WEST NYACK, NY— Although Oct. 12 is a federal holiday, the USPS Palisades Postal Store at 3302 Palisades Center Drive will be open on Columbus Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  In addition to full retail services, postal officials will be accepting U.S. Passport applications.  Christopher Columbus and his crew may not have needed passports 523 years ago in 1492; but passports are now an essential part of international travel in 2015.

The U.S. Department of State is projecting an increase in passport applications through 2018.  Applicants typically receive their passports more quickly when applying between the months of September to December.  Detailed guidelines for preparing passport applications, a list of the necessary supporting documents, and current processing times are posted online at: www.travel.state.gov.

The United States Postal Service operates thousands of Post Offices around the country that can accept passport applications on behalf of the United States Department of State.  The Palisades Postal Store accepts first time passport applications and renewal passport applications.  You can also have your passport photo taken on-site for an additional fee.

As with most federal holidays, Post Offices will be closed and only Priority Mail Express will be delivered on Columbus Day.  Normal mail delivery, collections, and retail services will resume on Tuesday, October 13.

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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