The programs are classified as recreational in nature and not academic, so student visas are not required. Please see the details below regarding how to apply for the Visa Waiver Program or obtain a tourist visa.
VWP
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits entry into the US for up to 90 days without a visa for citizens of the following countries:
Andorra Australia Austria Belgium Brunei Chile Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland | France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Israel Ireland Italy Japan Latvia Liechtenstein | Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Qatar San Marino | Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan United Kingdom** |
**To be eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program, British citizens must have the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.
Each Traveler Must have authorization under ESTA: In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a U.S. bound air or sea carrier. ESTA is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) automated web-based system to determine eligibility to travel without a visa to the United States for tourism or business. Visit the ESTA webpage on the CBP website for more detailed information, to apply for ESTA, and pay the fee. More information on the Visa Waiver Program and how to apply. It is recommended that students from non-VWP countries inquire with their local US consulate regarding the use of tourist type visas to attend this cultural and performance immersion program.
Canadian citizens are welcome to participate in AMDA's Gap Programs should be sure to bring a copy of their acceptance email with them to the airport.
If you are an international student from a country other than those listed above, you may need to obtain a tourist visa. To learn more about obtaining a tourist visa, please click the button below.
Students who are from a country where tourist visas are not easily obtainable can contact AMDA to provide a letter to you for the US embassy.
Please Note: Non-US citizen participants in AMDA's Gap Program are responsible for their own legal entry into the United States. Acceptance into the AMDA Gap Program does not guarantee entry into the United States as each participant must obtain permission under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization or hold a valid tourist visa to enter the United States. AMDA assumes no responsibility for non-US citizen participants' travel into the United States and it is ultimately up to US Customs and Border Patrol to allow entry to the United States.