Welcome to the beginning of your adventure!
Student Visa Information
(Note: these few paragraphs pertain only to those students enrolling in semester programs in Italy)
Once accepted to study in a semester program of longer than 90 days with SIS Intercultural Study Abroad, you will need to begin applying for a student visa. Students must apply individually for student visas, but please contact us with any questions and we’ll do all we can to assist you.
A valid student visa is required for all non European citizens studying abroad in Italy for programs longer than 90 days. In order to obtain it you will need to contact the Italian Consulate nearest to your permanent address. We suggest booking an appointment as soon as you apply as the wait time at some consulates can be significant, but keep in mind you may begin the process no more than 90 days prior to departure. Acceptance letters from SIS are generally issued in October (at the earliest) for the Spring Semester, and May (at the earliest) for the Fall Semester.
Please visit the following website for visa information: https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en
It is important to consult the website of the specific consulate at which you will be requesting your visa to confirm the necessary documents and procedures. The consulate office can be strict with its requirements so please be sure to have your paperwork in order.
You will also most likely need these for your visa:
- Passport-sized photos
- Your flight itinerary
- A signed and notarized statement from your parents assuming financial responsibility for you
- A personalized letter from your health insurance provider with account number, date, and name of card holder that specifies that you will be covered in Italy during program dates
- A personalized letter from your college or university study abroad official and photocopies of each document
Please note that at times there are problems with the proof of health insurance documents and, instead, you may be asked to sign a notarized statement declaring that you’ll purchase Italian health insurance when you arrive from the INA insurance company. If this is the case, we will be happy to assist you when you get here. Again, check the site of the consulate you will visit to be sure of what you need. Once the consulate has accepted all of your documents, your visa should be ready to pick up within a couple of weeks.
The visa process is delicate and involved, as each consulate has a slightly different process. The key is to secure an appointment and start gathering your paperwork early because a missing document can slow down or halt the visa process. Although the process can be challenging, it is rare that a student is unable to acquire a visa to study abroad.
Medical Insurance
It is essential that you have medical insurance that will cover you while abroad. Consider the various insurance options and choose a plan appropriate to your needs, but be sure you will be covered at all times during your stay. All students should bring a copy of their policy, insurance claim forms, in addition to their insurance card.
If you do not have medical insurance or if you would like to purchase supplemental coverage, companies such as HTH worldwide (www.hthstudents.com) offer international student health insurance and medical assistance services.
Immigration Information
Within 8 days of arrival in Europe, all students are required to register with the immigration authorities. Please fill out the Registration with Immigration Authorities form below. You will need your passport and visa information (where applicable) to complete the form. You will also need a file of a scanned copy of your passport page and one of a scanned copy of your visa page in order to complete the form.
Course Selection Process
Although preliminary course selections are made on the SIS application form, it is important to keep in mind that all courses are not offered every term. Final course selections will be offered based on the pool of applicants in the weeks prior to the program start date, and students will also have the chance to add or drop courses following the course introduction sessions given at the start of the term.
Program Payment Procedure
For students enrolling individually, who do not pay through their home institution, the program fees should be paid in the following manner:
- An initial non-refundable payment of $100 is required at the time of application (deducted from total program fees).
- 30% of the total program fee is due within one month before arrival. Refunds for this portion of program fees are not possible if a withdrawal is made 30 days or less before program start date. Documented health or family emergencies may be considered, minus expenses disbursed on the student’s behalf for initial program expenses.
- The balance is expected to be settled by the date of arrival. However, adjustments can be made based on specific situations, such as payment plans or deferred payments due to financial aid.
SIS may request payment through its U.S. affiliate which assists in logistical program operations – Nove LLC based in Dallas, Texas. Payment can be made in the following ways:
- Bank transfer in EUR
- Bank transfer in USD equivalent
- Check in USD equivalent
- Credit Card or Venmo via PayPal (+3.5% surcharge, please calculate this on your end when you send a payment)
- Zelle
Make a Payment with Paypal
Withdrawal Policy
- Withdrawal within 30 days of the program start date: student is held to pay 30% of program fees
- Withdrawal after program begins until 30 days: 60% reimbursement of total program fees
- Withdrawal 30-60 days into program: 35% reimbursement of total program fees
- Withdrawal after 60 days: no reimbursement
- In the event of a program cancellation due to a national crisis identified by the Italian Government:
Occurring after application and before the start of the term and resulting in the cancellation of the program, students will be eligible for a partial refund of the amount paid minus bank fees, based on whether or not the student decides to follow their academic program online with SIS. Following the program online will remain an option to fulfill student needs.
Occurring after the start of the term and resulting in a modification of the program (e.g., students required to leave Italy and return to the U.S. and courses are moved online for course completion), students will be eligible for a partial refund of accommodation expenses, minus bank fees. All other fees and expenses are non-refundable.