WHAT:
Passport Fair — an opportunity for local residents to apply for a passport. Extended hours will afford our customers who work during the week and have children in school, an opportunity to apply.

WHO:
General public

WHEN:
Saturday, March 28, 2009 — No Appointment Necessary 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Harlingen Post Office
1502 New Combes Hwy
Harlingen, Texas 78550-9998

BACKGROUND:
The Postal Service is joining the Department of State in celebrating “Passport Day in the USA,” a national passport acceptance and outreach event.  The Post Office is hosting a Passport Fair for those planning a trip out of the country soon and will assist in accepting passport applications.  The U. S. Postal Service® wants to make the passport application process more convenient.  For more details on applying for a passport, visit http://www.usps.com/passport or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.

HELPFUL HINTS:

BRING IT ALL WITH YOU:

1. Passport Application Form DS-11 (unsigned)

2. Proof of U.S. Citizenship (provide one of the following)
• Previous U.S. passport
• Certified U.S. birth certificate (Please note: a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.)
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship

3. Proof of Identity
• Current, valid driver’s license
• Government ID
• Military ID
• For minors under 14 years of age, each child must appear in person and both parents or legal guardians must present evidence of identity.

4. Two identical passport photos

• 2 x 2 inches in size
• Taken within the past six months
• Color preferred
• Full-face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
• The Postal Service can provide passport photo services.
The fee is an additional $15 and can be paid with cash, check, or money order.

5. Passport Book Fees:
Age 16 and older $100.00 with separate payments of $25 to the USPS for its processing fee and $75 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee.

Age 15 or younger $85.00 with separate payments of $25 to the USPS for its processing fee and $60 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee.

Passport Card Fees:
Age 16 and older $45.00 with separate payments of $25 to the USPS for its processing fee and $20 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee.

Age 15 or younger $35.00 with separate payments of $25 to the USPS for its processing fee and $10 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee.

For expedited service, add $60 for each application, payable to the State Department. Two-way overnight delivery is strongly encouraged. In such cases, the applicant incurs overnight (Express Mail) delivery costs, payable to USPS.

Customers can call 800-ASK-USPS for more information or go to http://www.usps.com/passport to download a passport application form.

Postmaster Patsy Garcia recommends customers apply for their passports at least two months or earlier before your departure to avoid any extra costs involved in expediting your application.

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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

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.