OAKLAND Calif. — The State Department announced that it is planning to raise passport fees, however customers can avoid the increase by getting their passport now, and the U.S. Postal Service is here to help. On Saturday, Mar. 27, 2010, a number of East Bay Post Offices will be hosting Passport Fairs at the following locations and times:

• Rodeo Post Office, 499 Parker Ave., Rodeo CA 94572 – 09:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Oak-Airport Station, 8495 Pardee Dr, Oakland CA 94614 – 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Lafayette Post Office, 3426 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette CA 94549 – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Danville Post Office, 2605 Camino Tassajara Dr, Danville CA 94526 – 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Richmond Post Office, 1025 Nevin Ave., Richmond CA 94801 – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Fremont Post Office, 37010 Dusterberry Way, Fremont CA 94536 – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Antioch Post Office, 2730 W. Tregallas Rd., Antioch CA 94509 – 10:00 - 3:00 PM

Applying for a new passport can be time-consuming, but Post Office passport clerks are well-trained to answer all of your questions and help speed the process. If you’re planning to do any international traveling this year, the first itinerary is to get “passport” checked off your list. Postal Service Passport Fairs make the planning process easy and convenient with a one-stop shop solution.

In addition to the familiar passport book, travelers now have the option of applying for a passport card, which may be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. The wallet-size passport card is a less expensive alternative for those who travel to these destinations, but it cannot be used for air travel.

To apply for a passport book or passport card for the first time, applicants need proof of U.S. citizenship in the form of a certified copy of their birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (not a CA abstract or photocopy), or a certificate of citizenship or a naturalization certificate. You will also need a valid form of photo identification, such as a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID. If you are renewing, simply bring in your old passport.

Passport applications for both the book and the card also require two recent identical photographs and those can be taken at the Passport Fair for a $15.00 fee (in addition to application fees).

The fee for first time applicants for a passport book is $100.00 (photo not included). The fee for a passport renewal is $75.00. The fee for an adult passport card is $45.00. An expedited process is also available.

Customers can call 1-800-ASK-USPS to get the location of nearby passport post offices and passport customer service hours, or visit the United States Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com/passport  to get information on passport application costs and to download a passport application form. Customers can save some time by having the application form filled out before coming to the post office.

For the latest information on passport deadlines and other travel requirements established by the U.S. State Department, go to its Web site at http://travel.state.gov. Travelers can check the status of their passport applications online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.