The St. Albans Post Office will host a passport fair from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the post office, 431 B St., to meet increased demand from international travelers. No appointments are necessary. Passport fairs serve customers on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are several things to be aware of when it comes to passports:
n It may take about six weeks for first-time passport applicants or for renewals. Check the Department of State website under "Travel" for updated information on processing time.
n Applicants 15 and under must be present with both parents to apply. If only one parent is present, they must provide a notarized DS-3053 from the other parent. Children ages 16 and 17 require only one parent be present.
n Check the expiration date on your U.S. passport. Many countries require that your passport has as much as six months' validity remaining for entry.
n If traveling independently, be aware many countries require a travel visa to enter the country. Information about travel visas is also available on the State Department website. If you are part of a travel group, the organizer often takes care of this requirement.
Customers have the option of applying for a passport book (good for all international travel) or the passport card (good only for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda).
Passport fees include: Passport Card: $30 for 16 years and older; $15 for under age 16. Passport Book: $110 for 16 years and older, $80 under age 16. Passport Card and Book: $140 for 16 years and older and $95 for ages under 16.
The fees must be paid with a personal check or money order. In addition, there is a $25 processing/acceptance fee plus a $15 fee for photos, which can be paid for by cash, personal check, debit and credit cards or money order. The St. Albans Post Office offers passport photo services.
Travelers are encouraged to apply for a passport several months before they are scheduled to travel overseas. Again, the average time for passport applications and renewals is six weeks. However, for an additional fee, the State Department will expedite the application and process it within three weeks.
To apply for a passport, travelers need to complete Passport Application Form DS-11 (unsigned) and provide one of the following: a U.S. birth certificate from the Department of Vital Statistics (not a certificate of birth) or naturalization papers. Applicants must also show either a valid driver's license, a previous or current U.S. passport book or card, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, military ID or a federal, state or municipal government employee ID. For more information or for forms, visit www.travel.state.gov.