Entry requirements
Entry regulations USA (June 2009)
LISA! Travel endeavours to supply our clients with the latest on entry
regulations of different countries to the best of our knowledge. For
up-to-date information, please phone our helpline on 01256 68 97 21 or
contact the local embassy or consulate for your country of destination.
Please note that for entry into many countries, your passport must still
be valid for at least 6 months upon leaving the country.
USA
When going for a language course to the USA, you will need a particular visa for entry if you are studying for more than 18 hours a week, which is the ‘F1 Student Visa’. This visa allows you to stay around 30 days altogether before or after the language course. However, you may not need a visa if your course offers less than 18 hours a week, if you do not intend to spend more than 90 days in the USA and if you possess a valid return ticket that does not go to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. You must also have a valid passport. We recommend that you first apply for a language course 8 weeks before you intend to start the course in order to allow sufficient time for visa application. To apply for a visa to the USA, you must make an appointment with the US Embassy in London (please see www.usembassy.org.uk for further details).
Also, student visa applicants must, some time before their appointment at the embassy, register on www.fmjfee.com and pay the 200 $ SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee and there is an additional 100$ to pay for the visa itself. For further information, please contact the US Embassy on their website (www.usembassy.org.uk) or contact our help line. Please note that you will need travel insurance upon entry too.
Please note that, as from 12/01/09, travellers who do not require a visa will need
an electronic ESTA-authorisation before entering the USA, which is valid
for 2 years and can be obtained from the website http://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Stop over flight to the USA
You will need a visa, if you are on a transit flight landing in the
USA, whose destination is either Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean and
if you are staying more than 90 days. For further inofrmation, please
see www.usembassy.org.uk.
As from 12/01/09 stop over flights in the US also require an electronic ESTA-authorisation (Please see the entry regulations for the USA.)
Australia
Citizens of all European countries (EU/Non-EU) may use the new, free of charge, Online-Visa-System "eVisitor". Tourists and Business travellers can use an eVisitor-visa to enter Australia as many times as they wish during the period of one year. A maximum stay of 3 months may not be exceeded per entry. For further information about the new eVisitor-visa can be obtained at: www.australia.org.uk and www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/visitors.htm.
Stop over in the USA: As from 12/01/09 stop over flights in the US also require an electronic ESTA-authorisation (Please see the entry regulations for the USA.)
New Zealand
British nationals may not need a visa for entry into New Zealand if your stay does not exceed 6 months, however you may need a transit visa if your flight stops in Australia for over 8 hours. You may also need insurance cover to enter New Zealand. For further information please call (+64 9 914 4100) or visit www.nzembassy.com .
Stop over in the USA: As from 12/01/09 stop over flights in the US also require an electronic ESTA-authorisation (Please see the entry regulations for the USA.)
Russia
To travel to Russia, you will need a visa, along with health insurance and your passport should still be valid 6 months after the visa expiry date. To apply for a visa, you must contact the Russian Embassy 3 months before you arrive into Russia, and no earlier. For further information, please visit www.russianembassy.co.uk
China
You will need a visa for entry into China. If your stay, regardless of whether it is for work experience or solely for the language course, will be exceeding 6 months then you require an ‘X’ visa, whereas you will need an ‘F’ visa if staying for less than 6 months. Your passport must also be valid 6 months after your return. The embassy may ask you to apply for the visa in person, although in most cases you can start the application process online. For further information, please contact www.chinese-embassy.org.uk
Thailand
Citizens of the UK may not need a visa if their stay does not
exceed 30 days. You will need a passport, which is valid for a minimum of 6 months and a return ticket.
Should your language course exceed 30 days, please contact the
Thai Embassy in London for a visa. For further information, please visit www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk.
Japan
UK citizens, if staying for less than 90 days, may not need a visa, however the Japanese authorities will require to see proof of a return flight, travel insurance and a Certificate of Eligibility (details of acquiring one of these can be found http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/visa-certif.html). If staying for longer than 90 days, you can prolong your stay by a further 90 days if you visit an immigration office in Japan.
If doing work experience in Japan, you will require a visa, along with a CV, a proposed itinerary for the first 6 months in Japan and evidence of sufficient funds. Please apply for your visa at least 6 months in advance. For further information please visit www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp or telephone 020 74656565.
Egypt
If staying in Dahab for less than 14 days, you will not need a visa. If this is not the case, you will need a visa and your passport must be valid for 6 months after your trip. For further information, please contact the Egyptian Conuslate in London: www.egyptianconsulate.co.uk or telephone 020 72359777 ext. 30, 37.
Cuba
To enter Cuba, you need a passport valid for 6 months and a tourist pass which will serve as a visa and which you can buy from LISA! for £20. The tourist pass is valid for 30 days and can be extended while there for 30 days a time. For further information, please contact the Cuban Embassy in London:
167 High Holborn, London, WC1 6PA Telephone: 020 74203100
Non-EU citizens
You may need a visa or transit visa for entry into the above countries. Please contact the embassy of the country you are travelling to in good time before your course commences.
Health regulations
Please be sure to have all necessary information regarding vaccinations and other health-related matters before booking your trip. Further information can be obtained from your GP or on www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk .
Travel insurance
For your own assurance, we recommend that you and all members of your party are adequately insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have insurance cover and in countries such as New Zealand and America, you will have to show proof of travel insurance when applying for a visa and entering the country. For your convenience, you can organise and purchase insurance on our web page.