Foreign Travel Requirements Changing June 1, 2009

Department of State and Postal Service declare March 28 as National Passport Day.

HAMPTON ROADS, VA —Several Post Offices are hosting a passport fair on Saturday, March 28, 2009, to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications. The Postal Service is joining the Department of State in celebrating “Passport Day in the USA,” a national passport acceptance and outreach event.

On 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 facilitate entry at land and sea ports but are not valid for international air travel.

Information on the cost and how to apply for a passport book and/or passport card is available at www.travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens may 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 following offices are participating in Passport Day in the USA fairs and will provide additional staff to handle applications and take passport photos.

Southside
Chesapeake Main Office, 1425 Battlefield Blvd. North, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Portsmouth Main Office, 933 Broad St., 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Thomas Corner Station (Norfolk), 190 Janaf Shopping Center, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Virginia Beach Main Office, 501 Viking Dr. at Lynnhaven Pky., 10 a.m. – 12 noon

Peninsula
Monticello Station, 5219 Monticello Ave. (Williamsburg), 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Lightfoot Post Office, 6376 Richmond Rd., 9 a.m. – 12 noon
Grafton Post Office (Yorktown), 5702 Geo. Washington Mem’l Hwy., 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Hampton Main Office, 809 Aberdeen Rd., 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. APPOINTMENT ONLY, call 262-4812
Patrick Henry Station (Newport News), 685 Turnberry Blvd., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (off Jefferson Avenue, approximately one mile west of Newport News/Williamsburg Int’l Airport)

Passport photo service will be available at these locations for a $15 fee. Total passport book fees for adults age 16 and over is $100, and $85 for children under age 16. Total passport card fees for adults age 16 and over is $45, and $35 for children under age 16. Items needed to apply for a passport are two identical color passport photos; proof of citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate issue by the city, county or state, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, and consular report of birth abroad; and proof of identity such as a current, valid driver’s license, military or government ID, or a certificate of naturalization.

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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.