Travel

Norway is one of 26 cooperating countries that share common “Schengen” Visa requirements.  Citizens of these countries (included with others listed below) do not need a Visa for entry into Norway.  All that is required is a passport that does not expire during the visit.

If you are a citizen of a country not listed below you will need a Schengen Visa, specifically one that allows multiple entry.  A multiple entry Visa allows entry into Norway on the way to and from Svalbard, which is not part of the Schengen Area.

*Update on 4-23-13: Brit has consulted with the Norwegian Consulate and obtained specific information, posted here, about obtaining a Schengen visa for this trip.  Read this information first.*

The Houston Norwegian Consulate provides forms and additional information for obtaining Schengen Visas.

* Update on 5-01-13: A letter from Statoil, “Information to Embassy for Schengen visa application”, giving travel dates, ticket information and acknowledging their sponsorship is now available via email from Brit at brag@statoil.com.  This information should be sufficient to satisfy Visa travel and ticket information requirements.

*Updated on 5-11-13:  Note Well: General questions related to the Schengen visa application process need to be addressed to the Norwegian Consulate or Embassy in the country where the application is submitted.  Everyone should, however, use the following answers to these common visa questions:

1. Q: “Name of host or company in the Schengen member states”; “Address of host company in Schengen area”
   1. Answer:
      

      Statoil ASA

      Forusbeen 50

      4035 Stavanger

      Norway

2. Answer “No” to the guarantor question; be your own guarantor.  If this fails, then use the Statoil Gulf Services company and address listed below:
   

   Statoil Gulf  Services

   2103 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 800

   Houston, Tx, 77042

   USA

Visa-free countries

Norway has Visa exemption agreements with the following countries:

A: Andorra, Albania (holders of biometric passports), Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria

B: Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda (BDTC passport), Bosnia and Herzegovina (holders of biometric passports), Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria

C: Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic

D: Denmark

E: El Salvador, Estonia

F: Finland, France

G: Germany, Greece, Guatemala

H: Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR passports and BNO passports), Hungary

I: Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy

J: Japan

K: Republic of Korea

L: Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg

M: Macau (SAR passport), Macedonia (holders of biometric passports), Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro (holders of biometric passports)

N: The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua

P: Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal

R: Romania

S: San Marino, Serbia (holders of biometric passports), the Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland

T: Taiwan (holders of Taiwanese passports that contain an ID card number),

U: The UK, Uruguay, the USA

V: The Vatican City State, Venezuela

Statoil/University of Norway Requirements

A $500 deposit, an orientation in field safety/first aid, and a signed Statement of Good Health and Liability Waiver will be required.  The latter three will be completed during our April 27th meeting.  Information about the deposit is posted below.

• Tickets:
  • During the meeting on April 27^th, there will be an Excel spreadsheet of all participants’ names. Check/correct your name to make sure it is exactly as it appears in your passport. Tickets will be issued based on the information in the spreadsheet; if this is different from the name in your passport, you will not go.
  • Once tickets are issued the name on the ticket cannot be changed and no one else can take another person’s ticket or seat.
  • Those needing ticket information for a Schengen Visa should request a copy of a Statoil letter (from Brit at brag@statoil.com) that contains travel, lodging, and ticket details.
  • A few participants have asked about changing their tickets. This is not straightforward, as this is a group booking. Those wishing to change their tickets will need to do so themselves and are responsible for the cost associated with re-booking.
  • Ticket/Travel details are:
  

• Down Payment (deposit):
  • Nonrefundable down payment of USD $500.- for Svalex US 2013 student participants.
    There are three ways that the students can submit their USD $500.- Nonrefundable down payment: 
    • Check
    • Money Order
    • Cashier’s Check

    One of the above should be made out to Statoil Gulf Services. On memo line it should read “Student’s Full Name”

    These checks can be submitted to Brit Ragnhildstveit at the “Statoil Day” April 27th, 2013 or to Brit Ragnhildstveit at the Student Center at JSG (where we met for pizza) between 4:30pm and 5:00 pm May 1st, 2013 or students can mail them no later than May 1st, 2013 to the following:

    Statoil Gulf Services
    Attention: Brit Ragnhildstveit
    2103 CityWest Blvd. Suite 800
    Houston, Texas 77042

• Liability Waiver:
  • All participants are required to sign and return a liability waiver.  Note added on July 3: We are still missing a few waivers.  If you have not turned one in, please DO SO NOW to Brit at brag@statoil.com.