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Requirements
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EA Notes
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1. Student Visa Application Form (Bilingual) Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application, filling out every section.
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With the exception of #30 and #31 (which need to be filled out in blue/black pen), the application form can be typed or filled out by hand in capital letters. Please be sure you are filling out this form CLEARLY and LEGIBLY according to the sample visa application form provided by your program or EA.
A general sample visa application form can be found here to help you fill out the form: GENERAL Sample Visa Application BILINGUAL.pdf
For students on Clark-in and ENGR exchanges - please refer to the guides OGEL has provided you.
For students on Maryland-in-Barcelona - please refer to the sample for your program specifically here: Maryland-in-Barcelona Sample Visa Application Fall 2024.pdf
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2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, color photograph, taken against a white/light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the applicant’s face.
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You will glue your photo to the application form (Requirement 1) in the designated PHOTO spot.
You can have this taken at CVS/Walgreens, or another photo store. Must be on photo paper.
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3. Valid, unexpired passport + 1 COLOR COPY of the biometric photo & signature page.
Your passport must now be valid at least ONE year AFTER your program has ended.
Ex. Your program ends December 21, 2025 - your passport must now be valid until at least December 22, 2026.
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BLS will have your passport for up to 8 weeks. THIS MEANS YOU CAN'T TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY WHILE THE VISA IS BEING PROCESSED. Please do not make personal travel plans! If you have an international emergency where you MUST travel abroad, please reach out to your GL Advisor.
The copy of your passport needs to be a CLEAR, color SCANNED copy of the information and signature page in ONE photo. Don’t try to take a photo. If you need help, bring your passport to the EA office and we can help! You can also download your passport information scan from MyEA if you submitted a good scan there.
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4. Proof of acceptance for the study, training or volunteer activity or internship. This can be a:
- Letter of acceptance to an accredited school for full-time studies.
- Letter of acceptance to a research or training center.
- Letter of acceptance to a student exchange program, including proof of acceptance to a school, accommodations with a family or institution, and organizer’s commitment to cover expenses.
- Letter of acceptance for an unpaid internship (signed contract).
- Letter of acceptance to a volunteer program (contract with the volunteer organization).
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For Maryland-in programs, you will receive the letter from your EA Advisor. For exchange/affiliate/other approved programs, you will receive this from your program/host university directly. DO NOT LOSE THIS LETTER, as often it is an original that was mailed from abroad and there may be only one!
NEW: The letter must now have
proof of payment of the enrollment, or equivalent document required, where applicable, by the corresponding institution or educational center in Spain.
For exchange, affiliate, other approved students - please reach out to your host university for a new letter.
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5. Proof of financial means. You, the student, must provide originals and copies of documents where noted certifying that you (or the legal representative or relative that supports you) have sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of your stay and return. If you are traveling to Spain alone, the minimum required amount is 600 euros ($700 USD to be safe with fluctuating exchange rates) per month of each stay (for example - if you are in Spain for four months, you need at least $2800 in your bank account).
Only one of the following sets of documents must be submitted:
- a) If providing proof for yourself: your three most recent monthly bank statements, including your full name and a final balance that covers the required minimum funds. The bank statements do not need to be translated into Spanish or notarized.
- EA Notes: If you have a JOINT bank account with a parent/guardian, BLS has confirmed that they want a notarized copy of your birth certificate and a copy of the notarization.
OR
- b) If your parent/guardian is providing proof: You need the following three items:
- Notarized letter (sample letter in English AND Spanish here: Financial Guarantee (Upd. Oct 2022).pdf) + 1 COPY of the notarized letter from at least one of your parents or guardians, in which they assume full financial responsibility for your room and board.
- a notarized copy of your parent or guardian's ID or passport + 1 copy of the notarized doc
- your parent or guardian’s three most recent monthly bank statements, showing their full name and a final balance that covers the required minimum funds. The bank statements do not need to be translated into Spanish or notarized.
OR
- c) If your financial aid will cover your room/board and day-to-day expenses: Documentation proving the issuing of financial aid, loans, scholarships, or other economic aid that covers the minimum amount required for room and board. If the original documents are in English, an official/certified translation into Spanish must also be submitted + 1 copy.
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Ideally, bank statements should have the minimum in each month. If not, the most recent statement should have at least the minimum.
For the sample Financial Guarantee letter, please note it is both in English (pg. 1) and Spanish (pg.2). You should have both documents signed.
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6. Health insurance. You must submit a letter proving that you will have public or private health insurance coverage provided by an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system. Travel insurance will not be accepted. Health insurance cards will not be accepted as proof of insurance.
The applicant must have health insurance with coverage in Spain during the entirety of his/her stay. If the insurance company is U.S.-based, the supporting documentation must expressly say that the company offers coverage in the rest of the world, or at least in Spain.
The policy cannot have copays, deductibles, or qualifying periods, meaning that it must cover 100% of medical, hospital, and outpatient costs. The proof of insurance must demonstrate a minimum general coverage of at least 500,000 USD, with no deductibles or copays.
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EA provides all study abroad students with CISI health insurance that meets the requirements. EA will upload your CISI letter to your MyEA account and provide these for students using batch processing. You may also receive a health insurance letter from your program directly that can be used. EA has verified that the CISI letters meet the consulate’s requirements.
CHANGE - This letter must now be issued for 30 days before your program start through 15 days after your program end. EA will issue new documents.
Please be aware that this creates an additional cost and your new estimated cost of CISI insurance is expected to be ~$360 total.
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NEW - REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS
7. Medical certificate - Those applying for a visa for a stay of more than 90 days must submit the ORIGINAL + 1 COPY of a medical certificate demonstrating that the applicant does not suffer from any diseases that could have serious repercussions for public health, in accordance with the International Health Regulations of 2005.
This certificate must be issued a maximum of 90 days prior to submitting the visa application and must be signed by and include the stamp or letterhead of a doctor. If issued in English, a Spanish translation is required. The recommended model can be found here. If this model is used, an additional translation is not required.
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This must be issued within the last three months.
This certificate must include a stamp from the issuing Medical Center, doctor’s name and signature, doctor’s License Number and date of expedition.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE THE TEMPLATE PROVIDED.
If you do NOT use the template, you must have a letter on your doctor's letterhead with a certified translation.
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8. Proof of residence in the consular district. The applicant must be a legal resident or be enrolled in in-person studies within the Consular Section’s consular jurisdiction (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia).
- Residence must be demonstrated by way of one of the following valid documents: U.S. driver's license, state ID, or university student ID. A copy of the document will suffice; the applicant does not need to submit the original.
- Non-U.S. citizens must also submit their U.S. Green Card or long-term stay visa (notarized copy).
- B-1 and B-2 visa holders cannot apply for a student visa in the United States; they must apply for it in their country of residence or origin.
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Only include two copies of your University ID card or Driver’s License, in color. No need to notarize. Don’t put in your original IDs!
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9. Payment of the visa fee: MONEY ORDER - The money order should be made out to "Consular Outsourcing BLS Inc."
US citizens- $160.00 non-refundable + $18 Mandatory BLS service charge + $5 SMS fee (NOT needed for batch students but optional) =
$178 without SMS fee
OR
$183 including SMS fee
NON US citizens — Fee dependent on citizenship + $18 Mandatory BLS service charge + $5 SMS fee (NOT needed for batch students but optional)
BLS will ONLY accept money orders from the following institutions:
- Western Union
- United States Postal Service (USPS)
- MoneyGram
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You will be able to pay via debit card if you are batch processing. BLS will have a POS system set up in the collection room (HJP 1102) to accept payment.
The money order should be one money order for the final price. So if you're a US citizen, you need one money order for $183 total. If you need an address listed on the money order, you can use the following:
1660 L St. NW Second Floor, Suite 216 Washington DC. 20036.
Please don't hesitate to ask the staff where you get your money order from how to fill it out properly. Each money order can be a bit different!
DO NOT SIGN THE BACK OF THE MONEY ORDER! THIS VOIDS THE MONEY ORDER.
DO NOT MAIL THE MONEY ORDER TO BLS. YOU MUST HAVE THE MONEY ORDER INCLUDED WITH YOUR APPLICATION.
Students with individual BLS appointments can opt to pay by money order, debit card (NO credit cards) or by cash (we do not recommend this). Your costs must all be paid in ONE format (ie. you can't pay the visa fee in debit card and BLS fees by cash). We still recommend the route of obtaining a money order from the above approved institutions if possible. Please be sure to KEEP your money order receipts!
The SMS fee provides students notifications of their visa status when it changes (ie. in process, ready, etc.)
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10. If you are planning to participate in batch processing, you need a notarized form providing UMD permission to batch process on your behalf: Permission to Batch Process - Spain.pdf. You do not need a copy.
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Students whose program in Spain is over 180 days (typically ACADEMIC YEAR students) long will also need:
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11. Criminal record check certificate - Applicants of legal age who apply for a visa for a stay of more than 180 days must submit the ORIGINAL and 1 COPY of their criminal background check(s) issued by their country or countries of residence in the past five years. The criminal background check must be issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). State background checks issued by the Department of Law Enforcement and those issued at a local level will not be accepted.
The background check must be issued within the five months preceding the submission of the visa application. It must be authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague and translated into Spanish. The applicant must submit a notarized copy of both the original FBI Background Check document in English and the Spanish translation. The official translation can include the translation of the Apostille as well, but it is not necessary. The translation does not need an Apostille and the Apostille does not need a translation.
Under no circumstances will a criminal background check be accepted if it has been altered or damaged in any way, including damages caused by removing staples.
If the applicant has lived outside the United States during the past five years, he/she must provide an additional criminal background check from every country where he/she has lived, authenticated with the Apostille of The Hague and translated into Spanish, with a notarized copy of both documents. If the country in which the applicant has lived in the past five years does not subscribe to The Hague Convention of 1961, the background check must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and then by the Consulate of Spain in said country.
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You must start this process AT LEAST three months before you want to apply for your visa. The process for obtaining Federal Apostilles is sitting at 11 weeks with NO OPTION TO EXPEDITE. Past students have had little luck reaching out to senators for assistance in getting apostilles expedited.
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