Passports

First things first. You will need a valid passport to study abroad. Your passport is a valuable document. It will be your primary source of identification abroad, so guard it with care. We recommend that you make copies of the information pages and leave them with your family prior to your departure. By the way, it doesn’t hurt to have copies of your tickets, rail passes, traveler’s check numbers and other important information either!

NOTE:

The following information applies only to US citizens. If you are a citizen of a foreign country, or if you have dual citizenship, please visit the Non-US Citizens: Passports & Visas page.

If you already have a passport

Make sure your passport will be valid for 180 days beyond the end of the program. If your passport has already expired or will expire soon, you should apply for a new one immediately. You will need a passport before you can apply for a student visa. You must apply for your passport in person, and you should apply at once. Passport offices are very busy, especially in the spring and before Christmas, and you may need to send for documentation like a birth certificate. Leave yourself at least two months’ time. Processing a U.S. passport application takes at least two weeks. During rush periods, such as spring months or December, it can take as long as five to six weeks. Your U.S. passport will be mailed directly to you. If you don’t receive it within several weeks, contact the office where you applied.

If you have never had a passport

A passport agency in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford, or Washington, D.C. Be prepared to wait in line for several hours during the busy summer months. Information on addresses for these agencies is located on the web at http://travel.state.gov/passport/.
A federal or state court of record, or a designated U.S. post office. In most cities, information about applying for a passport can be obtained from a county clerk. In Syracuse, the Onondaga County Clerk’s Office is located at 401 Montgomery Street, telephone 315-435-2229.

What you will need to apply for a U.S. passport

A completed passport application. You can download an application at this site.
Proof of U.S. citizenship. This can be a previous passport, birth certificate with raised seal (no photocopies), naturalization papers, or a Department of State Affidavit.
Two standard 2” x 2” passport photos. You must have identical photographs taken within the last six months. Be sure you sign the photos on the reverse. You can usually have photos taken at your college bookstore or copy center. You should also check in the phone book under “Photographers.”
Proof of Identity. This must be a valid document with your signature and picture, such as previous passport, driver’s license, military card, or a state/federal ID.
Social Security Number.
Passport Fee. There is a $55 passport fee, plus a $30 execution fee for the County Clerk. You may pay with a bank draft or cashier’s check, check (certified, personal or traveler’s), money order, or cash. These fees may change, so contact your local passport agency.

If you lose your passport

Immediately notify the nearest passport agency or the Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20524. Prior to departure, in an emergency you may obtain a passport within 24 hours at a passport agency. The New York Passport Agency is located at 376 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. Because of facility limitations, the New York Passport Agency no longer accepts walk-in customers who do not have an appointment. To make an appointment, call (212) 206-3500.