ROCKFORD, IL – Do you plan to take an international trip? Is your current passport about to expire? Or, are you applying for your first passport? Well, look no further than your local Post Office.

The Rockford Post Office, located at 5225 Harrison Avenue, will host a Passport Day event this Saturday, August 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. “This is a great opportunity for Rockford residents planning to travel outside the United States to apply for a passport without making an appointment,” said Rockford Postmaster Charles Thorns.

In addition to the familiar passport book, travelers can also apply for a passport card, which may be used for land and sea travel only between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean region. The wallet-size passport card is a less expensive alternative for those who travel to these destinations, but it is not available for international travel by air.

To apply for a passport book or passport card for the first time, applicants need proof of U.S. citizenship in the form of their birth certificate issued by the city, county or state, or a certificate of citizenship or a naturalization certificate or a certified copy.  Applicants will need a valid form of photo identification, and they must submit a photocopy of that identification, such as a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID. There will be passport photo service available at the Rockford Post Office.

For first time applicants, the fee for a passport book is $110.00 to the Department of State with an acceptance fee of $35 to the Postal Service. The fee for an adult passport card is $35.00. An expedited process is also available for an additional fee. Passport applications for both the book and the card require a 2 x 2 photograph in color, which can be taken at the Passport Day event for a $15.00 fee.  The fee for minors under the age of 16 is $80 for a Passport Book and $15 for a Passport Card with an acceptance fee of $35 to the Postal Service. Parents applying for Passport Books/Cards for children under the age of 16 must both be present along with the child.

“We’re here to help our customers as they prepare to travel the world,” added Thorns.  “We make getting a passport easy and convenient with a one-stop shop solution,” he explained.

Customers can learn more about passport application costs and save time by downloading forms at www.usps.com/passport. U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone, in English and Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778. For the latest information on passport deadlines and other travel requirements established by the U.S. Department of State, go to www.travel.state.gov. Travelers can check the status of their passport applications online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/status/status_2567.html.  

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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