Are you thinking about studying or traveling abroad over Thanksgiving break, winter break or during the spring semester? If you are and you don't already have a passport, you should apply for one immediately! Due to changes in U.S. regulations, passport applications are now taking up to four months to process.
If you’re planning on going abroad in the near future for any reason, we strongly encourage you to start your application immediately and to pay an additional fee for expedited processing. Find out more about current passport processing times at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/processing/processing_1740.html.
Since a valid passport is required to apply for a visa, it is especially important that students planning to attend programs in countries that require visas apply for their passports immediately. Visas often must be applied for two to three months before your planned date of departure, so it is important to have your passport in hand as soon as possible. Some countries that require visas and are popular destinations for Ithaca College students include (but are not limited to): Australia, Austria, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and the U.K.
Applying for a new passport
If you’re applying for a passport for the first time, you’ll need to appear in person at a U.S. Post Office or Passport Agency to submit your application. You will also need to provide proof of citizenship such as an original birth certificate, proof of identity, and passport photos. Visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_832.html for details on completing your first application.
Where to apply in Ithaca
There are two places in Ithaca where you can submit a passport application. You can go to the main branch of the Ithaca Post Office at 757 Warren Road, phone 266-0570 (only this branch will accept passport applications), or to the Tomkins County Clerks Office at 320 North Tioga Street, phone 274-5432.
Renewing your passport
Please be sure to check that your passport is valid. If your passport will expire within six months of the date of your planned return to the US after your travel dates, you must renew your passport. If you need to renew your passport, you may have the option to do so by mail. Even in the case of renewal, we strongly encourage expedited processing. Visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html to learn more.
Check your passport application online
Once you’ve applied for your passport, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html to check your application status.
Additional Information
Information about passport application processing fees can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/fees/fees_837.html.
For more general information on applying for your passport, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
Don’t delay - submit your expedited passport application today!
For more information about passports or study abroad, contact the Office of International Programs, 214-2 Center for Health Sciences, 274-3306, or intlprog@ithaca.edu.
