The Cabo Rojo Post Office has always been ready to send your mail. 

But, effective Thursday, August 1, the Post Office is ready to send you away, too, as that office begins service as an official Passport Acceptance Facility, local postal officials report. 

The Cabo Rojo Post Office, located at 64 Carbonell, will now offer passport services on weekdays from 8 am to 3 pm and on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm.  Local officials note that three postal staff members have received the extensive training necessary to become an official passport agent in the Postal Service on behalf of the US Department of State.  No appointment is necessary.

More than 6.8 million passport applications were accepted at Post Offices in 2018.

Applicants need to provide the following items:

• A completed DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport form, which can be found at the Postal Service website. Do not sign the form.  Additional forms are available at the Cabo Rojo Post Office.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Proof of identity (valid driver’s license, government employee ID, military ID).
• Photocopies of U.S. citizenship and identification documents (these will be sent with the application, but bring originals for proof documentation).
• Appropriate passport photo, if passport photo services are not available at the selected Post Office location.

Passport applications for children under 16 have special requirements. Visit the Postal Service’s passport section online at www.usps.com for more information.

Passport Fees

Postal officials explain that first-time passport applications have two types of basic fees, the application acceptance fee and the application processing fee. Separate checks or transactions are required.
Pay acceptance fees in person at the Post Office by check or money order, payable to "Postmaster," debit card, or credit card. Those fees are:

• $35.00 - Post Office acceptance fee       $15.00 - Post Office photo fee (if needed)

State Department payment is sent with an application package. State Department fees are paid separately from postal fees.

First Time Passport Acceptance Fees for Adults

First Time Passport Acceptance Fees for Children (under 16)

You may not pay State Department fees with credit or debit cards. You may pay with personal, certified, cashiers, traveler's check or a money order payable to "U.S. Department of State." You may purchase a money order at the Post Office with a debit card. 

Passport photos and fees for faster processing are extra

According to the Department of State travel website, current processing times for routine handling of passport applications averages 6 to 8 weeks.  Expedited service, provided at additional cost, is currently averaging 2 to 3 weeks.

Editor’s Note:   The Postal Service offers this short instructional video to help first time applicants for passports

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