The Visa Process:
Additional information on the consulates from previous grantees
First of all, congratulations on your Fulbright! In our experience, the visa application process was a bit
confusing because different consulates had different policies. For example, some consulates required
documents to be translated, but others did not. To help you with the process, we’ve compiled information
about each consulate that may make it a bit easier. Following the information about the consulates, you
will find answers to FAQs about the process.
This guide to is meant to help, but keep in mind that this is information from grantees from a year ago, so
it may not be perfectly up-to-date. Get information from the consulate (when possible) and ask other new
grantees who have already gone for help. Also, after your appointment, please add on to or update the
information we currently have if anything has changed. Thanks!
BOSTON
Territory: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
What you should know:
●
Contacting Them: In my experience they rarely answer the phone (one time out of 30+
attempts) They are fairly (two out of three, and quickly) responsive by email. Your best bet is to
make your appointment (online), have everything, and go in person.
●
Making an appointment: The consular office is only open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Appointments can be made after you register here. I would suggest making one or two soon
(even though you may be waiting on your documents, make one for when you think you will have
them). When you are in the scheduling portal you will realize that the Consulate does not release
appointment times for the following month until two weeks before that month (for June
appointments I couldn’t see any availabilities until Mid May) so you have to keep checking the
website. Do not go to the consulate pressed for time, you do not get called at the time of
your appointment, you get called in the order of arrival.
●
Consulate Location: The consulate is inside a commercial building (As of the writing of these
notes, the location was 31 St James Ave) so find the address, go in and locate the main desk and
tell them you are going to the Spanish Consulate, present an official I.D. and the security guard
will tell you the floor. Once you get to the 9th floor there are no signs pointing you to the consulate
so you may have to wander a bit. Please give yourself plenty of time to find the Consulate,
use Google Map and Street view to familiarize yourself with the location if you have never
been in the area.
●
Translation: You need the police report to be translated AND notarized by the translator.
Both your original police report and the translated version require the Apostille. Keep in
mind you need to bring a copy of everything, so make copies BEFORE you attach the Apostille,
because once the Apostille goes on it, you cannot make a copy. You can then copy the front
page of the Apostille to complete your set of copies.
●
Police Report : If you have gone to school for the past 4yrs, save yourself the trouble and only get
ONE police report from the state where you went to school since this is where you have
resided 6+ months every year.
- If you went to school in Massachusetts your police background check (CORI) DOES NOT
require
fingerprints, and you can apply for it online if you have a MA state I.D.; if you don’t, then you have
to apply by mail, get the application notarized and mail it with a $25 Money Order (no personal
checks)
●
Fee/Payment: No Visa fee charged for Fulbrighters.
●
Travel: You have to appear in person to apply for the Visa, and you have to return in person (or
write a note authorizing someone to pick it up on your behalf) If you need your passport for
traveling they will let you keep it, but you’ll have to bring it back before the 4 week minimum
requirement and no additional appointment is needed, simply get in line and turn in your passport.
●
Visa processing time: Allow 6-8 weeks for your passport to be ready. Once four (4) weeks have
gone by you need to e-mail them to check on the status ( I met someone who handed in their
Student Visa application May 3rd, and on June 20th he was told to come back in 2 weeks
because his passport was not ready). Update: I dropped off my application but needed to travel
so they allowed me to keep my passport and return. When I returned I was the first person in line
when the consulate opened, and they were able to affix the visa to the passport while I waited
(aprox 1 hr) so I didn’t have to come back.
●
Miscellaneous items:
- You must print your application double-sided (they are very specific about this on their website
and several individuals got turned away for this)
- If you forget any copies, there are copy/printing services in the main lobby of the building.
- There is an additional form (Form 2) that also needs to be filled out (for further info check the link
below)
-When I went, the Fulbright letter to the consulate was not enough because it didn’t contain the
address of the school where I’d be teaching. Fortunately I brought my grant authorization contract
with me, and they accepted that- they did use the letter as proof of health care and sufficient
financial support, but they required the contract as a supplement to that. Once I gave it to them
they said it would do and I had no further issues.
- The entire time I was gathering my documents, the English version of the Boston Consulate
website was down, but the Spanish version was up, so here it is (Scroll down to “Visados de
Estudiantes”):
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/BOSTON/es/ServiciosConsulares/ServiciosConsulares
Boston/Paginas/Boston-Visados.aspx
- If your passport is “worn out/poor condition” they will ask you to go get another one (someone
got turned away for this as well) so when in doubt, save yourself the trouble and get a new one.
- If you are a Bank of America customer your notarization is free of charge ( I think other banks
do this for their customers as well, but check with your branch) Call your local branch and make
an appointment, just bring your debit/credit card for identification.
- I would suggest getting your Money Orders from the Post Office because if you need to get
reimbursed you can get your money back from any USPS location.
●
In sum: The one time they picked up the phone, the lady was a tad bit rude, told me she didn’t
care I had a Fulbright I still had to pay, so I came in with my Money Order ready but the lady who
interviewed me returned it and even said “Congratulations” The website link above has a
checklist, use it, use it, use it! it will save you time and money. Many students got turned away for
petty things that are clearly listed. My major frustration was having to wait for 2 hours in a
crowded room, but once I got called up the lady was very nice. P.s. if you speak Spanish to them,
they soften up their tone :)
CHICAGO
Territory: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin
What you should know:
- The original medical certificate also requires the Apostille and a copy!
●
Contacting Them: In my experience they do not answer the phone and only occasionally
respond to email. Your best bet is to make your appointment (online), have everything, and go in
person. If you really need to talk to someone you can try calling the DC office (where the
Embassy is) to speak with someone to connect you to the Chicago consulate. That phone
number is (202) 728-2340.
●
Making an appointment: The consular office is only open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Appointments can be made here. I would suggest making one soon (even though you may be
waiting on your documents, make one for when you think you will have them) since they fill up
quickly. I would also recommend scheduling the earliest possible appointment slot during the day,
as I did not have to wait at all for my 9:10 a.m. appointment.
●
Translation: I was not required to have any documents translated.
●
Travel: You have to appear at least once to apply for the visa. You can have them mail your
passport back to you (you’ll have to buy the correct envelope and postage, which is just a USPS
Express Mail envelope) to avoid a return trip. If you need your passport for traveling they will let
you keep it, but you’ll have to return to Chicago to get your visa. I would recommend booking your
appointment earlier in the day (if possible) so you can get the correct postage / envelope and
drop it off before the consulate closes.
●
Payments: I did NOT have to pay the visa fee when I mentioned I was with Fulbright.
●
The appointment: Bring copies of everything and bring something to read. Even though your
appointment has a time, both times I was there it was behind schedule. If for some reason you
don’t have enough copies of something, there is a copy machine on the same floor as the
consulate where they’ll copy whatever you need for just a few cents a page. In my experience, all
of my originals were returned and the consulate only kept the copies for their purposes, so
bringing copies of everything is advised.
●
In sum: Once I got to the consulate with all of my documents everything was fine. My major
frustration was not being able to contact the consulate with questions.
HOUSTON
Territory: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas.
What you should know:
●
Travel: In 2013, I did have to travel to Houston (from N Arkansas) to obtain my visa. Call them
first to verify this and check the procedure.
○ There are no appointment times. The consulate is open M-F from 9-1.
●
Payment: While the processing fee for American citizens is normally $160, I was not required to
pay this amount after asking if the fee is required of Fulbright recipients.
●
Translation: I did not have to translate my state background check, but I did translate my medical
statement (although my doing so was not obligatory). I used the following form:
This medical certificate attests that ______________________ does not suffer from any illness
that would pose a threat to public health according to the International Health Regulations of
2005.
Signature _______________________ Date ____________
Este certificado médico acredita que ______________________ no padece ninguna de las
enfermedades que pueden tener repercusiones de salud pública graves de conformidad con lo
dispuesto en el Reglamento Sanitario Internacional del 2005.
Firma _______________________ Fecha ____________
●
Complications: Make sure your fingerprint-verified state background check is notarized before
sending it to the Secretary of State’s office for the Apostille. Also, the Houston consulate’s
website is awful; someone from the Houston consulate directed to the San Francisco consulate’s
website in order to see the visa requirements. I would post the link, but the site appears to be
down.
○
○
From another student in 2013: Yes the Houston consulate directs you to the San
Francisco page and form which is very detailed.
Also, make sure you bring copies of EVERYTHING. They made me turn in both originals,
and copies.
●
The FBI Background Check: I believe the FBI background check people told me if I wrote a little
note at the top of the paper, they would include a Spanish translation of the FBI background
check. (I believe I went ahead and ordered another background check in case the first expired in
the process. It wound up being unnecessary, but better safe than sorry.) Call the FBI background
check informational number to make sure. The process seemed very informal, so they may have
a more formal system now. The information number personnel were actually very helpful.
●
I took a prepaid, addressed USPS envelope to the consulate to receive my visa & passport back
in the mail, saving me another trip to Houston.
●
I went to Houston last week (05-29-13), so I’d be happy to answer any questions while everything
is fresh on my mind: jmpoff@gmail.com.
●
I went to the consulate on 06-14-2013 and it was a breeze. Took me about 5 minutes. They do
everything for you at the window, just double check you have all your forms (and copies of all of
them). You should not have to pay for the processing fee- but make sure they know you are with
Fulbright. I live in Houston and didn’t have any problems, but let me know if you have any
questions: lbrettmann@gmail.com
●
They were very friendly, but it took two months and multiples phone calls to get my passport
because they had put it in with the ones to be picked up instead of mailed even though I had paid
postage. If you suspect there may be a problem, I definitely recommend calling!
LOS ANGELES
Territory: California (Southern Counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Bernardino, San Diego,
San Luis Obispo, Barbara and Ventura), Arizona, Colorado, Utah
What you should know:
●
Travel: Unfortunately, you will have to travel to LA as this consulate does not accept passports in
the mail; however, it is worth taking the time to get a self-addressed FedEx envelope with
postage paid. The consulate may be willing to send it to you when it’s ready, but they’re a bit
fussy about it.
●
Payment: They are strict about wanting you to have the specific amount of money requested, as
a money order. However, the strictness varies. I waited behind a Filipino family whom the
consulate had denied because they didn’t have exact change. The family scrounged together
their dollars until they came up with the precise amount. When it was my turn, I realized my
money order was made out for too much. I started to sweat, apologize and plead, but the woman
cut me off with a smile. “No problem,” she said. “We’ll give you change.” Again, it’s unpredictable.
Be as prepared as possible.
When I applied (in 2013), I told them I was a Fulbright scholar and they waived the fee.
●
Acceptance Letter: The letter from Fulbright regarding support and insurance should cover this
requirement as well. Do not show them the actual Fulbright acceptance letter.
●
Background check: On the website, they state that you need a federal background check. They
have changed this policy but not the site. A state background check will suffice, so long as it is
notarized (any bank will do this), sealed with an Apostille (Secretary of State office, probably in
your state’s capital), and translated by a professional. If you have lived in multiple states within
the last five years, it may be easier to get the FBI background check. In that case, you will need
an Apostille from the U.S. State Department. Make sure to leave enough time for processing and
shipping to-and-from both places.
●
Translation: This aspect was unclear. I showed them the translations of the medical certificate
and background check, but they didn’t keep them. They said, “you’ll need these later.” I never did
need them. I had a translator translate the background check, but translated the medical
document myself and just used his seal to stamp it so that it looked official.
●
Appointment issues: If you are freaking out because you can’t get an appointment at the
consulate, just be patient. Check the website daily for potential cancellations. If you call, they will
refer you to the website. To avoid freaking out, look into making an appointment well ahead of
time: April would be a good time to book a June appointment.
If you’re in a bind, you can also email the consulate and ask to be put on a listserv that
sends out email notifications when there are available appointment slots. But your best bet is to
keep checking the site everyday for cancellations.
If you do have an appointment, but your background check isn’t ready in time, you can
still turn in the rest of your documents and tell them that you’ll bring in the background check as
soon as it’s done.
●
If they answer the phone: Ask for a woman named Maxi. Tell her you’re a Fulbright. She may be
able to help.
●
I feel your pain. The process can be tedious and/or maddening. Don’t panic. It will be over soon.
MIAMI
Territory: Florida, South Carolina, Georgia.
What you should know:
Contacting the consulate
● The Miami consulate (as far as I am concerned) does not answer their phone or return
messages (e-mail or voice). However, another Fulbrighter informed me they were able to get
someone on the phone by trying the Spanish line, but this didn’t work for me.
Translation
● We were required to have all of our documents translated. If you will be in Miami for a day or so
before your appointment, there is (or was) a translation service located in the same building as
the consulate, but it is one of the most expensive translation services in the city. (If you live in or
near Atlanta, a good place to translate is the Latin American Association.)
Photocopies
● There is also a copy service (a bit pricey) in the consulate building if you forgot to make a copy of
something or everything. (I recommend bringing 3 or 4 copies of everything, even if they only ask
for 2.)
Background Checks
● For background checks, it is much easier to get a state background check, and they were
accepted for our application.
○ In Georgia, you have the option of two kinds of background checks - name based and
fingerprint based. One Fulbrighter used the name based. I used the fingerprint based.
Both were accepted. In Georgia, you need to send the fingerprint cards to the GBI with a
money order and a self-addressed return envelope, and the process should take about 1
month to complete. However, the GBI lost my envelope with my background check
request, so I strongly recommend you pay to add the shipping tracker to both the
submission and return envelopes. If you live in the Atlanta area, it is easier to just go to
the GBI office, where they can take your fingerprints for you and accept your money
order and return envelope in person.
● Do not try to get the FBI background check. One Fulbrighter tried to get one, and it takes a long
time to process, something like two months. However, after it is processed, even if you checked
the box that says “I need an apostille,” they don’t give it to you automatically. You have to send it
back to get the apostille which will add at least an extra two weeks, unless you happen to be in
DC and can go in person.
● If you have lived outside the states in the past five years for more than six months, you are
technically required to get a background check from that place. However, I doubt they will ask you
for it. I went through a bunch of pointless bureaucracy to get one from Hong Kong but I don’t think
they would have known if I hadn’t given it to them.
● Make sure your oficial translation of the Background Check is signed by the translator and
notarized.
Health Forms and Letters
● For the doctor’s note, it is easier just to have them fill this out when you go for the insurance form
check-up required by the US IE/State office. I used the exact wording in English and Spanish
suggested in the online PDF instruction form (which meant I didn’t have to worry about having
someone else translate this document!). I emailed this to my doctor’s secretary, after explaining
the requirements of the letter during the check-up. They had no problem having everything ready
for me within one business week from the check-up - insurance health check-up form, letter on
letterhead, translation, and notarized.
● The doctor’s letters must be in English and Spanish, but they did not have to be notarized.
Notary
●
Be sure to ask for everything to be notarized, as the Apostille cannot affix a seal without the
notary information. The GBI will do this automatically if you tell them it’s for a visa. You will
probably need to ask your doctor’s secretary specifically to notarize your letter of good health.
Apostille
● Once you have these collected and notarized, you’ve reached the Apostille portion of the visa
process. The Secretary of State’s office handles this. You can mail your documents in, but it’s
much easier to go into the office yourself. It took me less than 30 minutes to get the Apostille
seal, including waiting in line.
Making an appointment
● The actual visa appointment can be a bit tricky to obtain. I used a phone service, but there was a
fee for doing so. However, if you need a specific date, it’s best to use the phone line, as they will
help you find the date you want. If you want a specific date, appointments usually open no more
than a month in advance - but - dates fill up quickly. Call first thing in the morning exactly one
month before you want the appointment. If they tell you it isn’t available, try every few hours over
the next few days until they tell you it is.
● Online scheduling is free. However, the same thing applies to the application times, they don’t
show up until about a month in advance and they fill up quickly, and they are only available for
morning appointments (I think 9 to 1 ish). This may make it hard to make travel plans if you do not
live in Miami.
Appointments
● The appointment itself is relatively painless, though you can expect to wait for a while in the
waiting room. The women at the window who collect your documents will speak English, in case
you get nervous/forget a word, so no worries there! Another Fulbrighter had a different
experience though, the lady at the window refused to speak English to a poor girl next to her in
line who knew barely any Spanish.
● Don’t worry if you don’t have all of your documents at the time. I saw someone just hand in their
form and passport, they didn’t have any of the other documents they needed. If you forget
something you can send it to them in the mail and it probably will not delay your application too
much.
Visa Fee
● They also waived our visa application fee when we told them we were Fulbright (a nice $160
savings!). If they change this, though, there is a pharmacy next door that I am sure will do money
orders.
Visa Return
● It took only two-three weeks after the appointment to get my passport and visa returned via mail,
so the turn around if fairly quick. Much quicker than the expected return time they give on their
website.
● Mine took a little longer because I was missing some documents, but it took under a month I
think.
NEW YORK
Territory: New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
What you should know: FYI, you can still go to this consulate even if you’re not a resident or a student in
the area if you’re living there now. (I’m from TN and went to college in RI but had moved to NYC for the
summer, and I had no problems going here.)
-If you’re having any trouble ask for Pedro Alonso (head of Visa section). Tell him you’re a Fulbright, he’s
very friendly and may be able to help you!
-Don’t freak out, there were a few girls before me that had forgotten to make copies or bring the UPS
label and the agent very kindly told them nearby places where they could get the stuff they were missing.
Translation
● I wasn't required to have any of my documents translated.
Photocopies
● I recommend bringing 3 or 4 copies of everything, even if they only ask for 2. I´m sure it wouldn't
be difficult to find somewhere to photocopy them in the city if you need it.
Background Checks
● Get a state background check! You can send it in and it came back within a month quite easily.
Here´s the link for PA: Criminal background check - You can get the background check
notarized before they send it back to you. The phone number when I completed it was 717-7872121 for the notary. I believe it cost $10, but it saved me a separate trip to a notary public. If you
leave a message, leave your name, phone number, control number, and that you need the
background check notarized. I’m not sure if you can do this in the other jurisdictions.
○ Note(different author): I actually called the number listed on the online background
check, and asked them about getting it notarized. After some quick transfers, one of the
employees sent me a free notarized copy of the background check in the email. I believe
I did need $10 for the apostille though.
● Here is the link for New Jersey NJ State Police Background Check
● NY State Background check: http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ojis/recordreview.htm
○ The whole process took maybe 3-4 weeks from making the initial packet request to
getting an apostilled background check.
Health Forms and Letters
● For the doctor’s note, it is easier just to have them fill this out when you go for the insurance form
check-up required by the US IE/State office.
● Make sure these conditions are satisfied: Doctor's statement on a doctor or medical center
letterhead, indicating that the student has been examined and found in good physical and mental
health to travel to study abroad and is free of contagious diseases or any other illnesses which
could lead to Public Health repercussions according to the International Sanitary Regulations
Notary
●
Be sure to ask for everything to be notarized (easy to do at AAA or a local Post Office), as the
Apostille cannot affix a seal without the notary information. You will probably need to ask your
doctor’s secretary specifically to notarize your letter of good health.
○ Note(different author): I only notarized my background checks and it went fine. In fact,
●
the offices of NY and PA seemed to suggest that only they could do the notarization for
the apostille.
In NJ make sure you get your background check notarized from the state police. Even though
there is an option for visa that says you do not need it notarized...get it notarized!
Apostille
● Once you have these collected and notarized, you’ve reached the Apostille portion of the visa
process. The Secretary of State’s office handles this. You can mail your documents in, or if you
live nearby you can go into the office yourself. It took me less than 30 minutes to get the Apostille
seal, including waiting in line. (In PA and NY, the turnaround time in the mail was under one
week).
● In NJ...make sure you send it via FedEx or UPS! I had a HUGE problem because I mailed it and it
was lost in a pile!
Making an appointment
● I looked at the online schedule and found a date/time that worked for my schedule. It wasn´t
difficult. Here´s the link: New York Consulate appointments
● Don’t put off making an appointment! There will be several weeks until the first openings.
Appointments
● The appointment itself is relatively painless, though I did have to wait for a while outside before
they opened in the morning and then for a bit in the waiting room. But in the end, the guy who
helped me was young and very friendly... he even took the time to remind me not to fall in love
with a Spaniard while I was here. We spoke in Spanish since he knew I studied in Sevilla and
was comfortable doing so; however, he talked to the people before me in English.
Visa Fee
● Sorry, but you'll have to pay. Make sure to get a money order but also take extra $ in cash. They
had raised the price by $20 when I went (from $140 to $160) and took the extra in cash, not
personal check or card.
Picking up your Visa
● The consulate will keep your passport for about 2-3 weeks while they process your visa (though
they indicate it will take longer on the website). If you do not live near the NY Consulate, be sure
to bring a pre-paid, pre-addressed UPS envelope with you to the Consulate so that they can
return your passport to you with the new visa affixed. I would recommend getting insurance and
tracking on the envelope. I got mine returned 10 days after my appointment.
SAN FRANCISCO
Territory: Alaska, California (not Southern Counties), Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,
Washington, Wyoming, US territories in the Pacific
What you should know:
Travel: You DO need to go in person to the Spanish consulate in San Francisco if you reside in the
indicated states/regions. I tried all I could to get out of that, but in the end I needed to fly to San Fran from
to get the paperwork submitted. Such a hassle, but Fulbright is
worth it!
Background checks: If you have lived in more than one state you can either get background
checks from each state or from the federal government. I recommend
going through the states. I had lived in California and Oregon and I had to get the background checks for
both states in order to apply for the visa. Going individually by the states seemed to be a lot faster than
doing the FBI background check.
Contacting the Consulate: The consulate did very well about answering the phone and responding to
emails, which was wonderful! The email address I used to communicate with them was
Cog.sanfrancisco@maec.es. There is also a “live-chat” available on the “contact us” page at
http://www.vfsglobal.com/Spain/usa/SanFrancisco/contactus.html.
Fees: You do NOT have to pay any fee for the visa. During the visa appointment, be sure to let them
know that you are with the Fulbright and they will waive the visa fee for you.
Paperwork: Bring all the letters/documents you receive from Fulbright/the Comunidad de Madrid
particularly about your specific school placement. I did not bring that and I had to mail it in, which of
course delayed the process about another week.
They don’t recommend buying your ticket before the visa is approved, but if you have already bought it,
print a copy of the itinerary and bring it along.
Make sure to have two copies of all your paperwork.
Instructions for the medical certificate says it is “a doctor’s recent statement (not older than 3 months) in
doctor’s or medical center’s letterhead, indicating that ‘the student has been examined and found free
of any contagious diseases according to the International Health Regulation 2005’. Must be signed
by a M.D.” When you go in for the physical assessment (for the medical form), be sure to use this
opportunity to request from your provider a medical certificate that says verbatimly the bolded phrase
above.
WASHINGTON D.C.
Territory: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia, North Carolina.
What you should know:
Visa Fee: $160 - no personal check or credit/debit card. FULBRIGHTERS GET THEIRS FREE.
Appointments: You don’t need to make an appointment to apply for a visa.
Background Check
● Virginia: Please see Form SP-167 - http://www.vsp.state.va.us/FormsPublications.shtm
(You have to get this notarized. My bank did it for me)
● North Carolina: Please see the Right to Review packet http://ncdoj.gov/getdoc/8c46ba7d-a435-4034-bb93-c0c22f900fa8/Logistics.aspx (You
have to get this notarized by a North Carolina Notary Public to get an Apostille. If you
don’t live in North Carolina, simply make a note on the Right to Review request from that
you need it notarized.)
Apostille
Virginia: The Virginia State Police will fill out a background check but they WILL NOT
provide Apostilles. To have your background check affixed with a Hague Apostille, you
have to do it through the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. You can do it by
mail or in-person. I’d recommend you do it in-person. Make the trip to Richmond. It’s
always better to do these things in-person (it’ll be done for you the same day and you
won’t have to worry about having things lost in the mail like I did.) Link:
http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/authentications/authentications.cfm?CFID=27778
078&CFTOKEN=8d0b5bbdd531e313-DF87BECB-BBD1-9462-E8F9AC1B109FDC6E
Processing Time: It takes four weeks for the DC Consulate to process your visa request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a background check?
State background checks should not be difficult to obtain but the rules do vary by state. Check
with your local police department, or state government website about the procedure.
The federal background check is pretty straightforward, however it does take more time to
process than a state background check, and thus is not recommended. More information on FBI
background checks here.
What is Apostille? How can I get one?
An Apostille is for documents intended for use in foreign countries that are part of the Hague
Treaty, basically it makes your background check official for your visa application. To get this at
the state level, check out your state government website (or simply google Your State Name +
Apostille). You will either have to send out your background check or go to an office to receive
the Apostille.
For federal background checks, here is a blog post you may find helpful. Although its for a
different country/program, the process should be the same. Again, this is more time consuming,
so try to do the state background check.
Can I go to the consulate without my background check?
Maybe. It depends on the consulate (each has its own rules) but some will let you apply without
your background check, as long as you are in the process of getting it. The best way to avoid
this is by applying immediately for your background check.
When should I make an appointment?
Soon! Slot fill up quickly for appointments, so make one for when you think you will have all of
your documents completed.
And, when you finally get your passport back... WHY IS MY VISA ONLY GOOD FOR 90
DAYS?
Do not panic, the consulate did not screw up. Your visa is good for 90 days, and in that period
you will be applying for your TIE (Tarjeta de Idendidad de Extranjeros), which is another
process that you don’t have to worry about until you get here.
For ETAs:
When will I find out my school placement?
The 2012-2013 grantees found out in the beginning of June. I expect it will be similar this year.
Can I contact someone who worked at my school?
Yes, after you get your placement you will get a contact list of past Fulbrighters. Usually, there
will be at least one person who worked at your school last year. He or she will be an excellent
resource about where to live, what to bring, etc.