The Resident Director and Program Coordinator advise students about how to obtain passports and visas for travel to the host country.

All participants in Cal Poly study abroad programs must hold valid passports. Students are responsible for obtaining their own passport and visa. U.S. citizens may apply for passports at most U.S. Post Offices and the County Clerks Office. The 2004 price of a “new” U.S. passport is $85 ($55 to renew a passport). Please visit the State Department passport webpage for more information. Students already holding passports should make sure that these are valid for at least six months beyond their planned return date to the U.S.

Visas are immigration documents that give you permission to enter a country for a specific purpose and for a specified period of time. If a visa is required, students may apply at the local consulate in Los Angeles for the host country. The following are the instructions typically provided to obtain a visa:

1. Call the Consulate Office (or visit website) to inquire about the procedures that must be followed to obtain the visa.
2. Inform the consular official of your nationality (where your passport is from); there may be different requirements for obtaining a visa based on your nationality.
3. If you plan to go to the Consulate Office in person, remember to ask for office hours as well as street directions. Going in person may expedite the process (possibly resulting in the visa being issued on the same day); however an online application process may be offered as an alternative.
4. To obtain a visa, you usually need to bring your passport (valid for the duration of the program) and a letter of acceptance or invitation from the host university, along with the visa application. Some countries require additional documentation to issue a visa (health record, birth certificate, etc.). Finding out in advance what to bring is strongly recommended.
5. It is recommended that you apply for the visa at least 3-4 weeks prior to your date of departure. Some consulates offer rush service, but often at an additional cost. Visa prices vary from country to country.

In some situations the Program Coordinator will coordinate with the group to send all passports down to the LA consulate together before departure.