Study Abroad in Southeast Asia
Multi-Country Visa Information

What Visas Will I Need?

If you are an American citizen (U.S. passport holder), you will need to obtain a visa to travel in China and Vietnam prior to arrival (instructions below). You will purchase a visa for Cambodia upon arrival into each individual country (fees listed below). A visa is not needed to enter Thailand.

If you are of any other nationality, please check with your Program Manager to determine which visas you need to obtain prior to arrival.

China Visa Information

STEP 1: Acquiring a Passport

You must possess a valid passport. If you do not have a passport, please begin the process of securing one immediately.

If you already have a passport, please check to see that it has not expired. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your program and for an additional six months. It must also have at least three blank visa pages in it (one for your Chinese, Cambodian and Vietnamese visa).

STEP 2: Determine your Chinese Consulate General

You will need to apply for your business visa (F visa) from a Chinese Embassy/Consulate General representing the jurisdiction where (1) you live at a permanent address; or (2) where you attend college.

You may either submit your application in person, or you may entrust someone else or a travel/visa agent to submit your application at the visa office. No appointment is required. Mailed applications are not accepted. Refer to your consulate’s website to verify their application process.

A list of Chinese Consulate General offices and their addresses can be found here: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/t84229.htm. From this site you will be able to link to any consulate office in the U.S.

STEP 3: Submitting Your Application to the Consulate

To apply for a business "F" visa, you will need to present the following documents:

Completed visa application form (V2011A) - The application form is available on your Chinese consulate's website. Please read the instructions carefully. U.S. citizens may apply for a single entry, double entry, or multiple entry type of visa at the same cost. Only a single entry visa is required for this program. The single entry visa is valid for 3 months; the double entry visa is valid for 6 months; and the multiple entry visa is valid for 6 or 12 months.
One color passport-sized photograph to attach to your application - The photo should be recent, front view, and without head covering.
Original passport and one copy of the data page - When you apply for your Chinese Visa, you will need to submit your passport along with the rest of your application. The consulate will keep your passport during the application period and then place the visa on a blank page in your passport after it is approved. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your program and for an additional six months.
Invitation letter from the University - This letter will be provided to you by Arcadia.
Visa fee - You will need to pay a fee of $140 for regular service. Please pay by Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard only), money order, cashier's check or Company Check. Cash or personal check is not accepted. Please make checks or money order payable to "Chinese Consulate." Note: Visa fees for certain third countries may vary from the fee mentioned above based on reciprocal agreements.

Other Important China Visa Information

Refer to your consulate’s website to verify their application process.

Please note the China visa is valid from the date of application, not the date of entry.

Please fill out the visa application form truthfully, completely and clearly. Any false or incomplete statement or failure to write in a clear way may delay the processing of a visa application or result in the refusal of a visa.

Business Visa (F Visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for a visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology or culture, advanced study, or internship for a period of no more than 6 months.

Additional documents must be submitted by former Chinese citizens who apply for a Chinese visa for the first time. Instructions are found on your consulate’s website.

Non-US citizens must provide the original and a copy of official document (e.g. Green Card, work visa, or student visa) that provides for residence in the US for no less than 6 months. Non-US citizens on temporary visit to the U.S. should apply for a Chinese visa in their own country of citizenship in advance.

Four business days are required to process visa applications with approval. Express service and same-day service is available for an additional fee.

Vietnam Visa Information

STEP 1: Acquiring a Passport

You must possess a valid passport. If you do not have a passport, please begin the process of securing one immediately.

If you already have a passport, please check to see that it has not expired. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your program and for an additional six months. It must also have at least five blank visa pages in it (one for your Chinese, Cambodian and Vietnamese visa).

STEP 2: Submitting Your Application to the Consulate

You may either apply for your visa by mail or in person at the Embassy of Vietnam as early as six months prior to the date of travel.

To apply for a visa, you will need to present the following documents:

Completed visa application form - The application form is found on the Embassy’s website, http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/services/visa-application-process. Select "single visit" for times of entries. Select "one month" for length of stay.
One recent color passport-sized (2x2) photograph to attach to your application.
Valid national passport - The embassy will keep your passport during the application period and then place the visa on a blank page in your passport after it is approved.
Visa fee - You will need to pay a fee of $90 for a single entry, one month visa. The fee must be in the form of a money order, cashier’s check or certified check made payable to "The Embassy of Vietnam."
If you are requesting for your visa to be returned by mail, you will need to provide a self-addressed prepaid return envelope. For your documents’ safety, the Embassy advises to use a mailing service which provides tracking numbers, such USPS Express Mail or FedEx/UPS.

Other Important Vietnam Visa Information

Refer to the Embassy’s website, http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/, to verify the application process and to obtain additional information.

Five business days are required to process visa applications with approval. Expedited processing of one to two business days is available for an additional fee.

Only a single entry one month visa is needed for this program however you are welcome to apply for a multiple entry visa if you wish (one month or three month multiple entry visas are available for an extra cost).

Please keep the tracking numbers of the envelopes to and from the Embassy. When deadlines have passed, use the tracking number to check with the mailing service first. Please do not make telephone inquiries on the status of your application (make sure that you keep your passport number for this request) until after the 3rd business day for an expedited case and the 7th business day for a regular case.