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Post office adds hours for passport applications |
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Thursday, 31 January 2008 |
By CHRIS MEYERS
Staff writer
In an effort to get as many local residents their passports, the Columbia City Post Office will be adding three hours to its regular business day Saturday.
The window will remain open from noon to 3 p.m. for the purpose of passport applications. No other business will be conducted during that time.
“We’re going to process only passports,” Ted Baker, postmaster, of the Columbia City office, said.
He said customers have called to say they sometimes have trouble getting to the office during the week for passport applications so the extra hours were added.
“We’ve been processing about eight to 10 passports a day and in the low 20s on Saturdays,” Baker said.
With a wait time of about six to eight weeks to receive a passport, or two to three weeks if applicants pay an extra fee, the added hours come in anticipation of the usual heavy traffic flow before spring break and summer vacations.
Saturday will also mark the start of the new passport card, which allows travel by land only to Canada and Mexico without the need for a complete passport.
The cards will not be processed until March, but can be applied for now.
New fees will also start Saturday, with a passport book costing a total of $100 for anyone older than 16 years of age, and $85 for anyone younger.
A passport card for anyone older than 16 years of age will cost $45, with the cost being $35 for younger applicants.
All costs include a $25 processing fee. If applicants get both the card and the passport book one $25 processing fee will be waived.
For further information about passports visit travel.state.gov. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 01 February 2008 )
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