application Checklist for Independent Visa Applicants was developed by the Office of Global Studies to help guide students with their Italian Visa application process. The purpose of this Italian Visa Application Checklist for Independent Visa Applicants is to provide an explanation of the Italian Visa requirements issued by the Italian Consulate in NYC, help guide students with their Italian Visa application process, and explain the additional assistance that will be provided by OGS. The requirements of the Italian Consulate in NYC are available here, under Students participating in study abroad programs : http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it/consolato_newyork/en/i_servizi/per_chi_si_reca_in_italia/studenti.html The Italian Consulate in NYC may issue updates to these requirements during the semester. If they do, OGS will let you know right away. 1
The chart below reviews the requirements of the Italian Independent Visa Application Action Item Independent Visa Application 1. Review Independent Visa Application Guide 2. Schedule Visa Appointment 3. Provide OGS with your visa appointment date during your Required Document Submission Session 4. Visa Application Form 5. Passport Photo 6. Passport (Original + Copy) (+ Copy of Proof of Legal Residence in U.S. for non-u.s. citizens) 7. Student ID Card Copy 8. Driver's License Copy OGS to provide to 9. SJU Rome Acceptance Letter (Original + Copy) students OGS to provide to 10. OGS Acceptance Letter (Original + Copy) students 11. Official SJU Transcript (Original + Copy) 12. Proof of Financial Support (Original + Copy) OGS to provide to 13. CISI Health Insurance Letter (Original + Copy) students 14. Round Trip Flight Itinerary 15. Prepaid Envelope (Original + 2 Copies) 16. Declaration for Mailing Passports 17. Packet of Document Photocopies 18. Money Order 19. Participate in a Required Document Submission Session 2
Here are the steps to prepare your Italian visa application: 1. Review the Independent Visa Application Guide (posted on the Apply for a Visa Page ), which explains how to schedule your appointment with the Italian Consulate in New York City and other important tips. 2. Schedule your visa appointment with the Italian Consulate in New York City as soon as possible they always book up fast! The first possible date for your appointment is 90 days prior to departure: May 24, 2017 for non-ozanam Scholars, and May 16, 2017 for Ozanam Scholars participating in the Paris Pre-Session, but can and needs to be booked now. Appointments are available Monday-Thursday. Visit http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it, click English in the top right corner select Visas (or Visti ), then follow the steps to book an on-line appointment for a study visa. Processing time should be between 2 and 6 weeks. Please confirm processing time during your appointment. 3. Provide OGS with your visa appointment date during your Required Document Submission Session. 4. One Original, Completed, Signed Visa Application Form The completed Visa Application Form must contain no mistakes, errors, cross-outs, or white-out. Make sure your answers are written within the box (*write small and neatly). You may type your answers, or write them in blue or black pen. Use the same color pen for the entire Visa Application Form. Be sure to use the European date format (DD/MM/YYYY, so March 5, 1998 would be 05/03/1998) Leave questions on the Visa Application Form blank if they don t apply to you. Review Johnny Thunderbird s Sample Visa Application (posted on the Apply for a Visa Page ) and use it as a guide to complete your visa application. Use the Visa Application Form With Pre-Filled Answers (posted on the Apply for a Visa Page ) o But, if any of the pre-filled answers do not apply to you, e.g., the intended date of entry, you will need to complete the Blank Visa Application Form copying the rest of the pre-filled answers onto this form! You must sign with place and date (using European date format) on both page 3 and page 4 of the Visa Application Form. This portion of the Visa Application Form needs to be completed by hand, in either blue or black pen. It cannot be typed. See page 7 of this Italian Visa Application Checklist for Independent Visa Applicants for more tips on completing your Visa Application Form! 5. One Recent Passport Photo Standard Passport photo format (1 3/8 x 1 3/4 inches in size) This does not need to be the same photo included in your Passport. The picture must be front facing, in color, on a white background, and on photo-quality paper. Taken within the last 6 months You cannot be smiling (and your lips must be closed) Please note you cannot have your hair covering your eyes, and you cannot be wearing glasses, a scarf, a hat or other head covering in these photos. (Please contact the Office of Global Studies if you wear a head covering for religious reasons.) 3
6. One Original & Signed Passport + One Copy of Bio Page (picture and signature page) Your Passport must (1) be valid until at least June 15, 2018, (2) have been issued in 2008 or later, and (3) include at least 2 blank pages (or more if you plan to travel!) Non-U.S. Citizens o In addition to providing your Original, Signed Passport and Bio Page Copy, you need to provide One Copy of your Proof of Legal Residence in the United States: for permanent residents, a Green Card (valid until at least June 15, 2018); for international students, a U.S. visa (valid until at least June 15, 2018) and a Form I-20 signed in April 2017 or later (valid through date of SJU graduation). o All international students must make an appointment with ISSSO to discuss studying abroad and their Form I-20. 7. One Copy of your Current Student ID Card (Storm Card) 8. One Copy of your Driver s License (or State ID) The address on this ID must be in New York, New Jersey (Counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren), or Connecticut. If you do not have this, you have two other options: o (1) Apply for and submit a copy of an IDNYC: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/idnyc/index.page; or o (2) If you live on campus: Secure a letter from Residence Life verifying the dates that you have lived in St. John s University housing and the address of this housing. 9. One Original + One Copy of your SJU Rome Acceptance Letter (in Italian) OGS will provide this to you 10. One Original + One Copy of your OGS Acceptance Letter (in English) OGS will provide this to you 11. One Original + One Copy of your Official SJU Transcript SJU Students Place a request on UIS using the guidelines below and pick it up from the Office of Global Studies approximately 3 to 4 business days later. o Clear any holds on your account. o Log into UIS, head to the Student tab, click on Student Records, then click on Request Printed/Official Transcript. o Specify study abroad as the reason. o Issue to: Consulate General of Italy in New York o Mail to: Office of Global Studies, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Visiting Students Please request your home school transcript directly from your home school. 4
12. One Original + One Copy of Proof of Financial Support: All Proof of Financial Support documents must be recent. Recent means issued within 30 days prior to your visa appointment date. Please secure the Proof of Financial support with an April 2017 date to show OGS during the Required Document Submission Session, and then secure an updated letter prior to your appointment date. (1) Student Personal Bank Letter or Bank Statement on Official Letterhead o Verifying at least $50 per day that student will be participating in the study abroad program in the student s personal checking and/or savings account (the student is the only person listed on the bank account): At least $5,750 for non-ozanam Scholar students program is 115 days in duration At least $6,150 for Ozanam Scholar students participating in the Paris Pre-Session program is 123 days in duration or (2) Student Joint Bank Letter or Bank Statement on Official Letterhead o If a student only has a joint bank account (with their parents or other individual), the Bank Letter/Statement must verify at least $50 per day/per person listed on the account for the number of days that student will be participating in the study abroad program. For example, if a student has a joint account with one other person, the total amount in the account needs to be: At least $11,500 for non-ozanam Scholar students program is 115 days in duration At least $12,300 for Ozanam Scholar students participating in the Paris Pre-Session program is 123 days in duration **Please note: The Italian Consulate in NYC states that it does not permit students to submit joint Bank Letters/Statements as proof of financial support. Some students have done so successfully in the past. If at all possible, OGS recommends that you not submit a joint Bank Letter/Statement. or (3) Office of Student Financial Services Letter o Verifying that the student has a credit/remaining balance of at least $5,750/$6,150 that will be dispersed to the student after tuition and fees are covered. or (4) Combination of Options (1)-(3) o A student can also provide proof of financial support through a combination of: Options (1) and (3) that totals at least $5,750/$6,150; or Options (2) and (3) that totals at least $11,500/12,300 (if the joint bank account is held by the student and only one other person) (again, not recommended). Optional (5) Student Credit Card Statement o If a student does not have sufficient proof of financial support through options (1)-(4), the student may submit a credit card statement with a credit limit to cover the difference. o The credit card statement must list the student s name (another individual can also be listed, such as parent/guardian). o Example 1: Student Bank Letter (student is the sole account holder): $2,750, plus Office of Student Financial Services Letter: $1,000, plus Student Credit Card Statement with a credit limit of: $2,000 Total = $5,750 **Please note the Student Credit Card Statement cannot be submitted on its own as Proof of Financial Support. 5
Bank Letter Tips! o Hand the Sample Bank Letter on page 8 of this Italian Visa Application Checklist for Independent Visa Applicants to the bank employee and encourage them to follow it exactly. The Bank Letter must include all the information included on the Sample Bank Letter, except for your account # (which is optional). o The Bank Letter must be on Bank letterhead o The Bank Letter must be signed by a bank employee o Bank Letters or Statements for retirement accounts or stock portfolios are not accepted by the Italian Consulate 13. One Original + One Copy of your CISI Health Insurance Letter OGS will provide this to you 14. One Copy of your Round Trip Flight Itinerary Print the PDF or email you receive upon booking your round-trip flight. 15. One Original + Two Copies of a Prepaid Envelope for Passport Return The Italian Consulate in NYC will only return Passports with the affixed Visa by mail. On the day of your visa appointment with the Italian Consulate in NYC, you must bring a self-addressed, prepaid envelope from the U.S. Postal Service (prepaid labels with a barcode or stamps + tracking number) and a photocopy of it. You will need to submit one copy with your visa application, and you should keep the second copy for your records. The Italian Consulate in NYC will only accept prepaid priority envelopes from the U.S. Postal Service (no FedEx, no UPS). Tracking of the mailed package is your sole responsibility The Italian Consulate will not take any responsibility for a lost Passport 16. One Original Declaration for Mailing Passports You must also present the Declaration for Mailing Passports duly filled out. The Declaration for Mailing Passports is included as page 9 of this Italian Visa Application Checklist for Independent Visa Applicants. 17. Photocopies must be included at the end of the visa application in following order and stapled together: (1) SJU Rome Acceptance Letter (in Italian) (2) OGS Acceptance Letter (in English) (3) Proof of Financial Support (4) CISI health insurance letter (5) Prepaid Envelop for Passport Return 18. Submit Payment for your visa directly to the Italian Consulate in New York City by Money Order addressed to the Consulate General of Italy, 690 Park Ave., New York NY 10065. Price: the U.S. dollar equivalent of 50 Euro, which on May 18, 2017 is $50. Note: the price may change (depending on the exchange rate), please verify here before your appointment: http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it/consolato_newyork/en/i_servizi/per_chi_si_reca_in_italia/fee.html 19. Participate in a Required Document Submission Session, provide OGS with your Consulate appointment date during that Required Document Submission Session, request the required verification letters (SJU Rome and OGS Acceptance Letters, CISI Health Insurance Letter), and provide your visa application and all supporting documents for review by OGS. 6
Tips on Filling Out the Visa Application Form! #2 Surname at birth (former family name(s)): Leave blank unless you had a different last name when you were born #7 current nationality: Refers to citizenship-if you have a U.S. Passport, put USA #11 national identity number: Leave blank if you are a U.S. citizen. If you are not a U.S. citizen and have a national identity number from your home country, list that here it will likely be your passport number or your country s version of a U.S. Social Security Number. #13 number of travel document: Refers to your Passport number #16 Asks for the country your Passport is issued by, put USA if you have a U.S. Passport #17 Address: Use the address you live at while attending school. This address must be in New York, New Jersey (Counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren), or Connecticut. #26 and #27: Only mark yes if you ve received an European visa in the past 3 years #28: Leave blank, you are not applying for a family reunion visa #31: Leave blank, we have got you covered with our pre-filled answer to #32 #34 and #35: Leave blank, unless you are relying on family living in Italy for financial support Note: All student applying for their visa independently still need to participate in a Required Document Submission Session between April 18-21, 2017 and provide OGS with your Consulate appointment date during that Required Document Submission Session, as well as your visa application for review. Semester Students Required Document Submission Session Times Queens Campus** Tuesday, April 18 (3:30pm to 6:30pm) Wednesday, April 19 (3:30pm to 6:30pm) Thursday, April 20 (3:30pm to 6:30pm) Friday, April 21 (9:00am to 1:00pm) Locations Sun Yat Sen Hall, Faculty Lounge Sun Yat Sen Hall, Faculty Lounge Sun Yat Sen Hall, Asian Studies Library D Angelo Center 416A Semester Students Required Document Submission Session Times Staten Island Campus** Locations Tuesday, April 18 (9:00am to 1:00pm) Campus Center B-18 **This schedule may be updated, please check the Accepted Students Site Tab (12) Required Document Submission Sessions & Requirements Check for the most updated information. 7
Sample Bank Letter [Bank Letterhead] [Date] Consulate General of Italy Visa Office 690 Park Avenue New York, NY 10021 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, This is to certify that the title of the following account(s) reflects [name and address of account holder] as an account holder. Account type Account number (optional) Amount * Date opened * May express exact amount or In excess of more than XXXXX US dollars The above mentioned balance(s) represents the accumulation of successive deposits. Sincerely, Signature
CONSOLATO GENERALE D ITALIA Visa Office New York DECLARATION FOR MAILING PASSPORT I..... (full name) declare that I assume all responsibility for the mailing of my passport by ordinary mail and that I personally wrote my address on the envelope. I understand that the Consulate General of Italy in New York is NOT responsible for the loss or damage of my passport in transit and that the visa office cannot provide updates on the status of my visa application. I therefore wish for my passport to be mailed back to me via the pre-paid envelope that I have provided including a photocopy. Sincerely, (signature) date..
Applying for an Italian Permit of Stay Independent Visa Instructions Fall 2017 St. John s University Office of Global Studies Rome Campus Once you ve received your Italian visa, you will need to register your visa, and your presence in Italy, by applying for a Permesso di Soggiorno, or Permit of Stay. Below you will find a list of steps that you will need to complete prior to and upon your arrival in Rome. Contact the Office of Global Studies on the Queens campus if you have any questions prior to your departure. Upon your arrival, the staff on the Rome campus will guide you through the next steps. Before You Leave Home: 1. Register with Eduitalia via the following link: http://secure.edu-services.org/sju/fall2017. Complete the online application (9 step process). You will need to refer to your Passport and visa to complete this application. 2. After registration, you will receive a confirmation email from Eduitalia. You do not have to pay the Permesso di Soggiorno fee. It is included in your Global Studies program fee. 3. You will need to bring all of the stamped paperwork returned by the Italian Consulate to the Rome Campus. This will include the following: a. Copy of your Passport b. Copy of your student visa c. Copy of your acceptance letter in Italian and English d. Copy of your proof of financial support e. Copy of your CISI health insurance verification letter *All with a stamp from the Italian Consulate on the first page Once you re in Italy: 1. During the on-site orientation, the OGS Rome staff will collect your Passport to make a photocopy of the entry stamp and explain the visa registration process in detail. 2. Eduitalia will come to campus to distribute information and paperwork required for the final step in the visa registration process. 3. Eduitalia will schedule an appointment for you at the Italian Post Office to complete your Permit to Stay. 4. After the Italian Post Office appointment the SJU staff will distribute the following: a. The assicurata postale, which indicates your date of entry into the E.U. b. Confirmation of your fingerprint appointment. We ll explain this to you on site, but you ll need to complete this requirement in-person. After receiving your assicurata postale and completing your fingerprint appointment your Eduitalia process is complete!