Explanation
Applying for visa in a country which is not your home country (called a “third” country) can be more
difficult than applying at home. You may need to prove that you have continuously maintained lawful
immigration status during your time in the US or be sent back home to your country to apply for the
visa. Since refusal in a third country is more likely than at home, students should plan well in advance
of their date of travel. This handout will explain what steps you should take to get a visa in a third
country. For more information see handout entitled, “Travel Out of the US and Return for F-1 and J-1
Students.” If you plan to travel to Canada to apply for a US entry visa, please also refer to the handout
entitled, “Applying for a US Visa in Canada.” Note: Canadian citizens are exempt from US visa
requirements.
Conditions and Limitations
In order to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa in a third country, you must:
have been continuously maintaining lawful non-immigrant status during your stay in the US.
be currently enrolled or planning to enroll for the next academic semester at Carnegie Mellon
or have received an authorization to engage in optional practical training (for F-1 students) or
Academic Training (for J-1 students). F-1 students on OPT will need an EAD card and J-1
students will need the Academic Training authorization letter. (Note: applying for a visa while
on OPT can be risky; ask an advisor or read the OPT handouts for more information.)
use an I-20 or DS-2019 form from the school that you will attend when you return to the US
(for example, if you have finished at Carnegie Mellon and will be returning to the US to study
at another school). The only exception is if you plan to attend summer classes at another
institution, but you will return to Carnegie Mellon for the Fall semester.
have a “valid” reason for applying in the country where the consulate is located; you are likely
to be denied if your only reason for applying in that country is to avoid your home country
consulate. Examples of “valid” reasons include: to attend a conference, to visit family or
friends, etc.
be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the visa officer that you have enough funding to
complete your program and that you plan to return to your home country. If you have relatives
that are US citizens or permanent residents, this will be more difficult to do.
Process
STEP 1: Find Out if You Need a Visa to Enter all Country(s) You Are Traveling Through
Whether or not you need a visa to enter a specific country depends on your country of
citizenship and legal permanent residence. Check with the Embassy or Consulate of each
country to find out whether or not you need a visa. A good resource for finding foreign Embassies or Consulates in the US is www.embassy.org. Applying for visas is costly and
time consuming, so plan ahead. If your plane is landing in another country, you may need a
visa for that country as well, even if you do not plan to exit the plane.
STEP 2: Contact the US Consulate in the “Third” Country to Investigate Procedures
Each Consulate/Embassy has different procedures and timelines for visa applications. Before
you finalize your travel plans, consult the US Department of State website for procedures at
individual consulates and to make sure they accept third country visa applications
(http://usembassy.state.gov/) and to see how long it will take to obtain a visa appointment
(http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php).
STEP 3: Obtain and Carry all the Documents You May Need to be Granted the Visa
A valid passport
A valid I-20 or DS-2019 from the school you are attending/will attend upon reentry
A valid signature on page three of the I-20 which is less than 6 months old or the
bottom right hand corner of the DS-2019 which is less than 1 year old from the foreign
student advisor. If you are attending a new school upon reentry with a new I-20/DS-
2019, you do not need a signature on page 3 (I-20) or the bottom (DS-2019).
Expired visa (if available)
Verification of enrollment letter (from the HUB)
Letter of invitation from person or organization in the third country which helps explain
the reason you are traveling to that country (if available – IMPORTANT)
Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover all costs of tuition plus
expenses. This can be either 1) a letter from your department stating the amount of
funding you are receiving or 2) a letter from another financial sponsor stating the
amount they are giving you, plus supporting financial documents, such as bank
statements or salary statements.
<Note: if you are using personal funds you must also
provide relevant supporting documents. >
While all of this documentation may not be strictly required, it is safest to bring as much as
possible with you. You will also need to have the visa application fee, photos and other
standard visa application materials as specified by the consulate. Details can be found at:
http://usembassy.state.gov/.