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Visa, travel info for students in US on student visas

Posted by (Walnut Creek) on

Anyone know of a place to get information on taking students out of the country who are here on a student visa? We were scheduled to go to Italy with EF Tours but they canceled us due to low enrollment (apparently we were the only group going anywhere in the world for the week we HAVE to go). I'm going forward with the trip and doing all the planning myself, which is really fine & fun! :-)

I just remembered this issue about the 2 students, which previously, EF was going to deal with, I didn't have to worry about it. I tried reading stuff on the US State Dept. website as well as the Italy Consulate website - but I was confused. I have emailed both places. I just wondered if anyone knew of a website that explained what was needed in very simple language! lol I just need to know if these girls need anything other than their passports (1 is from Hong Kong & 1 is from South Korea).

Posted by
23291 posts

Having dealt with I-9s and other student visa issues I am reluctant to say much other than check careful with their local consulates. Does their student visa allow for exit and reentry to the US? Their respective consulates should provide them with assistance in answering your questions. This is a very touchy area these days so be sure all points are coverend -- twice !

Posted by
51 posts

ahhh - thanks, I didn't think about checking with THEIR consulates. Will do.

Posted by
337 posts

There are two things to consider:
1) the entry requirements of Italy
2) the requirements of the US visa (e.g. re-entry)

No. 1) is enforced by the Italian authorities, so it's best to ask them. They don't care about the US visa, only about the citizenship.
Both South Koreans and holders of a PRC Hong Kong administrative region passport can visit (i.e. 90 days as tourists) the Schengen region without a visa, just like Americans.

No. 2) is enforced by US authorities, so it's best to ask them.

Posted by
51 posts

thanks Kim, I don't see a link. I'll look for that title on the Dept. of State website. I'm planning to call them when the open tomorrow. I don't want to worry that my email gets unanswered for 2 weeks. From what I read on the Italian Consulate website, they should be fine entering Italy (their countries are on a list I found that shows no Visa required), but I'm also going to call them just to make sure.

I also plan to call my rep at EF thinking they will know the answers because they were our original tour operator.

ETA - Kim, I looked all over the Department of State website and couldn't find a link as you described. Was it somewhere else? Can you give me the web address? Thanks.

Posted by
51 posts

Update - I've been emailing with the Italian Consulate General's office & reading the information they sent me. The girl from Hong Kong has a UK passport. UK & South Korea are allowed to enter Italy for tourism of less than 90 days without needing a visa. Both girls have gone to and from their home countries and have proper documentation to re-enter the US. I have copies of their I-20's from school, read those, and they will be able to return to the US. Thanks for the suggestions of where to check to make sure things were ok. (Both girls' families had checked on this previously, but I just didn't feel right about it unless I checked it out myself).

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