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Students divided over AU Abroad visa, course services
Office holds meeting, offers visa application information
By Christopher Cottrell on 4/30/07
Students are expressing mixed opinions about whether the AU Abroad office provides enough help and guidance, especially with obtaining visas.
The AU Abroad office provides students with information on a range of topics, including cultural disparities, housing, program fees, safety and travel information. Students are still expected to independently manage important aspects of their study abroad experience, such as their visa attainment and course registration.
Over 60 percent of all AU undergraduates will partake in some form of study abroad program before they graduate, according to the AU Abroad Web site.
Mel Jones, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of International Service, spent the first semester of this school year in Berlin, Germany, through American University's enclave program at the Freie Universität Berlin. She said she ran into problems obtaining a visa for her studies.
"We were told we wouldn't need any kind of visa, but once we got to Berlin it was another story," she said. "We found out it was going to be a very lengthy process."
Visa application requirements differ from country to country and they are constantly changing in response to the current international situation, as well as in response to changes the U.S. government makes in its own visa attainment policies, according to Sara Dumont, AU Abroad's director.
"For these reasons, the staff of AU Abroad cannot make any representation regarding visa regulations, nor can we become involved in the process of student visa applications," Dumont said.
Dumont said she and AU Abroad try to provide adequate information to students.
"What we can do is provide general information regarding passports and visas on our Web site and provide students any documentation regarding the planned study abroad experience that may be required by the consulate in question," she said.
AU Abroad offers over 80 programs in 33 different locations.
The AU Abroad office provides students with information on a range of topics, including cultural disparities, housing, program fees, safety and travel information. Students are still expected to independently manage important aspects of their study abroad experience, such as their visa attainment and course registration.
Over 60 percent of all AU undergraduates will partake in some form of study abroad program before they graduate, according to the AU Abroad Web site.
Mel Jones, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of International Service, spent the first semester of this school year in Berlin, Germany, through American University's enclave program at the Freie Universität Berlin. She said she ran into problems obtaining a visa for her studies.
"We were told we wouldn't need any kind of visa, but once we got to Berlin it was another story," she said. "We found out it was going to be a very lengthy process."
Visa application requirements differ from country to country and they are constantly changing in response to the current international situation, as well as in response to changes the U.S. government makes in its own visa attainment policies, according to Sara Dumont, AU Abroad's director.
"For these reasons, the staff of AU Abroad cannot make any representation regarding visa regulations, nor can we become involved in the process of student visa applications," Dumont said.
Dumont said she and AU Abroad try to provide adequate information to students.
"What we can do is provide general information regarding passports and visas on our Web site and provide students any documentation regarding the planned study abroad experience that may be required by the consulate in question," she said.
AU Abroad offers over 80 programs in 33 different locations.
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