By Eric Tiettmeyer

Most students who study abroad will need a student visa. The
only exception is studying
abroad in a U.S. territory like Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands where all you need is a government-issued ID (no passport or visa needed!).
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter or leave a country for which it is issued. Most countries have a student visa that you apply for, sometimes online and sometimes in person at the country's embassy in the U.S. For example in the UK, there are online and sometimes in person at the country's embassy in the U.S. For example in the United Kingdom, there are two visas for students: a Tier 4 visa is a student that plan to remain in the UK for their post-16 education. For a Tier 4 visa, one must get a valid confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) from the college/university you plan to attend.

Finally, you will need to provide two passport photos and your passport, which will be returned to you before you leave. If you plan to study abroad for less than six months, you will not need a student visa.
Most universities and study abroad offices will help you with the visa process. You can go to www.embassy.gov to search for a foreign embassy near you to process your visa.