Passports & Visas

• All individuals traveling outside of the U.S. must have a valid passport.
• If you do not have a valid passport, apply for one immediately.
• If you have your passport, check the expiration date. Generally, it is required that passports are valid for at least six months beyond your date of return. This regulation is strictly enforced in some countries and is College policy. Check the Department of State’s entry, exit, and visa requirements for the countries you are travelling to and make sure you meet all the requirements.
• Carry a copy of your passport while traveling in case it gets lost or stolen during your travels abroad.
• For complete details visit the Department of State’s Passport website: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may have different visa requirements to enter a country as well as to transit through another country depending on your nationality. Please contact Jane Nucup at JaneNucup@rmc.edu if you have questions or would like assistance.

Where to Apply for a Passport

• The Ashland Post Office is not a passport acceptance facility; you cannot apply there!
• Search locations: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/where-to-apply.html (confirm their business hours before your visit)
  

Passport Photos

• Passport photos are available in Glen Allen (by Virginia Center Commons) at FedEx, 9931 Brook Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059, (804) 553-0646.
• You will need two photos to apply for a passport.
• Keep any extra passport size photos and take some with you overseas.
  

After You Receive Your Passport

• Sign the inside cover in ink.
• Record your emergency contact information in pencil.
• Provide your instructor with a color copy of your passport if requested (do not e-mail your private information; use a secure site such as Canvas to upload and share a copy of your passport). Leave a color copy of your passport at home.
• Take at least two passport copies with you overseas; keep them separate from your passport.
• U.S. passports are valuable documents; guard your passport carefully. You will not be allowed back into the country without it.
  

Lost or Stolen Passports
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/after/lost-stolen.html

Be prepared in advance by carrying a “passport replacement kit” containing the following:

• A passport photo (one photo is required; get it in advance to speed the process of replacing your passport)
• Identification (driver’s license, expired passport etc.)
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate, photocopy of your missing passport)
• Travel itinerary (airline/train tickets)
• Police report, if available
• DS-11 Application for Passport (may be completed at time of application)
• DS-64 Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport (may be completed at time of application)
  

Passport Fraud
Passport fraud is attempted by U.S. citizens and non-citizens for a variety of criminal purposes – money laundering, narcotics trafficking, illegal entry into the U.S., terrorism, etc. In processing lost/stolen passport cases, the Department of State must take special precautions that may delay the issuance of a new passport with full validity. If you suspect a U.S. passport is being used fraudulently, do not hesitate to contact the nearest American embassy or consulate or if in the U.S., the nearest Passport Agency.