Binghamton – In September 2015, more than 5.7 million Americans traveled to an international destination, according to travel statistics prepared by the National Travel and Tourism Office in the US Department of Commerce.  This year, Southern Tier families, students, newlyweds and business travelers are planning similar journeys.

You might need a passport. And postal officials note that a weekend in July is not too soon to secure passports for fall travels.

To make it easier to apply for a U.S. Passport, the Postal Service is hosting IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PASSPORTS with extended hours on Saturday, July 30, exclusively for passports.

The Binghamton Post Office, 115 Henry Street, will offer extended passport acceptance services between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm on Saturday.  No appointment is necessary. Postal clerks can even take your official passport photo on site.

Routine passport processing through the State Department is now estimated at six weeks.

Postal officials encourage applicants to bring original documents and follow these guidelines:

• Download and complete a passport application at www.travel.state.gov beforehand. 
• Bring proper proof of U.S. citizenship (as shown on the application DS-11 dated 09/2013).
• Bring proof of identity. This must be either: a recently issued U.S. passport; a recently issued naturalization certificate; a recently issued certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID.
• Bring a photocopy of your proof of identity.  Each applicant must bring a front and back photocopy of the ID that will be presented at the time of passport acceptance.
• The passport application requires a recent passport photograph of you (2” x 2” in size).
• All applicants must appear in person (including minors). Minors under the age of 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required.

Source:  Department of State

This Saturday’s Binghamton Post Office passport event adds extra hours exclusively for what can sometimes be a time-consuming process.  Regular Saturday hours at the Henry Street location are between 9 am and 12:30 pm.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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