BORGER, TX — The Borger Post Office, located at 500 S. McGee, now offers passport application services. The new passport office is open weekdays, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

To apply for a passport, the following documents are necessary: a certified copy of applicant’s birth certificate issued by the state in which they were born (hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable), or an original certificate of naturalization; a valid photo identification, such as a Texas driver’s license or identification card; and two passport photos. These must be identical, two-inch by two-inch head and shoulders pictures, taken against a light, solid background.

An adult passport (applicant 16 years or older) is valid for 10 years and costs $100. Two separate payments are made: $75 to the Department of State by check or money order, and a $25 execution fee to the Postal Service in cash, money order, check, debit or credit card. Children’s passports (15 years and under) cost $85 ($60 and $25), and are valid for five years. Minors (under 16) must have both parents appear or have a notarized statement from the absent parent to apply for a passport. Passport cards are also available, $20 for adults and $10 for minors. Passport cards allow travel by land or sea only. Photos will be available on-site for $15.

Normally it takes six to eight weeks from the application date for travelers to receive their passports. Expedited services take no more than three weeks, and cost an extra $60 plus $14.85 for expedited return mail service.

Customers with questions or concerns about their applications should call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (toll-free). Customers can also obtain information on rules changes expected in 2008, and they can check the status of their passport applications at travel.state.gov.

For information on other places to apply for passports and customer service hours, visit the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com/passport.

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