Several regional passport offices and participating passport acceptance facilities will be open on Saturday, April 9. "Passport Day in the USA" provides any U.S. citizen in need of a passport book or card with the Saturday convenience of walking into any of these offices without an appointment. A list of these office locations and hours can be found at the State Department web site: http://travel.state.gov/passportday.
With summer only a few months away, now is a good time for American citizens planning to travel abroad to make sure they have a valid passport by taking advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to submit a passport application on a Saturday.
Citizens planning on visiting a Passport Office that day should know that the U.S. Department of State will require the full names of the applicant's parent(s) to be listed on all certified birth certificates to be considered as primary evidence of U.S. citizenship for all passport applicants, regardless of age. Certified birth certificates missing this information are no longer acceptable as evidence of citizenship.
A birth certificate is required for a first-time passport applicant, for anyone who has lost their passport and anyone under 16 years old. Full application procedures can be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html.
The cost for an Adult Passport Book is $110 plus a $25 execution fee. Credit cards, checks and money orders are acceptable methods of payment.
The U.S. Passport Card is used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.
The cost for an adult (age 16 and older) Passport Card is $55.
Both a U.S. Passport Book and Passport Card is valid for 10 years.
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.
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