If you are considering travel outside the United States anytime soon, then you’ll need a passport. Recent regulations mean in addition to presenting a valid passport book when coming back to the United States by air, if your plans include visiting Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean or Bermuda, you’ll now need to present a U.S. passport at land borders and sea ports of entry to return home.
The U.S. Postal Service in the Greater Indiana District wants to make obtaining a new passport or renewing your old one an easy and convenient experience. On Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, passport fairs will be taking place at 106 Post Offices throughout Indiana including in the greater Indianapolis area, as well as several offices in Fort Wayne, South Bend, Gary, Kokomo, Terre Haute and Bloomington.
We recommend customers come in as early as possible to apply for their passports — at least eight weeks or earlier before their departure — to avoid any extra costs involved in expediting their application. The U.S. Department of State is currently reporting four to six-week processing times for routine passport applications.
It costs $135 total for adults (16 years and older) with a separate payment of $25 to the Postal Service for its processing fee, and $110 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee. For persons under 16, the total cost is $105, which includes $25 to the Postal Service for the processing fee, and $80 to the State Department.
For expedited passport service, add $60 for each application, payable to the State Department. In these instances, the applicant will also have overnight (Express Mail) delivery costs payable to the Postal Service.
Each participating office will have an employee at hand to take photos, which cost $15. The application must be paid with cash or check. Credit or debit cards, as well as cash or checks, may be used to cover the cost of photos and the acceptance fee.
· Bring in proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate. (Please note: a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable).
· Bring in proof of identity. This must be either a previous U.S. passport; a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID.
· Passport photograph services will be available on site for a fee of $15.
· To save time and have their application completed beforehand, customers can download a passport application at the Department of State website.
· All applicants must appear in person (including minors). Applicants under age 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required.
