The Passport Cheat Sheet

THE PASSPORT & TRAVEL INFO SHEET

Off-Campus Studies Office, Carleton College

PASSPORTS: **Check your passport ASAP! Is it valid for six months beyond the time you expect to return from your program? If not, then read on.

I. NEW PASSPORT INFO (You must do this in person)

You will need a new passport if:

(a) you never had a passport before

(b) your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago

(d) if your passport is expiring (or lost) AND it was issued before you were 16 years old

Go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html for info on obtaining a new passport. (expedited services info below). You can download the application form DS-11. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

è Closest place to get a passport is the Northfield City Hall, 801 Washington St., 2 nd floor..Hours:

2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, 8-10:30a.m. Appointments can be scheduled between

7-8a.m. by calling the Recorder’s Office at 507-332+6114 or 507-645-9576. Photos taken

on site for $10.

è Next closest place is the County Court House in Faribault, 320 NW 3rd St. Open M-F, 8-4:30

Photos taken on site for $10.

è Cost: $135 ($110 for U.S. State Department paid by check or money order, and $25 processing fee for Rice County paid by check or cash).

è Do NOT sign the application until you are in the presence of the County Recorder.

II. RENEWING A PASSPORT

Go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/renew/renew_833.html for info on renewing a passport. You can download the application form DS-82. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Regular mail renewals will usually take three to four weeks. Check website for complete details.

III. EXPEDITED SERVICES

Expedited Service on any type of passport is $60. If you need a passport in less than three weeks, consider the MPA:

· Minneapolis Passport Agency
212 3rd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55401

This Agency issues the US Passport Card on-site.You have to call and schedule an appointment.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, M, T,Th, F; 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, local time,
excluding Federal holidays
Schedule An Appointment 24/7: 1-877-487-2778

IV. PASSPORT PHOTOS

Photos can be obtained at Northfield City Hall and at the Rice County Courthouse when you apply for a passport ($10). If you go elsewhere for photos, get them professionally done…those mall photo booths won’t fly, nor will Walgreens which sells them cheap but the quality isn’t great and the County Recorder will reject them. So you’ll end up spending more money! Not cool.

V. MORE INFO

The Rice County Recorder’s Office, 320 NW 3rd St., Faribault, MN (507-645-9576) http://www.co.rice.mn.us/recorder/passport.php

State Department Website for Passports: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

For US citizens, passports are required for entry into nearly every country in the world, including Mexico and Canada.

OTHER TRAVEL INFO

International student or teacher ID cards

· Application form available in OCS office, card ready within 7 days.

· $22 and one passport photo required; add $1 if you want it mailed USPS to you.

· Good for one year from the date of issue; provides travel and admission discounts, sickness, accident and life insurance, emergency medical evacuation; 24-hour Travelers’ Assistance Service for medical, financial or legal emergencies abroad.

Visas

· US citizens can find some visa information in the OCS office.

· Non-US citizens should consult with their own embassies or contact the consulates of countries that they intend to visit.

· More complete information may be found on the following websites of the State Department, consulates and embassies:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

http://www.embassy.org/index.html

· Visa Processing Services info sheet is available in the OCS office.

Health and safety recommendations

· Information about health and safety issues can be found on the following websites:

www.who.int/ith/

www.tripprep.com

wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

www.internationalsos.com/en

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=368698865CF956AD (HTH Worldwide videos)

State Department services

· Check the State Department website, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

for travel advisories throughout the world, or call 202-647-5225.

· Useful background information about many countries can be found at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/

· Information about sending money abroad, crises abroad, travel tips, HIV testing requirements, and lots more can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html

Travel information

· OCS has many books (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide…), and magazines (Transitions Abroad) much of the same information can be found on the web at:

www.fodors.com http://www.raileurope.com/index.html www.roughguides.com www.railpass.com http://www.lonelyplanet.com/us www.ciee.org

www.eurail.com http://savvytraveler.publicradio.org/

www.hiusa.org/ (hostels) www.goabroad.com www.ricksteves.com www.transitionsabroad.com