Travel Information

Traveling abroad is an exciting venture. As you prepare for your trip, keep in mind that you will most likely need a valid passport, and depending on the purpose and duration of your travel, you may also need a visa.

Passport
A passport from your country of citizenship is required when you travel abroad, even to Canada and Mexico.  An application for a new passport can take ten weeks to process, so apply well in advance of needing your passport. If you will also need a visa (see below), you may need to render your passport to obtain the visa; give yourself even more time to apply for your passport. Citizens 18 years and older receive a passport that will be valid for ten years.  Those under 18 years old receive a passport that is valid for 5 years.

You can apply for a US passport online or in person:

  1. Online, download a passport application from the US Department of State at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.  The U.S. Passport Information Service telephone number is 1-900-225-1234.
  2. In person, go to your local county clerk’s office. The Putnam County Clerk's Office telephone number is (765) 653-2648.

To apply for a passport, you must present the following items:

    1. A completed passport application (Form DSP-11)
    2. Proof of U.S. citizenship such as a certified copy of your birth certificate (contact the Department of Vital Statistics in the State or U.S. territory in which you were born)
    3. Proof of identity that includes your photograph (such as a driver's license)
    4. Two recent identical photos (2" x 2") *
    5. Payment to cover the application fees.

* Please tell your photographer that you need the photographs for a passport application and be sure that your picture in the passport shows you as you expect to appear while abroad; otherwise, you may have difficulty at certain borders.  It is a good idea to have a few extra photographs made when you have your picture taken because you may need them for visas and other official documents.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR PASSPORT!!

  1. Once you receive your passport, fill in the requested information on the inside front cover and sign it.
  2. Always keep your passport in a safe place.  When traveling, always keep your passport on your person; never in your luggage.  Losing it can cause you considerable delay and expense.  
  3. If your passport is lost or stolen in the U.S., notify the Passport Office, Department of State, Washington, DC 20524.  If you are abroad, notify the nearest U.S. Consulate.
  4. DO NOT alter or insert any information in the passport, tamper with the passport picture, use the passport as a notebook, or tear pages in the passport.
  5. Make at least two copies of your passport's identification page (the page with your picture) and keep the copies in separate but safe places, such as with your parents, in a piece of luggage that your passport isn’t in.  If you lose your passport but have a copy of the first page, the U.S. Consulate can often replace it in one day.

Visas
A visa is a sticker or stamp placed in your passport indicating you are entering a country for a specific purpose.  It is issued by the government of the country you are visiting, giving you permission to fulfill that specific purpose. 

A visa is not always necessary for travel or study abroad.  You should, therefore, check to see whether your program country or the countries to which you plan to travel require a visa.  If they do require a visa for study purposes, that visa must be obtained before departure.  Tourist and transit visas can often be obtained in the host country if your travel plans to additional countries are not set before you leave the United States.  Bear in mind that some countries that have waived the visa requirement for U.S. tourists may still require a visa for study or for a stay that exceeds a certain number of days (90 days, for instance).

Where can you find out if you need a visa?

  1. Visit the US Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html.
  2. Find your country’s U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s website (or telephone number) at www.embassy.org. 

Applying for a visa:

  1. Application procedures vary. 
  2. You will probably need 1-2 passport quality pictures.
  3. Some visa applications are free; others are not.
  4. If you are studying abroad with a program like IES, CIEE, Arcadia, SIT, etc. you will receive instructions from them on obtaining any required visas.

DePauw University international students studying abroad will often have different visa requirements than U.S. students or permanent residents.  This will require additional and early planning on your part.  Contact the Office of International Education & Off-Campus Study early to go over any visa requirements or immigration restrictions that may affect you.

Emergency Passport and Visa Services
Briggs Passport and Visa Expediters offer fast but very expensive passport and visa service for emergencies. Just in case, see their website at www.abriggs.com or call 1-800-237-3270.