VALPARAISO, IN — Planning a trip outside the country?  Mission work?  Or, perhaps a holiday vacation?  The Valparaiso Post Office will be accepting passport applications on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20, 2010.  A weekend day has been added to the “passport fair” to assist people whose hectic schedules make it difficult to complete this task during the week.

When and Where:
Friday, November 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 20, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Valparaiso Post Office
2700 Valparaiso Street

It is recommended that customers come in as early as possible to apply for their passports – at least eight weeks or earlier before their departure – to avoid any extra costs involved in expediting their application.  The U.S. Department of State is currently reporting four to six week processing times for routine passport applications.

It costs $135 total for adults (16 years and older), with separate payment of $25 to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee, and $110 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee.  For persons under 16, the total cost is $105 with separate payments of $25 to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee, and $80 to the State Department. 

For expedited passport service, add $60 for each application, payable to the State Department.  In such cases, the applicant also incurs overnight (Express Mail) delivery costs, payable to USPS.

Passport photos will be available at the Valparaiso Post Office for $15.  The application fee must be paid with cash or check.  Credit or debit cards, as well as cash or checks, may be used to cover the cost of photos and the acceptance fee.

To help the passport application process go smoothly and efficiently, the Postal Service recommends the following:

• Bring in proper proof of American citizenship.  This must be either:  a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate.  (Please note:  a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.)
• Bring in proof of identity.  This must be either:  a previous U.S. passport; a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID.
• Passport photograph services will be provided on site for a fee of $15.00.
• To save time, customers can download a passport application at www.usps.com/passport to complete their application beforehand.
• All applicants must appear in person (including minors).  Applicants under age 16 must appear with both parents.  If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required.

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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.

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.