U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Go to the US Department of State Website (travel.state.gov) to get all kinds of travel information including:
Passport and International Travel Information

Do I need a visa?
By looking at the International Travel Information and clicking on the Consular Information Sheets you can locate the information for specific countries. Usually it will list entry requirements and contact information for their embassy in the USA. Embassy.org is another resource for locating Washington DC embassies. The best time to call an embassy is in the morning because they are usually closed in the afternoons. You may be redirected to contact a Consulate office which serves the Iowa region.

Passports
If you need to apply for a passport you may do so at the Recorder’s Office at the Decatur County Court House in Leon. You may contact them directly for details at 641.446.4322

Passport photos may be taken at the Creative Media Center (CMC) in the basement of Zimmerman Hall. Contact the photographer at 5141 to make arrangements.

Passports required for travel to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and other countries: There is a new requirement coming for individuals to carry passports when formerly it was not required. The timeline is a follows:

• December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
• December 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

Please click here for further information.