Passport
Immediately upon acceptance into the program, you should apply for a Passport, if you don’t already have one. If you do have a valid passport, the expiration date must be no earlier than six months after you expect to return home from your year abroad. A “raised-seal” birth certificate is needed to apply for a passport. At least one parent should have a valid passport in the case of an emergency.
VISA (Not a credit card)
A visa is an official document that allows the bearer to legally enter a foreign country. The visa is usually stamped or glued into the bearer’s passport. There are several different types of visas, each of which afford the bearer different rights in the host country. The requirements for a visa vary by country, and our travel agency and Rotary contacts will be able to guide you through the process of securing a visa.
The Travel Agent will obtain the student VISA that will be required for student entry into their exchange country. IYWT does not charge an additional fee for the VISA processing but individual countries do.
- Any VISA processing fees required by the sponsor country will be the responsibility of the student or their family.
- Some countries also require a personal visit to one of their consulates outside the Portland area. The USA requires almost all students entering the US on exchange to personally be interviewed by the US Embassy in their country. This could be over a day’s travel from their homes. We have been fortunate in the past that this requirement has not been placed on most of our American student VISA applicants, however, this is changing. If our students are required to present themselves at a foreign embassy or consulate prior to receiving their travel documents, the Travel Agent will notify the family. The cost of travel to visit a consulate is the responsibility of the student or their family.
- Requirements to obtain the VISA will vary from country to country, and may include chest X-Rays, police reports, document translations, etc. Please comply with all verbal and written requests from the Travel Agent as soon as they are received.
- Ensure that your medical records and prescriptions for medication are up to date before you apply for a visa.
Medical Certificate
In general, a medical certificate is a medical doctor’s statement indicating that the student has been examined and found in good physical and mental health to travel to study abroad and is free of contagious diseases.
A medical certificate is a different document than a Medical History. Your country may also require an Apostille and the medical certificate is needed as part of that process. Be aware that the Medical Certificate may require a notary for the doctor’s signature, not the student or parent. So be prepared to find a mobile notary if necessary.
- This certification usually has to be within a specified time frame prior to your arrival in the host country.
- In general, they include:
- Precautionary tests for communicable and non-communicable diseases are becoming part of the visa process to ensure that applicants who may be infected are identified before they reach the port of entry.
- Medical test requirements vary depending on the criteria of the country whose visa you are seeking. In general, countries require a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray and blood tests for infectious diseases. Chest X-ray and blood tests are not usually required for children under the age of 15.
- Each country imposes its own documentation fees. They can vary greatly from country to country. In some cases, the VISA may be temporary, and the student MUST present themselves at a specified government office upon arrival to obtain the permanent document. Failure to do this can result in expulsion from the country.
Physician Letter for Chronic Medical Issues
If you suffer from any medical problems, you should carry a letter from your physician describing the medical condition, diagnosis, current treatment, prognosis and details of any prescription medications, including the generic name of the prescribed drugs when you travel. Any medications that you take along should be in their original containers and should be clearly labeled.
Apostille
Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, court orders, or any other document issued by a federal agency or certified by an American or foreign consul. An apostille certifies the document(s), so the document can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.
Not every hosting country requires an apostille as part of the visa application process. If you need to get an apostille, the travel agency will let you know as part of the VISA process. Please DO NOT begin this process until directed by the travel agency.
References for where to go for an Apostille:
US Apostille Requirements and Steps – Apostille Requirements
Apostille Oregon –
State of Oregon: Business – How to Get an Authentication (or Apostille)
https://sos.oregon.gov/business/pages/how-to-get-authentication-apostille.aspx
Apostille Washington-
How to obtain an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication – Corporations – WA Secretary of State
https://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/apostilles/howtoobtainanapostilleorcertification.aspx