Preparing to Go - Passport and Visa Information
Visa Information Listed By Country
**Apply for your passport immediately, if you have not already done so.**
If you have a passport, make sure that it will be valid until at least six month after the program ends.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A PASSPORT? Your country of citizenship issues your passport, and it certifies that you are a citizen of that country. If you are a U.S. citizen, your passport will be issued by the U.S. State Department. US citizens staying within US territory do not need a passport. International students must meet with the director of the International Office to arrange appropriate immigration documents.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A PASSPORT:
Detailed information can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Forms can be obtained at the County Clerk's Office in Meadville, PA (tel: 333.7300; located on the "Diamond" on South Main Street) OR online at http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html Receiving your passport normally takes 3-4 weeks from the time you submit your forms and documents, but it can take up to 6 weeks during peak travel seasons.
Be prepared for a long process! The passport application form will give you all of the information you need to apply, so be sure to read it carefully. You will need two photos of a specific size and quality; a state-certified copy of your birth certificate or other proof of citizenship (such as a previous passport); the passport fee in the form of a personal check, certified check, or money order (but no cash); and proof of identity, such as a driver's license.
Photos suitable for passport applications can be obtained at CVS pharmacy (about $8.00, 392 North Street, telephone 724-1184).
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A VISA?: A visa is a stamp in, or attachment to, your passport and is placed there by the state department (or its equivalent) of a foreign country. It allows you to enter and engage in certain activities in that country (e.g., study, work, be a tourist) for a certain period of time. Since the visa is stamped in your passport, you must send (or bring) in your passport when you apply for the visa. Therefore, you must have a passport before you can apply for a visa. The visa application process varies quite a bit, as each country sets its own visa requirements. Some countries require you to get a visa before you enter the country. Others stamp the visa in your passport upon entry into the country; and some countries will not require that you have a visa at all (although you may get an entry stamp in your passport anyway). Even if you do not need a visa to visit a country, you always need a passport to cross borders.
