Augusta, ME — Close to 500 million foreign travelers visited European destinations in 2016 according to the World Tourism Organization, that’s 4% percent more than the prior year — and the U.S. Postal Service is ready to prepare travelers for such future excursions.

You know you need a passport to travel abroad but did you know that, because of the passage of the Real ID Act, Maine residents may need a passport for domestic air travel beginning in 2018?

To make it easier to apply for a U.S. Passport, the following offices will offer extended days and hours for passport processing in April. A postal clerk can even take your picture if you don’t have one.

Bangor Post Office at 73 Hammond St. will be open Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mars Hill Post Office at 7 Lincoln St. will be open Saturdays, April 15 and 22, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and on April 17 through 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Sabattus Post Office at 4 Middle Rd. will be open the week of April 17-21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rangeley Post Office at 2517 Main St. will be open the week of April 17-21 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hallowell Post Office at 95 Second St. will be open April 18 and 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Noon to 3:30 p.m.
Orono Post Office at 1 Bennoch Rd. will be open April 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Milo Post Office at 10 Pleasant St. will be open on April 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on April 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
And Waterville Post Office at 33 College Ave. will be open on April 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on April 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

No appointment is necessary, just walk in.

Rangeley Postmaster Cathy White says “With routine passport processing times of six weeks, it’s never too early to start planning for that next vacation. And we’re here to help.” She also cites USPS.com as an excellent resource for getting passport paperwork and locating other acceptance facilities across the nation. 

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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