MASSACHUSETTS — Travel can be done by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, ship or…anything! It really doesn’t matter how you go, you’re still going to need a passport for international travel.

No one wants to associate traveling with waiting in line, which is why Post Offices around the region are serving convenience to customers applying for a passport this February.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, in addition to maintaining regular business hours, these Post Offices will host passport events with a dedicated line serving passport applicants only:

• Amherst Post Office, 145 University Dr., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fall River Post Office, 2 Government Ctr., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• West Springfield Post Office, 74 Elm St., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Williamsburg Post Office, 1 Williams St., 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

To obtain a passport applicants need to:

• Bring proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate. (Please note: a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.)
• Bring proof of identity. This must be either: a recently issued U.S. passport; a recently issued naturalization certificate; a recently issued certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID.
• Bring a photocopy of proof of identity. Each applicant must bring a photocopy of the front and back of the ID that will be presented at the time of passport acceptance.

The passport application requires recent color passport photograph of you (2” x 2” in size). The Post Office will offer passport photo service for an additional $15.

Customers should download the passport application www.travel.state.gov  and complete beforehand. Do not sign the application.

All applicants must appear in person (including minors).

Each passport for an adult must be accompanied by a check or money order for $110, made payable to the U.S. Department of State and a $35 acceptance fee made payable to USPS. Fees for children under 16 are $80, payable to the U.S. Department of State and $35 payable to USPS.

The cost to expedite processing at the Department of State is $60 paid per application, in addition to required fees.

Customers can call 1-800-ASK-USPS, or go to the Postal Service’s Website www.usps.com, to get the location of other nearby passport Post Offices and their passport customer service hours.

Passport customers may also check the U.S. State Department’s web site at www.travel.state.gov to obtain additional information.  Customers may also obtain passport information by phone, in English and Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

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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