[D-Link]

PUBLICITY KIT

Passport Services

Contents

Introduction

Frequently Asked Questions

Stand-Up Talk

Sample Quiz Questions

Publicity Ideas to Interest the Community

Publicity Ideas - External

Introduction

This kit is designed to assist you in increasing passport revenue in your office by hosting events and publicizing locations that accept passport applications. The kit emphasizes additional conveniences, such as taking photos and Saturday hours. It offers a list of frequently asked questions and a quiz to be given to our employees after a stand-up talk. Also included are creative elements that are available on Message Maker that can be used for signage in support of your promotional campaign. Message Maker provides standard designs for promotional materials that can be customized with local messages. The included Message Maker materials represent a direct mailpiece of passport locations and hours, a poster to be displayed at college campuses for onsite passport application acceptance, and a poster for lobby display. Please contact your district Marketing/Retail offices for information on how to obtain Message Maker materials for your office. Upon doing so, you will also find creative elements for window clings and banners, which will allow you to advertise passport acceptance to passersby and vehicle traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who should maintain a valid U.S. passport?

A. Passport Services recommends that the following U.S. citizens maintain valid U.S. passports:

• Those with family living or traveling abroad

• Those thinking about a vacation abroad

• Those with a job that could require international travel

In the event of an emergency, already having a valid U.S. passport will save time, money, and stress.

Q. Do all Post Offices accept passport applications?

A. Although we are expanding acceptance sites, not all Post OfficesTM are participating. Please call 800-ASK-USPS to get the location of a nearby participating Post Office, or visit the Department of State's Web site at www.travel.state.gov/passport_services to find out where to apply.

Q. Is an appointment required?

A. Some Post Offices will require an appointment; therefore, you should call your local Post Office before visiting. You can call 800-ASK-USPS for the telephone number.

Q. Where can I get a passport application?

A. To save time, you can download applications from www.usps.com/passport.

Q. Where are the instructions for filling out the passport forms?

A. Instructions are on pages 1 and 2 of the application.

Q. I have never had a U.S. passport. Do I have to apply in person?

A. Yes, you must apply in person. You also must apply in person if your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, or if your previous U.S. passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago.

Q. What do I have to bring when applying?

A. (1) Bring all pages of the application, but ensure that page 3 is completed. Please do not sign the application until the retail associate instructs you to do so.

(2) Proof of citizenship with any one of the following:

- Previous U.S. passport

- Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state

- Naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship

(3) Proof of Identity with any one of the following

- A previous U.S. passport

- Naturalization certificate

- Certificate of citizenship

- A current and valid driver's license, government ID, or military ID

For further details, visit www.travel.state.gov/passport_obtain.

Q. How do I renew my passport?

A. You can renew your passport through the mail. For detailed instructions, please visit the Department of State's Web site at www.travel.state.gov/passport_renewal.

Q. Where can I have photos taken?

A. Some Post Offices will take passport photos for a fee. Call 800-ASK-USPS for a nearby par- ticipating Post Office, or visit the Department of State's Web site at www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html; click on Where to Apply for a Passport Nationwide; enter your ZIP CodeTM, select "Photo On-Site" as your additional search criteria, then click "Search."

Q. What are the fees?

A. Fees total $85 for adults (16 years and older), with separate payments of $30 to the U.S. Postal ServiceŽ for its processing fee and $55 to the Department of State for its passport application fee. For those under 16, the total cost is $70, with separate payments of $30 to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee and $40 to the Department of State for its passport application fee.

Q. For how long is a passport valid?

A. Passports are valid for 10 years when issued to those who are 16 or older. Passports are valid for 5 years when issued to those who are 15 or younger.

Q. I am traveling very soon. How can I get a passport in a hurry?

A. In addition to the regular application fees, you can pay $60 per application payable to the Department of State, to expedite your application. Two-way overnight delivery is strongly encouraged. In this case, you must pay overnight (Express MailŽ service) delivery costs, payable to the U.S. Postal Service. Per the Department of State, you will ordinarily receive your passport in about 2 weeks with expedited service.

Q. My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my child's passport?

A. In the space provided for the signature, you (the mother or father) must print the child's name and sign your own name. Then, in parentheses by your name, write the word "mother" or "father" so we know who signed for the child. If you are the legal guardian, write the words "legal guardian" in parentheses.

Q. My child who is under 18 needs a passport. How do I get it?

A. If your child is under 14, he/she must appear in person. New legislation requires both parents' or legal guardians' consent on the application, and both must show a current, valid ID. If your child is 14 to 17 years old, he/she must appear in person. Please visit www.travel.state.gov/ppt_faq for additional details.

Q. Can I take care of my Postal Service business while applying for my passport?

A. You may have to get in separate lines, depending upon the Post Office.

Q. How do I find out about the status of my passport application?

A. Please contact the National Passport Information Center via its Web site or by phone at 877-4USA- PPT (877-487-2778). Unless using expedited service, expect to receive your passport within 6 weeks.

Source: Department of State's Web site.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE] [INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com

LOCAL NEWSBREAK

The Postal Service Adds Passport Offices - More Travelers, More Passports,
More Service Revenue

[YOUR CITY] - The U.S. Postal ServiceŽ has made it much more convenient for customers to travel internationally by increasing the number of Post OfficesTM that process passport applications nationwide. And with more people each year needing to travel to foreign countries, there will be an increased need for passports throughout the country.

And the more people need to travel abroad, the more applications the Postal ServiceTM accepts, and the more revenue is generated. That's an important part of our Transformation Plan efforts. Right now, customers can go to www.usps.com/passport to download a passport application and get information on passport fees.

"We are getting smarter and more business savvy when it comes to making passports more of a convenient and customer-friendly process," says [NAME], [POSTMASTER/OFFICER-IN-CHARGE], [TOWN/CITY]. "Our employees should know how important it is to give our customers as many options as possible to do business with us."

Passports processed by the Postal Service can generate up to $30 per transaction, more if the customer uses Express MailŽ service for quicker turnaround or has passport photos taken at the Post Office. With more Post Offices providing this popular service, we are anticipating increased traffic flow and are working to accommodate the demand.

"Many of our offices are offering passport processing on Saturdays and by appointments," says [POSTMASTER'S LAST NAME]. "It's a good way to schedule the day for yourself, your family or your business staff."

[NOTE: Attach a list of nearby or district offices, if possible.]

# # #

Stand-Up Talk

The Postal ServiceTM is rapidly expanding its list of products and services to meet our customers' needs. One of the services that we are offering at more locations nationwide is Passport Services.

The summer months are popular for vacations. As we approach summer, customers will visit our Post OfficesTM to apply for passports. This creates an opportunity to increase revenue.

The Postal Service offers convenient locations and hours for customers to apply for passports. Many of our offices also offer Saturday hours and photo services. This is an additional convenience for our customers and a source of increased revenue for the Postal Service.

Passports are valid for 10 years and are normally processed within 6 weeks. Customers should apply for passports at least 2 months prior to the planned date of departure in order to avoid extra charges to expedite applications.

Normally it costs $85 total for adults (16 years and older), with separate payments of $30 to the U.S. Postal ServiceŽ for its processing fee and $55 to the Department of State for the passport application fee. For those under 16, the total cost is $70, with separate payments of $30 to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee and $40 to the State Department for the passport application fee. Expedited passport services require an additional $60 per application, payable to the Department of State.

Do your friends and family have their passports? Are they thinking about this year's vacation? As a Postal Service employee, you can help by directing them to the Post Office to apply for a passport. It's quick and convenient to visit a Post Office and take advantage of the Passport Services.

Here's what is required:

• Proof of American citizenship. This must be either: a certified birth certificate, a previous U.S. passport, a certificate of citizenship, or a naturalization certificate.

• Proof of identity. This must be either: a previous U.S. passport; a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver's license, government ID, or military ID.

• The passport application requires two recent identical photographs of you, which select Post Offices will take for a fee.

• To save time, friends and loved ones can download a passport application at www.usps.com/passport to complete their application beforehand.

For more information about passports - including locations and office hours of Post Offices offering Passport Services - visit the State Department's Web site at www.travel.state.gov.

Sample Quiz Questions

1. What service are we currently expanding locations for?

a. Passport

b. Express MailŽ

c. Business Reply Mail

d. Hold mail

2. Typically, what season is the most popular for vacations?

a. Winter

b. Spring

c. Summer

d. Fall

3. For how long are passports valid?

a. 14 years

b. 10 years

c. 5 years

d. 2 years

4. What is the total cost for adults (16 years and older)?

a. $100

b. $70

c. $85

d. $55

5. Of that total, what amount represents the Postal Service's processing fee?

a. $40

b. $30

c. $15

d. $55

6. As a U.S. citizen, what do you need as proof of identification?

a. Certificate of citizenship

b. Previous official U.S. passport

c. Officially acceptable state or government ID (e.g., driver's license)

d. Any of the above

7. Where can customers download a passport application?

a. www.usps.com/passport

b. www.blue.usps.gov

c. www.travel.state.gov/passport_services

d. a and c

Publicity Ideas to Interest the Community

There are many ways to rally interest in the new Passport Services, both within the Postal ServiceTM and out in the community. Following are some methods you can use to capture internal and external attention. A good example of a publicity success story occurred in Chicago. The retail revenue team organized a spring travel fair, to be held on a Saturday, so that parents could bring their children. Light refreshments consisted of snacks, juice, and water. Eighty-five thousand direct mail pieces - targeting five ZIP CodesTM - were mailed out 10 days in advance. The fair was held at the Uptown Post OfficeTM, since it had the largest lobby and parking lot. Five days before the event, retail associates at each ZIP Code handed out flyers to retail customers. The result was that they drew 1,000 customers, had seven Postal Service sales and service associates working nonstop, and generated $14,000 in revenue.

Publicity Ideas - External

Contact the major travel agencies in your area and ask them to place flyers listing your passport office locations and hours in their travel packages. Nearly 50 percent of travel is booked via travel agencies. Also, ensure that the agency is familiar with the location of their nearby passport Post Office. To acquire a list of travel agents, visit the Web site of the American Society of Travel Agents (www.astanet.com). Type in the first three digits of your ZIP Code to do a search of all ASTA members in your area. Of course, the Yellow Pages are always an option - let your fingers do the walking.

Partner with travel agencies by participating in their conferences or high-traffic trade shows. Arrange to have a booth or kiosk to accept passport applications. You could also sell Greetings from America stamps at these shows. The Chamber of Commerce is another resource for finding out about local travel trade shows. When approaching the event coordinator, highlight how your presence will be beneficial to their event. The goal is to acquire their buy-in, so that it will be viewed as a necessary extension of their function - which may result in a no-cost booth or presence for the Postal Service.

Many colleges and high schools have programs that require students to travel abroad for courses related to international studies. Contact the school official about setting up a table during school hours so that you can process their passport applications onsite. Suggest that the school send letters to the parents 2 weeks prior to the drive since at least one parent or guardian will need to be present for children 14 and under.

Host travel fairs at your Post Office. You may want to ask a travel agent to provide international travel packages for your fair. In planning the fair, be sure to have activities for children while their parents are taking care of the application process. One idea would be to create sample passports for the children and have them visit various tables to get their passports stamped. In hosting the fair, focus on a theme, such as a single country or several countries. For example, if the theme is Europe, set up displays with cultural information related to a few European countries. Our employees could be in the costume of those countries. It may also be a good idea to arrange for a local bakery or restaurant to come out and serve food samples representative of the country or countries. Many bakeries/restaurants will do this at no cost, as they consider it an advertising expense. Suggested prizes, which could be donated by businesses, include gift certificates to internationally themed restaurants or to a theme park that highlights other countries.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE] [INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com

SAMPLE MEDIA ADVISORY

MANY [ENTER CITY] POST OFFICES OFFER CONVENIENT PASSPORT
APPLICATION SERVICE

[INSERT CITY, STATE][DATE] - For those planning a trip out of the country soon, the Post OfficeTM can assist in accepting passport applications. There are [ENTER NUMBER OF POST OFFICES] Post Offices in [INSERT STATE] that offer passport application service. A list of these passport Post Offices and the passport customer service hours is provided. [ATTACH LIST OF POST OFFICES.]

Customers can also call 800-ASK-USPS to get the location of nearby passport Post Offices and their passport customer service hours, or they can visit the Department of State's Web site at www.travel.state.gov.

The Post Office recommends coming in as early as possible to apply for a passport - at least 2 months or earlier before your departure - to avoid any extra costs to expedite an application.

Normally, it costs $85 total for adults (16 years and older), with separate payments of $30 to the U.S. Postal ServiceŽ for its processing fee and $55 paid to the Department of State for the passport application fee. For persons under 16, the total cost is $70 with separate payments of $30 to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee and $40 to the Department of State for the passport application fee. For expedited passport service, add $60 for each application, payable to the Department of State. Two-way overnight delivery is strongly encouraged. In such cases, the applicant pays overnight (Express MailŽ service) delivery costs to the U.S. Postal Service.

The Postal ServiceTM recommends keeping in mind the following, to help the passport application process go smoothly and efficiently:

• Bring in 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 in proof of identity. This must be either: a previous U.S. passport; a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver's license, government ID or military photo ID.

• The passport application requires two recent identical photographs, which select Post Offices will take for a fee.

• To save time, you can download a passport application at www.usps.com/passport to complete your application beforehand.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE] [INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com

SAMPLE MEDIA ADVISORY

[INSERT NAME] POST OFFICE HOSTS "TRAVEL FAIR" ON [INSERT DATE]

The [NAME] Post Office at [ADDRESS OF OFFICE] now offers passport application service and is hosting a "Travel Fair" with the [NAMES] travel agencies on [DATE] from [TIME] to [TIME]. "The Postal ServiceTM has made it much more convenient for customers to travel internationally by increasing the number of offices that process passport applications nationwide," said Postmaster [NAME]. "We wanted to celebrate our new service by partnering with local travel agencies to let our customers see what international travel options are available to them."

[If the travel agencies are offering giveaway or discount travel packages, or if there is a door prize for customers who visit the agencies' booths, mention that in this paragraph.]

Customers can call 800-ASK-USPS or go to www.usps.com/passport to get information on passport application costs and to download a passport application form.

[NAME OF POSTMASTER] recommends customers come in as early as possible to apply for their passports - at least 2 months or earlier before your departure - to avoid any extra costs involved in expediting your application.

# # #

SAMPLE THANK YOU LETTER TO PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

[INSERT DATE]

[INSERT NAME]

[INSERT TITLE]

[INSERT ORGANIZATION]

[INSERT ADDRESS]

[INSERT CITY, STATE, ZIP+4]

Dear [TITLE AND NAME]:

On behalf of the U.S. Postal ServiceŽ, I want to thank you for partnering with us in promoting the value and convenience of owning a United States passport. It was a wonderful event for [NAME OF COMMUNITY], and your participation helped make it a success.

The Postal ServiceTM is always looking for ways to let our customers know of the many convenient products and services we have to offer. Joining business and community leaders in special events such as the one we recently co-sponsored is a perfect way to educate customers on what services are available in their local area, some of which they may not be aware of. Partnerships like these are a "win/win" for everyone and we certainly enjoyed the success of our combined effort.

I look forward to working with you on future community events. If I can be of assistance with any Postal Service matter, please contact me at [TELEPHONE NUMBER].

Sincerely,

[SIGN]

[INSERT POSTMASTER'S NAME]
Postmaster
U.S. Postal Service
[INSERT CITY, STATE, ZIP+4]

Public Affairs and Communications Managers/Contacts

Please refer media calls from national media to Public Relations at 202-268-2155.

Onsite Publicity Coordination: Below is a list of the Public Affairs and Communications managers serving our area offices.

- Field Communications,
Public Affairs and Communications, 6-24-04