Passports
We highly recommend that students planning to study abroad apply for a passport at least 6 months prior to when they will go abroad.
Students are responsible for obtaining their own passports. If you do not yet have a current passport, you should apply for one as soon as possible. Passports should be valid for at least six months longer than you intend to be abroad and should have at least one blank page for your visa. It is important to obtain a passport early because visas for specific countries cannot be issued without a valid passport and some visas take a month or two to process.
U.S. Passports issued to individuals 16 years of age or older are valid for 10 years. If your passport has expired, please consult the passport section of the US State Department website to renew it. Depending on your eligibility, a choice of two forms will be offered to you.
Obtaining a Passport in Walla Walla
What will I need?
In order to obtain a passport, you will first need to assemble the following documents and take them with you to your passport appointment:
- A Certified Original of Your Birth Certificate - A certified copy is a copy (often a photocopy) of a primary document, that has on it an endorsement or certificate that it is a true copy of the primary document. If you do not have a certified copy of your birth certificate, you must obtain one from the state in which you were born.
- Your Driver's License or an alternative form of official Picture ID, plus a photocopy of this ID.
- An Official Passport Photograph - If you are applying for a U.S. Passport, you must provide a photograph. Your photograph is a vital part of your passport application.
- Your checkbook or cash , in order to pay the relevant fees
How do I get a certified copy of my birth certificate?
To order a certified birth certificate contact the Vital Records Office or County Clerk's Office in the county where you were born. Some states offer an online ordering service for birth certificates. It may take several weeks to process and receive this document.
Where can I get my passport photographs taken?
Your photo is a vital part of your passport application. A suitable photograph is vital, in order to avoid passport processing delays. Amongst other guidelines, the U.S. Department of State underscores the importance of:
- A photograph taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
- A photograph taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- A photograph taken in full-face view directly facing the camera, with a neutral facial expression and both eyes open.
The acceptance of your photo is always at the discretion of the U.S. passport agency. For full guidelines and photograph composition regulations, please visit the U.S. Department of state homepage. The State Department has an online tool that allows you to crop and edit your own headshot for visa and passport use. For those with a digital camera and decent printer, this may be a cheaper option. Here is a link to the page:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html
The following local businesses issue standardized passport photographs that fulfill U.S. Department of State requirements:
US Post Office*
Office of the Passport Clerk, Room 81
128 N. 2nd Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(800) 275-8777 or (509) 522-3824
2 photos cost $15.00
*(The Post Office requires an appointment in order to process your application. Please call (509) 522-3824 to schedule one).
Walgreens Pharmacy
633 W. Tietan Street
Walla Walla WA 99362
(Southeast corner of Plaza Way & Tietan Street)
(509) 529-1570
2 photos cost $9.99
Walmart Supercenter
1700 Southeast Meadowbrook Boulevard
College Place, WA 99324
(509) 525-3468
Walmart also offers an online passport photo service
AAA Washington
1361 Dalles Military Road
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 525-9213
8:30am-5:30am, Monday-Friday
$5.00/2 photos (members)
$10.00/2 photos (non-members)
Where do I go to process my passport application?
Once you have accumulated the necessary materials and paperwork, we recommend the following passport application processing sites:
The Walla Walla County Clerk's Office
Walla Walla County Court House
315 W. Main Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 524-2780
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm, Monday & Friday (open during lunch hour)
9:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (open during lunch hour)
Costs
You will need:
- Check or cash in the amount of $110.00. Check made payable to the ‘U.S. Department of State’
- A processing fee of $25.00 cash or separate check payable to ‘Walla Walla County Clerk’
Office of the Passport Clerk, Room 81
128 N. 2nd Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(800) 275-8777 or (509) 522-3824
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday-Friday
*The Post Office requires an appointment in order to process your application. Please call (509) 522-3824 to schedule one.
Costs
You will need:
- Check or cash in the amount of $110.00. Check made payable to the ‘U.S. Department of State’
- A processing fee of $25.00 cash or separate check payable to ‘Walla Walla County Clerk’
- Check or cash in the amount of $15.00 for passport photographs, if you don't already have them.
When will I get my passport?
Once you have completed the application, you should allow approximately 6 weeks for the application to be processed and your passport to be sent to you.
345 Boyer Ave.