COLUMBUS, OH —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. A grand opening event at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 28, 2017, will celebrate the new Passport Center located at the Columbus Main Post Office, 850 Twin Rivers Drive 43216. The public is invited to attend the festivities, which will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tour of the center and refreshments.
This newly-opened Passport Center is the first of its kind in Ohio, offering customers a dedicated one-stop opportunity for applying for passports and passport cards, and for obtaining passport photos, said Columbus Postmaster Ignatius Vaccaro.
“A passport center dedicated specifically to providing passport services staffed by full-time passport agents makes the application process quicker and more convenient for prospective international travelers across the Columbus area,” Vaccaro said.
Walk in hours at the new Columbus Passport Center are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. No appointments necessary.
Vaccaro recommended travelers apply for a passport or passport card at least two months prior to trip departure and bring all required documentation with them to the Passport Center.
Identification, including a copy, is required to prove U.S. citizenship, such as:
- Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
- Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state (Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable)
- Consular report of birth abroad or birth certificate
- Naturalization certificate
- Certificate of citizenship
In addition, one current ID is required, such as:
- Naturalization certificate
- Valid driver’s license
- Current government ID (city, state or federal)
- Current military ID (military and dependents)
The passport application also requires a recent passport photograph (2” x2”). Postal clerks at the Passport Center also offer passport photo services for $15 per photo.
The cost for a passport book is $135 for adults (16 years and older), with separate payments of $110 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee and $25 to the Postal Service for its processing fee (set by the Department of State). For persons under 16, the cost is $105, with separate payments of $80 and $25 respectively.
The cost of passport cards for adults (16 years and older) is $55: $25 in a separate payment to the U.S. Postal Service for the processing fee; and a $30 separate payment to the State Department for the passport application fee. The passport card cost for those under 16 is $40: $25 in a separate payment to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee; and a $15 separate payment to the State Department for the passport application fee. Children under 16 must be accompanied by both parents when applying for a passport or passport card.
To make the process as quick as possible, applicants are strongly encouraged to print and complete their applications ahead of time by going online at usps.com/passport. Do not sign the application form, as the passport acceptance clerk must witness the signing.
In most cases, passport renewals do not require an in-person application process; full information is available at travel.state.gov.
Customers may visit usps.com/passport or call 1-800-ASK-USPS to find the location and customer service hours of regular USPS passport Post Offices. All applications are sent to the U.S. State Department for final processing and approval.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
# # #
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm.
For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf. Follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/usps), Instagram (instagram.com/uspostalservice), Pinterest (pinterest.com/uspsstamps), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/usps), subscribe to our channel on YouTube (youtube.com/usps), like us on Facebook (facebook.com/usps) and view our Postal Postsblog (uspsblog.com).
For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.
