Planning To Go Abroad? Get That Passport!

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, and the end of the semester not far behind, many college students are getting ready to venture abroad for the spring semester, for a school break, or for the summer. If you haven't already done so, now is the time to apply for your passport. It wasn't that long ago when it took 2 to 3 months, or even longer, to receive your passport. There is currently a 3 week wait for the processing of routine applications, according to the U.S. Department of State's passport site.

The State Department's passport site, in addition to walking you through the process of obtaining a passport, covers topics such as travel warnings and alerts, visas, general information for students, and an abundance of travel information. Since you may soon be home for Thanksgiving, take the time now to check out the passport requirements, in case you need to locate some of your personal documents.

Of special note:
A significant change will occur as of June 1, 2009, when it will no longer be quite as simple as it used to be, to return to the United States from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require a passport, passport card or a traveler card (NEXUS, FAST, SENTRI) from those U.S. citizens entering the U.S. by land or sea. Don't be surprised if there is a sudden surge in passport applications, and therefore an increase in the time it will take to receive a passport, as the June 1 deadline approaches.