Passport and Visa

Obtaining a Foreign Visa

a. A visa is a permit to enter and leave the country to be visited. It is a stamp of endorsement placed in a passport by a consular official of the country to which entry is requested. Nearly all countries require visitors from other nations to have in their possession a valid visa obtained before departing from their home country. A visa may be obtained from foreign embassies or consulates located in the U.S. (Visas are not always obtainable at the airport of entry of the foreign location, and verification of visa issuance must be made in advance of departure). Various types of visas are issued depending upon the nature of the visit and the intended length of stay. A valid passport must be submitted when applying for a visa of any type.

b. Several countries do not require U.S. citizens to obtain passports and visas for certain types of travel, mostly tourist. Instead they issue a simple tourist card which can be obtained from the nearest consulate of the country in question (presentation of a birth certificate or similar documentary proof of citizenship may be required). In some countries, the transportation company is authorized to grant tourist cards.

c. The photographs required in submitting visa applications should be full view and should not be larger than 3 x 3 inches nor smaller than 2.5 x 2.5 inches on white background.

Obtaining a Passport

NOTE- Information about obtaining passports and a passport application are available on the world wide web at http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html

a. An application for a passport must be personally presented to and executed by:

1. A passport agent;

2. A clerk of any Federal court;

3. A clerk of any State court of record or a judge or clerk of any probate court; or

4. A postal clerk designated by the Postmaster General. (Postal clerks have been designated only in certain areas.)

b. Under certain circumstances, a person holding an expired passport issued within the last 8 years, can submit the expired passport with his application by mail.