What is Individual Mail-in?
Individual Mail-in to the Philadelphia consulate is when students apply on their own for their visa. As a student in North Carolina you are automatically part of the Philadelphia consulate jurisdiction. The Philadelphia consulate only accepts applications via mail; they do not provide in person appointments.
Individual Mail-in differs from batch processing because you are solely responsible for your visa application process. Individual Mail-in is best for students who do not yet have a visa, do not have all of their application materials ready, or are traveling prior to their program start date.
After your application is processed, your passport (with the visa stamp inside) will be mailed back to you at an address you provide.
Individual Mail-in differs from batch processing because you are solely responsible for your visa application process. Individual Mail-in is best for students who do not yet have a visa, do not have all of their application materials ready, or are traveling prior to their program start date.
After your application is processed, your passport (with the visa stamp inside) will be mailed back to you at an address you provide.
When should you mail in your application?
Typically the consulate takes about six weeks to process visa applications. However, the process is solely up to their discretion and could take more/less time. Unless told otherwise, your application should be mailed in by July 1st for Fall programs and November 1st for Spring programs. If this timeline is an issue for you, speak with an advisor ASAP.
Where should you mail your application?
The mailing address for the Italian Consulate in Philadelphia is:
Consulate General of Italy
Visa Section
Public Ledger Building, Suite 956
600 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19106
**The consulate only accepts mail via USPS**
Consulate General of Italy
Visa Section
Public Ledger Building, Suite 956
600 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19106
**The consulate only accepts mail via USPS**
What do you need to provide for individual mail-in applications?
All students need to provide the following documents themselves:
- Completed National Visa Application. Instructions on how to fill it out can be found here.
- Students not participating in a school batch submission must get your signature on this form notarized.
- There is a notary public in the GPS office. Stop by during regular office hours to see if they are available.
- Your signed, valid passport. (+ one copy of your main page)
- A photocopy of your WFU ID
- A photocopy of your driver's license or state ID (if you have one).
- A Affidavit of Health Insurance.
- Passport sized photograph.
- If you need passport photos taken, they can be done in the study abroad office (Reynolda 116), preferably on Fridays. The cost is $15 (cash/check only) for four passport photos.
- This will be glued or stapled to the box on the first page of your national visa application.
- Money order for $54.30 made out to the "Consulate General of Italy."
- The fee updates every three months, so double check on the current amount on the Consulate website. ($54.30 is valid from April 1 - June 30, 2024)
- Money orders can be obtained at a local post office, as the money order must be a postal (USPS) money order.
- Do not sign the back.
- Proof of funds equivalent to $1000+/per month abroad. Students need to choose ONE of the following options:
- Student who are supporting themselves must provide:
- A letter from your bank showing you have enough funds to cover your entire stay. Here is a bank letter sample.
- Three recent bank statements.
- Student's guardian who are supporting must provide:
- Notarized affidavit of financial support. This must be the ORIGINAL copy. Here is an affidavit template you can use.
- A letter from their bank showing they have enough funds to cover your entire stay OR three recent bank statements.
- Student who receives 50% or more in financial aid from WFU must provide:
- A letter of financial support from the WFU Financial Aid Office. You will need to contact Elizabeth Sandy in Reynolda Hall 04. This must be address to the Italian Consulate in Philadelphia
- Student who are supporting themselves must provide:
- Printed Flight Itinerary.
- It is highly encouraged for this to be a flight confirmation with your name included in it. This must be a roundtrip flight itinerary in and out of the Schengen Area.
- Mailing Release Form. Print and sign this form.
- Pre-paid, pre-addressed return envelope with tracking through USPS.
- This is what your passport with the visa stamped inside will be mailed back to in.
What does the study abroad office provide for you?
WFU program participants are provided with:
Affiliate program participants are provided with:
IMPORTANT: These letters need to be picked up from the study abroad office and included with your other materials for your application. You will be emailed when the letters are ready to be picked up.
- Two letters of Acceptance to your program
- International Health Insurance Letter
- WFU Enrollment/Registrar's Letter
Affiliate program participants are provided with:
- WFU Enrollment/Registrar's Letter
IMPORTANT: These letters need to be picked up from the study abroad office and included with your other materials for your application. You will be emailed when the letters are ready to be picked up.
Individual Mail-in Checklist
Below is a complete list of items that need to be submitted via mail for your individual application to the Philadelphia Consulate.
- Notarized National Visa Application
- Passport Sized Photograph
- Signed, Valid Passport
- Copy of Signed, Valid Passport
- Notarized Copy of Driver’s License
- Notarized Copy of School ID
- Notarized Affidavit of Health Insurance
- Two Letters of Acceptance
- provided by the WFU study abroad office for WFU programs, provided by Affiliate providers for Affiliate programs
- Health Insurance Letter
- provided by the WFU study abroad office for WFU programs, provided by Affiliate providers for Affiliate programs
- Proof of Financial Means
- One of the three options outlined above
- WFU Registrar’s Letter
- provided by the WFU study abroad office for all program types
- Money Order (check for most recent fees; updates every three months)
- Mailing Release Form
- Printed Flight Itinerary
- Pre-paid, pre-addressed return envelope (with tracking!) through USPS
Can a study abroad advisor review your mail-in application to make sure everything is in order?
Yes! If you would like to have an advisor review your mail-in application, you will need to schedule an appointment with an advisor. This can be in person during the semester or via zoom over breaks.