To apply for a visa, bring your passport and the country's required application materials to the embassy or consulate. You can also mail everything. But before you drop your passport in the mailbox, sign it in ink, and pencil in your current address and daytime phone number. That way, if your passport becomes separated from your application, the post office can return it to you. If you aren't comfortable sending your passport through the mail, you can deliver it in person to the consulate office.
Most countries have consulates in major cities across the country.
Apply early for visas. Processing time varies widely. Back to the checklist Find a health insurance plan that covers medical care abroad. Many student health plans offered by universities cover you overseas. If you participate in a program not sponsored by your school, contact your study abroad office to see if your school's health insurance will still be valid.