By Arthur Foulkes
New U.S. government passport requirements – inspired by anti-terrorism legislation – are putting significant new demands on U.S. Postal Service passport services.
Beginning Jan. 23, U.S. citizens will be required to show a passport when traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and other locations in the Western Hemisphere, according to new regulations announced by the Departments of State and Homeland Security.
The new requirements are expected to be extended to include travel by land and sea in 2008.
Demand for passport services at the main post office branch in Terre Haute was up more than 90 percent last year, said passport and claims clerk Jeanne Hodges. “We fully expect [the demand] to continue to go up,” she said.
Nationally, fiscal year 2006 was a “record” year for passports issued by the U.S. Department of State, according to a department media statement. The department issued more than 12 million passports last year and “anticipates issuing 16 million passports” in fiscal year 2007, the statement said.
The State Department plans to dedicate “additional resources and personnel to meet the increased demand for passports generated by these requirements,” according to the statement.
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Of six people waiting in line at one point Thursday to apply for a passport at the main Terre Haute post office, two were there because of the new passport requirement.
“I think it’s good,” said Daniel Lusk of Alabama, who was applying for his passport for a trip to Canada. “I think that the borders are too open.”
Most people apply for their passports at U.S. Postal Service offices.
In Vigo County, the main branch of the post office, at 150 W. Margaret Drive, is the only place where passport applications are taken.
It takes six to eight weeks to receive a passport, Hodges said, unless you want to pay an additional $60 for expedited passport service – a fee that does not include the Express Mail charge of $28.80, she said. Expedited service means you can get your passport in two weeks, Hodges said.
The U.S. Postal Service recommends customers apply for passports “as early as possible” — at least two months before leaving the country.
Passport fees for people age 16 and older are $97, ($67 to the State Department and a $30 processing fee to the Postal Service). For people under 16, the cost is $82.
Anyone applying for a passport must bring proof of American citizenship, such as a government-issued birth certificate, a previous U.S. passport, a certificate of citizenship or a naturalization certificate. Proof of identity also is required, such as a current driver’s license with a photo ID, a government photo ID or a military photo ID.
Two passport photos also are required. These can be taken at the post office for a fee of $15. It is possible to receive passport photos from private photographers; however, the photos must meet Department of State specifications, Hodges said.
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To help meet demand for passport services, the main post office in Terre Haute will be taking passport applications Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during a “Passport Fair.” In addition to helping meet some of the increased demand for passport services, Passport Fairs help people whose jobs make it hard for them find time to apply for passports during the week, Hodges said.
To save time, Postal Service officials recommend downloading and completing the passport application before coming to the post office. The application is available at www.usps.com/passport.
The government’s new passport requirements stem from recommendations by the U.S. government’s 9/11 Commission. Congress passed these new requirements into law as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
Arthur Foulkes can be contacted at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Passport fair set for Saturday
Where: Main Terre Haute post office, 150 W. Margaret Drive.
When: Saturday. Window hours are 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. for passport acceptance.
What to bring:
• Proof of American citizenship, such as a government-issued birth certificate, a previous passport, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
• Proof of identity, such as a previous U.S. passport and a certificate of citizenship, a naturalization certificate or a current driver’s license with photo ID, or government or military photo ID.
• Passport photos can be taken on-site for $15.
Cash or check only. If paying by check, two checks are needed.
Cost: $97 for people age 16 and older; $82 for people under 16.
