Laytonville and Redwood Valley Post Offices to Host Passport Fairs

Summer is upon us; don’t be left behind for lack of a passport!

LAYTONVILLE Calif. —It’s not too late to get your passport for summer travel, and to help you, the Laytonville Post Office, 50 Ramsey Rd., is hosting a Passport Fair on Thursday and Friday, June 12 and 13, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Redwood Valley Post Office is also hosting a fair on Saturday, June 14 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Redwood Valley Fire Department, 8481 East Rd. at School Way.

Applying for a new passport can be intimidating, but the Postal Service passport clerks will answer all of your questions and help you complete the paperwork. If you’re planning to do any summer traveling, now is the time to apply. USPS Passport Fairs make it easy and convenient for travelers, offering a one-stop shop to get the application completed and mailed.

In addition to the familiar passport book, travelers now have the option of applying for a passport card, which may be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. The wallet-size passport card is a less expensive alternative for those who travel to these destinations, but it cannot be used for air travel.

To apply for a passport book or passport card for the first time, applicants need proof of U.S. citizenship in the form of a certified copy of their birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (not a CA abstract or photocopy), or a certificate of citizenship or a naturalization certificate. You will also need a valid form of photo identification, such as a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID. If you are renewing, simply bring in your old passport.

Passport applications for both the book and the card also require two recent identical photographs and those can be taken at the Passport Fair on the same day for a $15.00 fee (in addition to application fees).

The fee for first time applicants for a passport book is $100.00 (photo not included). The fee for a passport renewal is $75.00. The fee for an adult passport card is $45.00.

Customers can call 1-800-ASK-USPS to get the location of nearby passport post offices and passport customer service hours, or visit the United States Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com/passport to get information on passport application costs and to download a passport application form. Customers can save some time by having the application form filled out before coming to the post office.

For the latest information on passport deadlines and other travel requirements established by the U.S. State Department, go to its Web site at http://travel.state.gov. Travelers can check the status of their passport applications online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.