Last November the U.S departments of State and Homeland Security announced new requirements for travel documents. All citizens of the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico will be required to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere not legally a U.S. territory.

The requirement for air passengers went into effect on Jan. 23, 2007. Likewise, passports will be required by Jan. 1, 2008 when driving, walking, or crossing the border by water.

“The good news is you don’t have to leave campus to get one,” said Christine Burleson, passport manager for the Department of Recreation. Recreation has added a full-service passport acceptance office at the Recreation Center Cashier’s Office, she said, to assist the campus and the Santa Barbara community with obtaining travel documents.

Like the Photographic Services Office in Kerr Hall, the new office will also be able to take properly sized passport pictures.

The UCSB passport office will take appointments at x3738. Walk-ins are welcome any time, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday hours will vary. Please visit <www.recreation.ucsb.edu> for specific information on items needed to apply for a passport.