Passports
Visas
Non-U.S. Citizenships
Russia or China Programs
Australian Programs
How do students get a passport?
U.S. passports are issued by the United States Department of State. Non-U.S.
passports can be issued within the U.S. from the embassy of the country of which
the passport applicant is a citizen. (Please note that residency in the U.S.,
with a Green Card or other documentation, does not indicate citizenship;
delegates must apply for passports from their country of citizenship.) For
further information, please visit the U.S. Department of State website at
www.travel.state.gov.
Who needs a
passport?
A passport is needed for anyone who is traveling internationally, both to enter
other countries and to re-enter the individual’s country of citizenship.
Why do students
need to get their
passports so early?
Obtaining passports early is best for several reasons: 1) you may need to obtain
visas for your program (you will need your passport first before you can apply
for a visa); 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 students
do not receive their passport (or visa) by departure day?
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 withdrawal due to visa or passport problems?
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 other travel document that has already been issued.
What if one
parent will not sign the 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 to, or disinclined to sign, the family can submit a supporting
explanation and/or documentation to the U.S. 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 U.S. Department of State agent. Should a
parent refuse to sign and the U.S. State Department denies the family’s
application, the passport will not be issued and the delegate will need to
withdraw from the program. People to People will respect the decisions of the
U.S. State Department, and People to People will not dispute the issue with the
non-consenting parent. This is a matter within the family, and People to People
is not able to intervene.
How can the
program office assist to expedite passports?
In cases where a delegate requests his or her passport be expedited, the U.S.
State Department sometimes requires proof of need and a confirmation of travel
dates. The People to People program office can provide a letter confirming
travel dates and a copy of the itinerary. It is possible for the People to
People program office to send these to the family or directly to the agency
requesting such information. Please have families contact Jennifer Bond at the
program office by email (jennifer.bond@ptpprograms.org). She can supply a letter
from People to People and/or a program itinerary.
Why does the passport
need to be valid for six months after the program return date?
Six months passport validity is the standard requirement of for all programs
because 1) the U.S. State Department highly recommends it, and 2) passport
validity requirements vary depending on destination country (ranging between 30
days and six months). Also, different countries’ passport validity requirements
can change without notice. For programs traveling to Russia and China, the
governments of Russia and China strictly enforce the six months validity
requirement: it is not negotiable.
Why do delegates have
to submit passport copies and extra photos to the leader?
The photocopies of the passport and extra passport photos are needed in case a
delegate’s passport is lost or stolen while overseas. Any visas acquired for the
program should be photocopied and given to leaders as well. Parents should also
keep a copy of all travel documents at home.
Where can students obtain a
certified copy of their birth certificates?
Contact the State Registrar of the state in which you were born. For specific contact
information for each state, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm
How do students track their
passport applications?
Passport processing can be tracked online through the U.S. Department of State
website at
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html. Please keep in
mind that for standard processing it can take a minimum of five to seven days
for the passport to be tracked online. For expedited passports it may take less
time depending on whether it was shipped overnight.
What do students
do if the U.S. Department of State says that the passport application will take
too long?
If you are departing within two weeks or require a visa for China or Russia;
then you should call (and keep trying to call) the toll free number for the
National Passport Information Center (877.487.2778). We have heard from other
families that the best time to call is late at night.
What if the U.S.
Department of State requires a letter or proof of travel dates?
Contact Jennifer Bond at the program office by email
(jennifer.bond@ptpprograms.org). She can supply a letter from People to People
and/or a program itinerary.
How does one
obtain a passport quickly?
If you need a passport within two weeks (either for departure or to secure a
visa) the best course of action is to make an appointment at one of the 13
regional passport agencies across the country. Call the National Passport
Information Center number at 877.487.2778. Locations of these passport agencies
can be found at
http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/agencies/agencies_913.html. Please keep
in mind that you can ONLY be seen BY APPOINTMENT to rush an application.
Can the program
office advocate on students' behalf?
People to People cannot advocate, negotiate, or provide diplomatic intervention
with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Department
of State, U.S. Embassies, or foreign consulates or governments for preferential
treatment. These official entities are the authorities which issue documentation
concerning citizenship, exit/entry requirements, and visa issuance. People to
People will respect the decisions made by these entities and their agents.
What is a visa?
Non-U.S. citizens need to investigate the visa requirements for each country
included in their program. In general, most non-U.S. citizens will need at least
one visa to successfully participate in their program.
U.S. citizens only need visas for programs with destinations in Australia,
China, and Russia.
Who is responsible for getting the necessary visas?
U.S. and Canadian citizens will be assisted in the visa process for
Russia and China. People to People is able to electronically apply for
Australian visas for these citizens as well if the delegate has provided correct
and complete passport information. (Making sure your passport information in
your People to People account is accurate and up-to-date is critically
important.)
Non-U.S. and non-Canadian citizens are solely responsible for applying for and
securing all visas (including any transit countries due to flight routings).
Costs associated with obtaining visas are not included in the program tuition
for these delegates. The visa contact at the program office (Jennifer Bond,
email jennifer.bond@ptpprograms.org) can assist in the application process by
providing certain documents needed for the visa application. However, it is the
delegate’s responsibility to apply for and obtain his or her own visa(s) for
program travel.
For Canadian passport holders with proof of valid U.S. residency, the program
office assists with the visa application process and these costs are included in
the program tuition.
Will I need to pay for visa service?
Visa fees are included in the program tuition for U.S. citizens. However,
delegates may need to pay to ship their passport and visa application to the
visa service.
Citizens of other nations will be responsible for their own visa fees, with the
following exceptions:
• AUSTRALIAN visas are included in the program tuition for Canadian citizens.
• Visas to CHINA or RUSSIA visas are included in the program tuition for
Canadian citizens with proof of U.S. residency.
How does a non-U.S.
passport holder get a visa?
The first step is for the delegate to contact the consulate for each country to
which his or her program travels. Each consulate will specify the visa
requirements for their country. Usually the process involves completing
application materials and submitting them along with supporting documents and
the delegate’s original, valid passport. In about two to four weeks, the
passport will be returned with the newly issued visa. Even if a visa issued by
one country is enough for the entire program, non-U.S. passport holders must
contact each country represented on their itinerary (even if only for a flight
layover) to be sure there are no additional entry requirements.
How can the
program office students arrange their own visas?
Begin your search for consulates online at www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco. If
delegates need further assistance finding the consulate specific to their
program, contact Jennifer Bond in the program office (email
jennifer.bond@ptpprograms.org).
What does the
consulate usually require?
Each country’s visa application requirements are
unique for each person. The delegate needs to contact each country’s consulate
because only they can provide a list of the required documents or steps needed
to obtain a visa. Some of the items that could be required include a completed
visa application specific to that country, the visa application fee, a
certified/official birth certificate, proof of parent’s identity, a copy of U.S.
visa or Green Card (if applicable), and notarized parental consent for the
delegate to travel. Additional information/documents that may be required
include financial information such as bank statements or proof of family income,
medical information and proof of insurance, or personal recommendations.
How long does it take to get a
visa?
Each visa can take two to four weeks. For example, for a program that includes
three countries in which three visas are needed, the visa process could take six
to twelve weeks.
What kind of visa do I need?
In general, the visas needed for People to People programs are “Short Stay,”
“Tourist,” or “Visitor” visas. You will need to contact the consulate(s) of the
country/countries to which you are traveling and the consular agent can tell you
the specific visa needed. Though People to People programs are educational
journeys, they are less than three months in duration so “Student” visas are NOT
applicable.
What is a Schengen visa?
For non-U.S. citizens with European destinations, a
Schengen visa may be required. A Schengen visa is one visa that allows movement
throughout the Schengen area, which is the majority of Western Europe. It
reduces the number of visas to just one visa, and transitioning between
countries is easier.
The countries within the Schengen Agreement are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy,
Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Other countries may be approved
for Schengen status in the future.
Which country/consulate does
one apply to for a a Schengen visa?
Apply at the consulate of the country in which your People to People program
stays the longest. If the program stays within each country are of equal
duration, then the delegate should apply at the consulate of the country in
which the program begins.
Can a delegate with a non-U.S. passport go through the U.S. citizen immigration
line with the rest of the delegation?
No. The delegate must heed each country’s entry requirements and enter through
the appropriate gate.
What is a refugee travel document?
A refugee travel document can be issued by United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services to those individuals who do not have
a passport from their country of origin because they left without that country’s
government’s permission (i.e., as a refugee). The refugee travel document looks
very similar to a U.S. passport and can be used in place of a passport to
acquire visas for the program and to re-enter the U.S.
Can I travel on a refugee
travel document with People to People?
Yes, however you will still need to contact each
consulate on the program to see what visas will be required when traveling with
a refugee travel document. Please note that acquiring a refugee travel document
can be a long process (it can take months) which should be considered when
planning your pre-travel timeline. Also, the program office cannot secure a
travel document for a delegate, nor advocate on their behalf. The program office
can supply information about the program on which you will be traveling in order
to assist during this application process.
What is a re-entry permit?
A re-entry permit is issued by the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services for non-U.S. citizens who do not have
either a Green Card or valid U.S. visa. The most common situation involving
these permits is for those families in the process of acquiring a Green Card
that need a temporary document to participate in the program. A re-entry permit
facilitates the individual’s re-entry into the U.S. This document is needed long
before the program’s departure date, as many visa applications require a copy of
this document be provided before a visa will be issued.
How do U.S.
citizens apply for a visa to Russia or China?
Delegates will receive the visa procedure sheet and visa application materials
from their delegation leader in March. (If the delegate is an alumnus, the
program office will send the application packet directly to them.) Delegates
must complete the application materials and submit them along with their
passport to their delegation leader OR ship them directly to the visa service
(following the instructions that came with the visa application). In the
meantime, delegates can prepare for this process by:
1. Ensuring they have a passport that is valid at least 6 months from the end of
the program. This requirement is strictly enforced in
China and Russia.
2. Obtain an additional official passport photo (not one of the two extra photos
for the delegation leader).
Visa fees for U.S. citizens traveling to Russia and China are covered in the
program tuition; however, delegates may need to pay to ship their passport and
visa application to the visa service.
Why does the
delegate have to be involved? Why can’t the program office do the whole
arrangement like with the Australian visas?
China and Russia visas have different requirements than Australian visas
and require the applicant to fill out an application and to include his or her
signature.
Do I really have
to send in my original passport to the visa service? Is it safe
to ship a passport?
Yes, delegates applying for a China or Russia visa have to submit their original
passport so that the visa can be affixed directly inside the passport by a
consulate official. It is safe to ship a passport if it is done with a traceable
overnight shipping service, and the visa service actually requires all passports
to be shipped in this manner.
Will People to
People obtain my Australian ETA visa?
For U.S. and Canadian citizens, once we have a delegate’s complete passport
information, including correct passport number and expiration date, People to
People can secure the Australian ETA (electronic) visa, the cost of which is
covered in the program tuition.
Non-U.S. citizens, depending on their citizenship, may need to apply for the
paper version of this visa. These families should contact the program office to
determine if their citizenship is ETA-eligible (Jennifer Bond at
jennifer.bond@ptpprograms.org). If eligible for the ETA visa, People to People
will secure the visa. Other delegates will need to apply for a (tourist) visa
through the Australian Embassy in the U.S.