September 2005 National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Announced the Date for the Winter 2005 Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination   According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) the next Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) will be held on December 3, 2005 and offered at the following three (3) areas of the US:  Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, NY; Midwestern Conference Center in Northlake (Chicago), IL; Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. NABP will continue to accept FPGEC applications.   Registration Letters for the December 3, 2005 examination will be mailed in September, 2005, to those who have been accepted to sit for the exam.   After the examination, NABP will mail your FPGEC examination results to the address on your Score Report Address Form approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the test date. Your score cannot be obtained earlier and will not be reported by telephone, fax, or e-mail.     News for Visa Waiver Visitors   The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has put together a detailed timeline illustrating the important deadlines for passports required by the U.S. for the 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver program.   As of June 26, 2005, all visitors to the U.S. traveling under the Visa Waiver program must have a machine readable passport to enter the country.   Starting October 26, 2005, all new passports issued on or after this date must include a digital photo, or the Visa Waiver traveler will be required to get a visa.   Finally, beginning October 26, 2006, all new passports issued by Visa Waiver countries must be an e-passport, complete with an integrated computer chip with the capacity to store pertinent biographical information.     Department of State (DOS) Offers Online Status Checks for U.S. Passport Applications   DOS introduced a new system whereby recent U.S. passport applicants can check the status of their applications via the Internet.   Effective as of August 12, 2005, those who have recently applied for a U.S. passport and want to know the status of their application may do so online by accessing: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html  using a standard Internet browser, then entering in the appropriate fields their last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security Number. Personal information will remain in the system only long enough to complete the inquiry, thus protecting that data, as authorized by law. This information will then be deleted from the system.   Did you know?   You can call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) toll-free for automated information and live assistance concerning immigration services and benefits within the U.S., including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.   The number is: 1 (800) 375-5283. To read the Frequently Asked Questions about the upcoming FPGEE exam please visit http://www.nabp.net/faq/faqfpgee.asp   For the passport requirements for Visa Waiver Visitors please see the attached file named 'passports.pdf'. If you have any comments on our newsletter, any topics you would like to see reviewed or if you have news, events or other items of interest that you would like to share - please forward your comments and suggestions to abouley@goffandwilson.com. Copyright 2004 Goff and Wilson Professional Association - www.goffandwilson.com - unsubscribe One Capitol St., PO Box 347, Concord, NH 03302-0347 v: 603.228.1277    f: 603.226.0791    info@goffandwilson.com