Passport,Visa, Customs, and Absentee Ballot Information

Passports: A passport is the document from your home country that confirms your citizenship. You need a current passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date your program ends. Allow up to six weeks to receive a U.S. passport. Passports cost $100. Expedited service costs an additional $60.

To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to apply in person. You can apply in person at the Lewiston Post Office, 49 Ash Street, 783-8551. Call ahead to inquire about when they accept passport applications. The State Department Passport Services Office "Passport Wizard" outlines how to apply for a new passport or to renew an exisitng passport.

Visas: A visa is a document, provided by the country where you will be studying, which confirms your legitimate status as a foreign student. You need a valid passport in order to apply for a visa. Some visas are free and easy to acquire, while others may be expensive and/or require a lot of documentation and planning ahead. Some countries do not require a visa. Your program or university will tell you if you need a visa. Your program might facilitate the visa process for you.

Some countries require an FBI background check as part of the visa application. The FBI web page has information on requesting a background check. Contact your local police department for fingerprinting.

The Visa Process web page outlines the visa application process for U. S. citizens planning to study in Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Students studying elsewhere and all non-U.S. citizens should contact the appropriate embassy or consulate to determine visa requirements. Consult the web site maintained by Embassy.org for the web sites of embassies in the United States. Once on the embassy web site, click on the "visa" or "consulate" link and follow the instructions.

Customs: Customs Departments monitor what you bring into a country. Each country has its own regulations. U. S. Customs provides information for travelers exiting and entering the United States. Check with the embassies/consulates of countries you'll be visiting for their regulations.

Absentee Ballots: Studying abroad does not mean that you abdicate your right (responsibility) to vote. Here's how you can vote by absentee ballot.

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