Naples- Effective June 1, 2009 a passport, passport card or other acceptable documentation is needed for all travel outside the United States as mandated by The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.  If you have not applied for your passport, avoid the rush and apply today.

The East Naples Carrier Annex, located at 3573 Progress Ave, is an approved acceptance site for passport applications.  Both passport service and passport photos are offered at this location by appointment only.  Appointments are available Monday through Friday 10:00 – 3:00 by calling 643-1840.  All passport applicants must appear in person. 

At this time, the processing of routine applications is less than four weeks. All persons, including newborn infants, are required to obtain passports in their own names.  For children under 16, the consent of both parents/guardians is required.

Here’s what you need to do:

Get an Application.  This part is easy.  You can download the form off the Internet by going to www.usps.com/passport.  The form and instructions tell you everything you need to get a passport.  You can bring the completed, unsigned, application when you appear for your appointment for faster service.  Or you can get the application at the Post Office prior to your appointment.  All applications must be completed prior to your scheduled appointment.

Present Proof of Identity.  For most people, a valid permanent state driver’s license is all you need.  If you don’t have one, a Government ID or Military ID will suffice, as will a previous passport, Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization Certificate.  A Social Security Card is not sufficient to prove your identity.  You must present a document showing your signature and photo or physical description.

Present Proof of U.S. Citizenship.  You can use a previous passport, a certified birth certificate issued from the state, (with a raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, the registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed, which must have been within one year of your birth—photocopies are unacceptable), a Certificate of Citizenship, a Naturalization Certificate or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth.

Provide Two Passport Photos.  The Post Office can take your passport photo for you for a fee of $15.  Wear normal street attire, without a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.  If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn in the photos.  Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable.

Provide a Social Security Number.  If you do not provide your Social Security Number, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), may impose a $500 penalty.  If you have questions about this, please call your nearest IRS office.

Pay the Fees.  There is a $25 acceptance fee charged by any agency providing passport application service in addition to the application fee charged by the Department of State.  The application fee varies for age groups, the fee for age 16 and under is $60, over age 16 is $75

The Department of State is issuing passport cards in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. This card facilitates entry at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.  The card may not be used to travel by air. The passport card application fee is $10 for age 16 and under, $20 for those over age 16.

You may pay the passport application fee by cash (Postal Service will convert to a postal money order), check, bank draft, cashier’s check, money order, or personal check made payable to the U.S. Department of State.  You may pay the acceptance fee in cash, money order, or check made payable to the Postal Service.

Should you need to expedite your application, Express Mail service is available.  The Department of State charges an additional $60 fee for expedited processing, offering two weeks door to door service.  Regular passport service is estimated at less than four weeks from time of application.

One more thing… Don’t sign the application form until the passport clerk tells you to do so.  The passport clerk must witness you signing the form.

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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/welcome.htm.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.