<p>My daughter needs to obtain a Schengen visa for study in Italy this summer. Does anyone have experience obtaining this visa that can tell me approximately how long the process might take or offer any helpful info? We are in Atlanta, which has an honorary consul, and the official embassy for our area is in Miami. We are going to attempt to get the honorary consul to verify documents so that we can mail to Miami instead of appearing there in person. Any suggestions or info is appreciated.</p>
<p>Hi Gamom,</p>
<p>Getting the visa is generally not a big deal. Google the Italian consulate general – any consulate will do for purposes of getting the required visa info. In general, your daughter will need to have proof of a letter of acceptance (or similar) stating that she’ll be entering Italy to study, and at what school, the city the school is located in, and for how long. Also, proof of insurance (her regular insurance might not cover travel abroad, so you might have to get an extra policy). She needs to be able to show that she has money to cover her stay–for example 350 euros per month times the # of months she’ll be there.</p>
<p>Or, you can submit a notarized letter saying that you guys (the parents) accept financial responsibility for her and will cover her costs. That’s the gist of it. You’ll find all the info on the website for the Italian consulate. </p>
<p>A “Schengen” visa for Italy is really just a visa for Italy. But with the whole European Union thing, there was a “Schengen” agreement (signed in Holland?) that sets out the requirements for a visa for students entering any of the EU countries.</p>
<p>You should be able to go to the consul in Atlanta without any problems. Don’t quote me on this, but if you have everything in order, they might issue your daughters visa on the spot (on yeah, she needs to have a valid passport that will, of course, still be valid during the entire time of her stay – small detail there 
) If they don’t issue it on the spot, it might require a return trip in a few days or a few weeks.</p>
<p>Again, all the info should be on the website for the Italian consulate/embasssy, etc.</p>
<p>Start the visa process as early as possible. If you are starting to early (for example, “you have to be in Italy within 3 months of the issuance of the visa,” they’ll tell you).</p>
<p>Where is D going in Italy!? I wanna go to Italy! Well, I studied there twice during different summers, but wouldn’t mind repeating the experience!</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>thanks so much for your kind reply. Our biggest issue is that the consulate that serves Georgia is in Miami, FL. According to them, the honorary consul in Atlanta MAY agree to verify documents and stamp the application, but then we would need to send all documents to the Miami office (including her passport, which makes me nervous), and the Visa issuance has to come from Miami. We are told that we are only allowed to contact the honorary consul office by fax, so I’ll do that tomorrow, but air fare to Miami from here is about $130 RT, so we might decide to fly her down there to do it in person. </p>
<p>She has been offered a research position in the chemistry department at the University of Perugia through ACS/National Science Foundation. They will pay her air fare and enough money (we hope) for living expenses. She has never been to Italy and is very excited. My husband and I haven’t been either, and hopefully we will get to visit her while she is there.<br>
Where did you study? Please tell me about your experience there! I am a little nervous about letting my “baby” go so far alone. :)</p>