Passport Information
From AFSWiki
All AFS participants must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the program end date. Participants can apply or renew their passport at the US State Department Website.
Passport Cards
A "passport card" option is now offered by the U.S. State Department, you may find more information at the following link: http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html In short, the passport card is a less expensive and more compact version of a U.S. passport that will only be usable for travel by land or sea from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
For air travel and for the purposes of applying for student visas, the traditional U.S. passport booklet will be required of all students. This is an FYI in case you or your volunteers receive any questions regarding the passport card vs. passport book.
Over the next cycle, we are looking at adding the following note for students to the passport information section of the visa instructions:
Please note: As of summer 2008, the U.S. State Department is issuing ”passport cards” in addition to the traditional passport booklet. You cannot use a passport card for your AFS Exchange. To apply for your visa and travel with AFS, you will need a passport in the traditional booklet format. The passport card is only valid for travel by boat or car to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. All AFS students will travel via airplane, and therefore must have a booklet-style passport.
For more information, please contact Visa Coordinator: Dharma Nicotera.
