Affiliation

 Checklist to Apply for Affiliation with the Department of Sociology and Student/Researcher Visa to Sri Lanka

What is outlined below is a general checklist that may help potential overseas visitors who wish to apply for affiliation to the Department of Sociology for research/teaching purposes and to obtain a research visa:

1. Present your research proposal to the Department of Sociology and obtain their approval to sponsor your visa. This should include a detailed proposal, letters of recommendation from the home institute, ethical clearance and evidence of financial support.
2. Once the Department agrees, the application needs to be submitted to the Board of the Faculty of Arts for approval and then to the Senate of the University. This may take approximately 8-12 weeks.
3. If these approvals are granted, the Department will inform the candidate and request the Vice Chancellor to issue a letter to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to issue a visa for the specified period of time.
4. Next, the Department has to start the visa application process in Colombo. This involves writing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get approval and to the Department of Immigration and Emigration. These agencies will send the authorization to issue the visa to the relevant Sri Lankan embassy, high commission or consulate in your home country. Meanwhile, you will need to send the forms to the nearest Sri Lankan mission and copies of your passport. The mission will get in touch with you to confirm and authorize your request.
5. An initial fee would be paid to the relevant consulate, embassy or high commission in order to get your visa stamped. This is generally done within a day. The consulate, embassy or high commission will then issue an ENTRY visa. With this ENTRY visa, you can arrive in Sri Lanka and apply for a one-year student/research visa within 30 days from the Department of Emigration and Immigration.
6. The Department of Sociology can provide you with a visa application form. You will need to submit the duly filled form with proof of funding, and a letter to the Department of Immigration and Emigration from the Vice-Chancellor. All documents should bear the signature of the Head of Department.
7. With this form completed, you should obtain authorization from the Ministry of Higher Education from the relevant officer. Then, you can apply for a long-term visa from the Department of Immigration and Emigration. They will retain your passport for a week and give you a receipt. Upon collection of your passport, you will be required to pay the relevant fee.

Affiliated Scholars (Since 2016)