Passports and Visas

Refunds Available for "expedited” service fees

WASHINGTON - Frustrated travelers who paid an extra $60 to get their U.S. passports expedited - and still had to wait for them - can get a refund from the government.

The decision to refund the money, disclosed in a State Department document sent yesterday to members of Congress, marks the latest effort to come to grips with a huge backlog in passport applications that has ruined or delayed summer vacation plans for thousands of Americans.

The delays were largely due to a new rule that requires U.S. citizens to have passports when flying to Canada , Mexico , the Caribbean and Bermuda . Last week, the government said it was suspending that rule until September, as long as travelers to those areas carried a printout receipt showing they had applied for a passport.

The delays were so bad that many people who paid for faster service, at a cost of $60 plus the regular processing fees of $97 for a new passport, did not receive their passports within the expected 14 days. Some who paid extra waited for a month or more.

The State Department document says applicants who paid for, but did not get, expedited service should send a written refund application to: Department of State, Passport Services/PPS/Refunds, 2100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW , Washington , DC 20037-3202 . They should provide their passport number, if available; name, date and place of birth; approximate date they applied for the passport; and mailing address and phone number.

New Passport Requirements effective January 23, 2007

All persons, including US citizens, will need passports to re-enter the United States by air from the Caribbean , Mexico , Bermuda or Canada beginning January 23, 2007.

The new rule, which takes effect January 23, 2007, will only affect passengers arriving by air. The expected deadline for travelers entering by land and sea is January 1, 2008 .

U.S. citizens returning from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will not need to show passports.

Authorities expect a significant increase in passport requests due to the rule change, so travelers without valid passports are encouraged to allow plenty of time to obtain them. It typically takes about six weeks to get a passport after applying, or two weeks for more expensive, expedited service through the Passport Services Office.

Please click on the links below to find out how to apply, and to access more information.

VISA Information Sheet

Unlike a passport, which is issued by one’s home country, a visa (if required) is issued by the country one intends to visit. It is  an official endorsement inserted into one’s passport authorizing the bearer to enter or leave, and travel in or through, a specific country or region.

The Travel Department has arranged for CIBT to service the passport and visa needs of the Yale community. These special rates can be accessed by calling CIBT at 1.800.577.2428 and referencing the Yale account number 40634; or you may log in here.

From the web site above you can:

• Status check- request status of up to 5 travelers at a time
• Quick Check for U.S. citizens - determine up front whether or not a visa is required.
• FAQ’s
• Business, Tourist, Transit, and Short-Term Work Visas
• on-US and US Passport Processing

Other CIBT Services

• Confirming e-mail feature- be sure to put e-mail address on submission form to receive automatic confirmation of receipt of materials and tracking number when documents are ready to be returned.
• Services for Russian invitations, Australian ETA’s, and document authentications.
• Global Phoneworks-1-800-556-0530
• Overseas processing offices in the U.K. , France , Germany , the Netherlands , and Australia.

Please take advantage of these special rates.

CIBT is currently pricing standard visa requests at 20% below the cost of our existing visa provider. Any questions may be directed to Marcia Kaplan, Travel Coordinator, at 432-9011.

Visas Quick Check for U.S. Citizens As Of 1/1/2007

Useful Links

• Passport Services - U.S. Department of State Passport Services

• US-VISIT Program - U.S. Entry/Exit requirements for non-U.S. citizens

• Visa Waiver Program - Passport controls for citizens of VWP countries visiting the U.S.

• Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative - For travel between the U.S. and the Caribbean , Latin America , and Canada

• Foreign Entry Requirements for U.S. Citizens Traveling on Tourism/Business - Passport, visa, and health requirements for entry into foreign countries

• Visas for Citizens of Foreign Countries - For non-U.S. citizens visiting the United States

• Foreign Consular Offices in the United States - U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens can contact foreign consular offices for more information on required documentation for entry into a specific country

• U.S. Department of State Passport Services - U.S. passport applications, visa and traveler health/immunization information, travel tips

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - Travel document and re-entry permit information for non-U.S. citizens

• U.S. Customs & Border Protection - U.S. travel alerts, entry and exit policies, prohibited and restricted goods

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Specific health information, required vaccinations for travel

• Iris Recognition Program - Facilitates entry through immigration in the UK

Emergency Contact Information

The Department of Transportation requires that U.S. airlines obtain emergency contact information from U.S. citizens traveling internationally. Emergency contacts do not have to be relatives and all information is kept confidential. All US Airways international customers flying between the U.S. and Canada , the Caribbean and Europe must provide this information.

I-94 Form

This form will be distributed at check-in or in-flight returning to the U.S. , and must be completed by all persons except:

• U.S. citizens
• Returning resident aliens
• Aliens with immigrant visas
• Canadian citizens visiting or in transit

For more information on filling out the I-94/I-94W, visit the U.S. Customs & Border Protection web site.

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