Passport+Visa+Information

=Frequently Asked Questions & Answers=



What do I need to re enter the United States?
A U.S. citizen needs a valid U.S. passport, recommended to have at least 6 months validity left from the date of re-entry. A non-U.S. citizen needs a valid passport from the country in which they are a citizen of AND a valid U.S. visa, Permanent Resident (Green) Card, or U.S. issued re-entry permit. 

Can the Program Office advocate on the delegate's behalf?
 People to People cannot advocate, negotiate or provide diplomatic intervention with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the State Department, U.S. Embassies or foreign governments for preferential treatment; these official entities are the ultimate authorities with matters concerning citizenship, exit/entry requirements and visa issuance. People to People will respect the decisions made by these entities and their agents, as is appropriate.

Can the program office asssist with securing a delegte status?
The program office is not able to help individuals secure permanent status in the United States.



What is a passport?
A passport is an official government document, usually in a small book format, issued from the country an individual is a citizen of, **but may or may not be residing in**. Passports contain a page listing biometric information for identification purposes and additional pages for entry/exit stamps and visas to be placed. A passport is needed to travel internationally and to re-enter the individual’s country of citizenship.



How can I get a passport?
U.S. passports are issued by the United States State Department. Non-U.S. passports can be issued within the U.S. from the citizenship’s nearest embassy. For further information please visit the State Department website at www.travel.state.gov. 

Who needs a passport?
Every individual participating in a People to People program with destinations outside of the United States, including those programs that include Canada, must have a valid passport. 

Why do we need passports so early?
Having passports in hand early is for several reasons; 1) if your program requires a visa, time is needed to process it using your passport; 2) passport information is needed to book airfare; and 3) depending on the program’s destination, passport information is needed to confirm hotel (as well as overnight train and ferry) reservations. 

What if either the passport or visa is not received prior to departure date?
The delegate will have to withdraw and be subject to the standard withdrawal fees as stated in the agreed upon Terms and Conditions upon enrollment. Unfortunately, this means that should a delegate withdraw on departure day, due to visa or passport problems, they are not eligible for a refund. 

Does the Delegate Protection Plan cover withdrawl due to visa or passport complications?
No, coverage does not extend to expenses incurred, or tuition lost, due to the lack of either a visa or passport or the delayed issuance of a passport or visa. However, the Delegate Protection Plan does cover a delay in departure due to a lost or stolen passport or travel document that has already been issued. 

What if one parent will not sign a passport application?
For applicants under the age of 14 both parents’ signatures are required at the time of application. If one parent is not present, unable or disinclined to sign, the family can submit a supporting explanation or documentation to the State Department. For applicants under the age of 17, parental consent from both parents may be required and is at the discretion of the receiving federal agent. Should a parent refuse to sign and the State Department dismisses the family’s petition, the passport will not be issued and the delegate will need to withdraw from the program. People to People will respect the decision of the State Department, and People to People will not dispute this issue with the non-consenting parent. This is a matter within the family and People to People is not able to intervene/intrude. 

How can the program office asssit when a delegate needs documents to be expediated?
Often when a delegate requests their passport to be expedited, the State Department requires proof of need and a confirmation of travel dates. The program office can provide a letter confirming travel dates and a copy of the itinerary. It is possible for the program office to send these to the family or directly to the agency requesting such information.



<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">Why do delegates passports need to be valid beyond 6 months of travel?
The standard requirement of six months across the board for all programs is because 1) the State Department highly recommends it, and it facilitates re-entry into the U.S.; and 2) passport validity requirements vary depending on destination anywhere between 30 days and six months. As these requirements change without notice, we implemented the safeguard of requiring six months validity. For programs going to Russia or China the requirement of six months validity is strictly enforced by those respective governments and is not negotiable.

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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">Why does each delgate need to supply copies of passport photos?
The photo copies of the passport and the extra passport photos are for in the event that a delegate’s passport is lost or stolen while overseas. **Any visas acquired for the program should be photocopied as well.**

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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">Where can I get a certified copy of my birth certificate?
From the State Registrar of the state you were born in. For specific contact information for each state, visit: <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">[|http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm</span]>

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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">Who signs the passport once it arrives?
The individual the passport is issued to, unless that individual is too young to have a proper signature. In those cases, a parent can sign the passport for them if they follow this procedure: In the space provided for the signature, the mother or father must print the child's name and sign their own name. Then, in parenthesis by the parent's name, write the word (mother) or (father) so to distinguish who signed for the child. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">

What is the difference between a visa and a passport?
A passport represents the country an individual is from and a visa represents the country (or countries) that an individual is going to. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">As many of you know, due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the United States State Department is currently processing a record number of passports. This has caused delays in processing times. Currently standard processing is taking a minimum of 12 weeks; expedited processing is minimum of 3 weeks.For those individuals who have already sent off their passport applications, here are a number of resources they can use to track the progress of their application. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif">Passport processing can be tracked online through the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html. Please keep in mind for standard processing it can take a minimum of 4 weeks for the passport to be tracked online. For expedited passports it can take a minimum of 1 week to be tracked. The National Passport Information Center can be contacted regarding passports applications. The NPIC can be found online at http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/npic/npic_898.html. The toll free number for the NPIC is 1-877-487-2778. Currently they are receiving a record number of calls, and it is difficult to get through to them via phone. However, this is still the best method and many parents have been able to get through after repeated attempts. You may also email them via their website.

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