Passport Day in the USA

Antelope Station Post Office hosts March 28 Passport Fair in time for new June regulations

LANCASTER, CA — The U.S. Postal Service is joining the Department of State in celebrating “Passport Day in the USA,” a national passport acceptance and outreach event. The Antelope Station Post Office, located at 43824 20 St. West, will be hosting a Passport Fair on Saturday, March 28, 2009, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications.

Starting June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry. Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel.

Applicants need to bring proof of citizenship and proof of identity. Passport photos can be taken at the event for $15. Both parents or the legal guardian(s) must be present for children under the age of 16. Passport processing takes about four weeks. Expedited service is available at additional cost.

Information on the cost and how to apply for a passport book and/or card can be found at usps.com/passport. Passport application forms can be downloaded at the website. U.S. citizens can 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 partners with the Department of State and leverages the convenience of Post Office locations in communities to help the public apply for passports. The Postal Service accepted 8.5 million passport applications last year.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.