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Return to Travel Services Homepage Travel News 7/17/09 TRIP CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS Summer months are  the busiest travel season.  Please arrive at the airports as early as possible, allowing sufficient time for check-in and Security Clearance. Plan your travel well in advance and make changes only when required. Change fees and additional charges can make a trip very costly. Trip Cancellation:  Travelers who are unable to honor a reservation are responsible for canceling all travel arrangements in compliance with the terms of the hotel, airline, limousine, etc.  If you fail to cancel, you may be held financially responsible for charges. AIRLINE BOOKING POLICY VIOLATION If you have placed a request with the Travel Office to hold an airline booking , please contact the Travel Office in a timely manner to either proceed with ticketing or to cancel booking.  Please remember that a booking is a mutual agreement between the Agency and the Airline to either ticket or release inventory by cancelling the tentative booking segments. Airlines charge for booking held past ticketing deadline.  The Travel Office appreciates your cooperation in this matter. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Visa applications and requirements change frequently.  When you are ready to apply for visa and to avoid processing delays, you can download the most current paperwork from: www.cibt.com or from the Country's Consulate Website.  It is not advisable to store paperwork for future use. The following processes currently warrant special attention due to difficult processing characteristics or the potential for lengthy delays: Russia Brazil Please familiarize yourself with the entry/exit requirements and other country specific information on the following Department of State website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1006.html . http://bss.fnal.gov/travel/for_entry_req.html 7/8/09 CONSULAR PROCESSING TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. UNFORESEEN DELAYS CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME. PLEASE TRY TO PLAN AHEAD TO AVOID DELAYS!!! Brazil: The online application must be completely filled out to avoid delays and extra fees. Incomplete applications will be returned without consular refund and the applicant must completely re-apply, paying the consular fee again. Note that the visa requires two blank visa pages, side by side. The processing time is now roughly 20 business days. Russia visa processing has lengthened at every consular office. Most locations currently offer only two tiers of service: Standard at 5-20 business days and Expedited at roughly 4 business days. Some Russian consular offices may offer faster processing with proof of urgent departure. NOTE: The Russian embassy requires the application to be typed. Handwritten applications are not acceptable. Travel Advisories: For current travel advisories, contact the U.S. Department of State at (202) 647-5225 or visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html 6/26/09 Visa applications and requirements change frequently. To avoid processing delays, please download the most current paperwork when you are ready to apply for your visa. It is not advisable to store paperwork for future use. Brazil: The online application must be completely filled out to avoid delays and extra fees. Incomplete applications will be returned without consular refund and the applicant must completely re-apply, paying the consular fee again. Note that the visa requires two blank visa pages, side by side. The processing time is now roughly 20 business days. 6/26/09 Visa applications and requirements change frequently. To avoid processing delays, please download the most current paperwork when you are ready to apply for your visa. It is not advisable to store paperwork for future use. Brazil: The online application must be completely filled out to avoid delays and extra fees. Incomplete applications will be returned without consular refund and the applicant must completely re-apply, paying the consular fee again. Note that the visa requires two blank visa pages, side by side. The processing time is now roughly 20 business days. 4/24/09 The U.S. Embassy urges American citizens to take steps to ensure their personal security while traveling overseas.  Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website, www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found.  The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. 4/22/09 Delta Air Lines announced that effective today, for international economy class travel beginning July 1, 2009, customers will be charged a $50 fee to check a second bag. The fee will be applicable for anyone who purchases an economy class ticket on or after April 21, 2009, for travel on or after July 1, 2009. Certain exemptions to the new policy will apply, including First and Business Class customers; SkyMiles/WorldPerks Elite members (Executive/Platinum/Gold/Silver, including Flying Colonels); active duty military members traveling on orders; customers who purchased tickets prior to April 21, 2009 and customers who are confirmed on a Full Y class economy ticket. Delta Air Lines is not the first to charge for a second checked international bag. British Airways charges economy class customers a fee to check a second bag on certain international routes.

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