The journey of becoming a university student isone of much effort but also a lot of fun. When one walks through the mainentrance of the university where one will attend as a freshman, the body fillswith new energy knowing that one now enters the world of adulthood. Theopportunity to stay in university residences or in lodgings near theuniversity, allows one as a student to delve into social life by meetingdifferent people every day with different personalities.
In the case of studying in Puerto Rico, you canconverse with bilingual individuals and speak not only in Spanish but also inEnglish. Puerto Rican students make one as a foreign student always feelwelcome, as there are always people in every classroom willing to help. Besidesthe classroom, one will also have access to a variety of activities both insideand outside the university campus, to thus explore the wonders that our islandhas to offer.
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States; therefore, it has the same U.S. immigration laws and regulations. You must ensure that you meet the immigration and visa requirements that apply to you. The passport is the only valid document at an international level. Each country provides its own passport validity periods to periodically review the documentation of the holders and replace the previous passports with more modern ones. Before taking any steps with any university, you must start the process to obtain a passport (if you do not have one) or renew the one you have so that it is valid. To do this, visit the office in charge of this legal process in your country.
A visa is required by some countries to enter their territory. A visa is an understanding between countries that validates the legal entry or stay, for a defined purpose, of a person who is a foreign national or does not have free transit in a country. The authorities attach the visas to passports to indicate that the document has been examined and deemed valid for persons entering or leaving a country.
Since Puerto Rico belongs to the jurisdiction of the United States, U.S. citizens do not require a visa to enter or leave the island. Visitors from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are granted a 90-day visa upon arrival. On the other hand, before traveling, citizens of certain countries will need to apply for a certain type of visa, depending on their purpose, at the U.S. embassy closest to their place of residence.
There are two categories of visas required by the United States: Immigrant and Nonimmigrant visas, depending on the duration and purpose of the travel. The following are some of the visas that may be required to travel to Puerto Rico depending on your interest:
This category includes, for example, foreign citizens who want to enroll in courses for a short period of time, which are not conducive to a degree or academic certificate. This is also the visa that your family may need if they want to visit you on the Island.
There are 3 classes: Student (F), Exchange (J Visa) and Students Vocational (M). All of them involve being officially accepted in an educational institution in Puerto Rico, proving economic solvency, filling certain forms, and paying fees, in addition to attending an interview at the embassy in the country of origin. These visas are the ones most international students who come to study in Puerto Rico apply for. The "J" Exchange Visitor Program is designed to promote the exchange of people, knowledge, and skills in the field of education, arts, and sciences. Individuals who may benefit of this visa include university students; student trainees who complete their training by working in different companies, institutions, and agencies; secondary-school and specialized-school teachers; professors who will teach or conduct research at higher-education institutions. The Puerto Rico Department of State is the only sponsor certified to manage said program.
Students wishing to attend college or some other academic institution in the United States, including elementary and secondary schools, need an F-1 visa.
These visas are granted only to non-immigrants, which means that they are only valid for a certain time. However, most of these visas can be renewed if an employer from Puerto Rico or the United States acts as a sponsor of a foreign employee so that he or she can obtain a green card. The O visa, for people with special skills in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletes at national or international level, and the P Visa, for athletes, performers or entertainment personalities whether for performing, teaching or training under a cultural exchange program or under a program that is culturally unique or traditional, are the most requested work visas.
It is required to live and work legally in the United States and/or Puerto Rico. There are several ways to obtain it and different eligibility criteria for each case. The Green Card application process varies depending on whether the applicant is applying from within the United States or from abroad. There are several requirements, formalities, and types of visas. Check with the appropriate U.S. Embassy in your country or the U.S. Department of State.
The U.S. Department of State Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau administers the Exchange Visitor Program under the provisions of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. Anyone interested in participating in this Program may, for a limited period, do so through the J-1 Visa, which is exclusively for participants of approved academic and cultural exchange programs that promote mutual understanding among citizens of the United States and other parts of the world. To accomplish its mission, the U.S. Department of State designates sponsors including government agencies, academic institutions, educational and cultural organizations, and corporations to administer the Program.
Since 1964, the Department of State of Puerto Rico, through the Office of the Secretary for International Affairs, is a Sponsor Certified by the U.S. Department of State to administer and coordinate the J-1 International Exchange Visa Program in the approved categories of Student and Professor. The legal authority emanates from U.S. Public Law 87-256, known as the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended.
The Head Officer or Alternate Head Officer evaluates those interested in participating in the Program and ensures that they meet the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations (22 CFR 62), a provision governing the International Exchange Program. If they meet the requirements, a Certificate of Eligibility is issued allowing the individual to participate in the International Exchange Program under the categories of student or teacher (62.23 and 62.20). Once the J-1 Visa expires, participants must return to their country of origin and put into practice the knowledge acquired during their stay in the United States of America.
Puerto Rico has distinguished itself for the excellent evaluations made by foreign professionals and for offering the best work program throughout the United States for these international visitors.
