Visa Procedures for Argentina

Transcription

1 Argentina Programs Visa Procedures for Argentina The majority of students typically do not have to obtain a visa in order to study abroad in Argentina as they can enter the country with a valid passport and will apply for temporary residency once in Argentina. However, a small number of students will still need to obtain a visa and/or visa documents before departing for Argentina. This document is designed to help you navigate the various possibilities for residing legally in Argentina for your semester or year abroad. You are responsible for finding out and following through with the visa requirements for your personal situation. Failure to obtain a visa or visa documentation, if required, may result in loss of academic credit, dismissal from the program or deportation from Argentina. Who needs a visa or additional visa paperwork to study in Argentina? There are four groups of students who must either obtain a visa and/or visa paperwork before studying abroad in Argentina. They are students who: Use a passport not from the list of countries below: You may be required to obtain a visa prior to their arrival in Argentina. See Section 1 below for additional information. Study in Argentina for two consecutive semesters: You will need additional paperwork before departing for Argentina. See Section 2 below for further information. Are not of age according to the country or state in which they were born: You will need additional documentation. See Section 3 for more information. Were born in a MERCOSUR or an affiliated country: Regardless of current citizenship, you must obtain additional documentation. See Section 4 for further information. If you are unsure if you fall into one of these categories or have any questions, please contact your IFSA-Butler program advisor at or by . Section 1: What country issued your passport? Students who hold passports from the following countries do not need to obtain a visa prior to arrival in Argentina:

2 U.S.A. Finland Luxembourg Saint Kitts and Nevis Andorra France Macedonia Saint Vincent and Grenadines Argentina Germany Malaysia Serbia Australia Granada Malta Singapore Austria Greece Mexico Slovakia Barbados Guatemala Monaco Slovenia Belgium Guyana Montenegro South Africa Bolivia Haiti Netherlands South Korea Brazil Holy See New Zealand Spain Bulgaria Honduras Nicaragua Suriname Canada Hong Kong S.A.R. Norway Sweden Chile Hungary Panama Switzerland Colombia Iceland Paraguay Thailand Costa Rica Ireland Peru Trinidad and Tobago Croatia Israel Poland Turkey Cyprus Italy Portugal United Kingdom Czech Republic Jamaica Puerto Rico Uruguay Denmark Japan Romania Venezuela Ecuador Latvia Russia El Salvador Liechtenstein Saint Lucia Estonia Lithuania San Marino 2 IFSA-Butler students who do not hold a U.S. passport or passport from one of the abovementioned countries may be required to obtain a visa prior to their arrival in Argentina. Visa applications can be processed either through an Argentine Consulate in the United States or the Argentine Embassy in your country of origin. Please do the following: Call the Argentine Embassy or consulate in your jurisdiction for up-to-date visa instructions. Visa regulations change frequently so be sure to speak with a consular official regarding visa application instructions. Contact your IFSA-Butler program advisor immediately at or by . Your program advisor needs specific information from you in order to request documents issued by Argentine authorities necessary for the visa application. Begin working on your visa application now. It can take up to six months or longer to obtain all documentation and process your visa. IFSA-Butler cannot guarantee that your visa will be issued or issued before the program start date. Delays are inherent; therefore, it is important to begin the process as soon as possible. If you are a citizen from one of the countries listed above, you do not need to obtain a student visa prior to studying abroad in Argentina. You may be able to enter Argentina with your valid passport only. Be sure to review the rest of this document to see if you need additional paperwork for your study abroad semester or year in Argentina. While on your international flight to Argentina, a tourist visa will be handed to you and validated once you pass through customs and immigration at the airport. Within 30 days of course enrollment at your Argentine university, you will apply for a temporary resident visa that will be good for the entire duration of your study abroad semester or year. The IFSA-Butler resident staff will provide

3 3 detailed instructions and assistance with this process. They will also help you obtain all the other necessary paperwork in Argentina that you ll need to obtain the visa. Each student is responsible for their visa costs, approximately USD$150. Section 2: Studying for Two Consecutive Semesters (academic or calendar year) Students who plan to study abroad in Argentina for two consecutive semesters [i.e. February to December (calendar year); July to July (academic year)] will need to obtain an FBI background check authenticated with an Apostille before arriving in Argentina. How do I obtain an FBI Background check? For detailed instructions on how to obtain an FBI background check, visit the FBI s website at Please read and follow all instructions carefully. Your application may be returned to you if it is incomplete or incorrect, delaying the receipt of your official background check. It can take three to four months to obtain an FBI background check, so be sure to submit your application, fingerprint, and $18 payment as soon as possible. What is an Apostille and how do I obtain one? An Apostille is an internationally recognized means of ensuring the legality of a document that will be used outside of the United States. Once you receive the background check from the FBI, it must be certified with an Apostille by the Office of Authentications in the U.S. Department of State, located in Washington, D.C. There is an $8 charge per document, payable by check or US Post Office money order. It can take between two to three weeks to process the Apostille. In order to obtain an Apostille for your FBI background check, follow these steps: Visit the Office of Authentications website for detailed instructions at: Be sure to mail all required documents by certified or guaranteed mail to ensure its arrival at the Office of Authentications. Section 3: Students who are not of age before studying abroad: Students who are not of age according to the country or state in which they were born must obtain additional paperwork before departing for Argentina in order to fulfill the temporary resident visa application once in country. This applies to: Students under the age of 18 Students under the age of 19 who were born in Alabama, Nebraska or Wyoming Students under the age of 21 who were born in Puerto Rico If you fall in any of these categories, you need to take the following documents with you to Argentina, both of which must be authenticated with an Apostille from the Secretary of State s office (see below for Apostille tips): 1. Original birth certificate 2. Letter written by your parent(s) in which they authorize you to take up residence in Argentina. This letter must meet the following requirements:

4 4 The phrase take up residence must be included in the letter. It must be signed before a notary public and notarized by the notary public. Your parents must sign the letter identical to how they signed your birth certificate (e.g., if your parents included their middle name on your birth certificate, they must sign your parental consent letter with their middle name). Once in Argentina, the letter must be translated by a public translator and certified by the Association of Public Translators. The IFSA-Butler resident staff will assist with translation. Apostille tips for birth certificates and parental consent letters: State issued birth certificates and parental consent letters can be authenticated by obtaining an Apostille from the Secretary of State s office. To obtain an Apostille, you may have to have your document notarized by a notary public before submitting it to the Secretary of State s office (by mail or in person). A small fee is typically required. Requirements vary by state, so check first with the Secretary of State s office (for the state in which the document was issued) for up-to-date instructions. Section 4: Students who were born in a MERCOSUR or affiliated country Students who were born in a MERCOSUR or affiliated country (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay or Venezuela), regardless of current citizenship, must obtain a clear, federal, criminal background check authenticated with an Apostille. Students will need to take this documentation with them to Argentina. There are two different categories: Born in a MERCOSUR or affiliated country AND a current U.S. citizen or resident: You are required to obtain an FBI background check authenticated with an Apostille (see Section 2 for details). o Additionally, if you have traveled to or lived in your country of birth within the past five years, you will need to obtain a clear, federal criminal record from that country. It must be authenticated with an Apostille (for Hague Convention participant countries) or certified (for countries that do not participate in the Hague Convention). Born in MERCOSUR or affiliated countries but NOT a U.S. citizen or resident: You must obtain a federal clear criminal record from their country of residence. It must be authenticated with an Apostille (for Hague Convention participant countries) or certified (for countries that do not participate in the Hague Convention). o A list of countries that recognize the Apostille is available here: If you have lived outside of the U.S. during the past five years, you must obtain a clear federal background check and an Apostille from that country. Please check with the embassy of your country of residence for instructions. Helpful hints for visas and additional paperwork: Call your IFSA-Butler program advisor ( ) if you have any questions or concerns. Start early! It can take several months to obtain all documentation. Keep in mind that federal offices close during the holiday seasons.

5 When mailing a document, be sure to send it through a mail service that can track the status of your package. We recommend UPS or FedEx. Include a prepaid airbill and UPS or FedEx envelope addressed back to you (and write down the tracking number) so your documents can be returned to you quickly and safely. Make copies of everything, keep track of confirmation/tracking numbers and document who you speak with by phone or . This will help you in case your documents are lost in the process. 5