Question:
I just thought I would pass this information along. I was always
under the assumption that all passports had to go thru a passport
office. For some a local Post Office will be alot closer and easier.
Oh and by they way....Process time is the same either thru the passport
office or Post Office (6 weeks).
Am I the only one who didn't know this?
Answer:
I just discovered something and thought I would share with
everyone. Some of you may already know this so forgive me if I'm way
behind the times here.
While getting passport applications (at my local passport office)
for my parents upcoming cruise we discovered that
1st Class Post Offices not only have the applications but can do the
oath and submission of the application. Now not all 1st class Post
Offices do this. It is strictly up to the Post Master if they want to
be bothered to do this. In my area We have two post offices that have
this little known service within 15 miles of each other.
Another service I was not aware of was 1 day emergency passports.
The same local postal office does have currier service for those in need
of emergency passports. They have a currier who will take the
application to the government agency (in my case NYC or Hartford, CT) to
have it processed then return it the same day.
I just thought I would pass this information along. I was always
under the assumption that all passports had to go thru a passport
office. For some a local Post Office will be alot closer and easier.
Oh and by they way....Process time is the same either thru the passport
office or Post Office (6 weeks).
Am I the only one who didn't know this?
Dunno, but our PO will also take the photos for you($12.00).
In spite of what the passport instructions say, a normal application is
currently taking less than 2 weeks from the time your PO sends it in the
normal way. Ours took 11 calendar days total to/from the New Orleans PP
Office. (yep, we were surprised and we didn't have to pay the exhorbitant
"special handling" fees which were more than the 10 year passport fee)
Yes, that's how we did it. On a Saturday! Can't get more convenient than
that. They took our pictures to. Had them back in just eight days!
Great information. For anyone wanting to know more about getting a
passport, please look at http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
Please, please, please.... get a passport! It is the "gold standard" for
identification and the immigration and entry laws for various countries are
changing every day.
I got our passports at our post office but only 2 in my area do this. I
downloaded the application online, filled it out, and took the pics and that
completed app to the PO here and got my passports. It took about 2 weeks to
get them in the mail but it was very easy to apply.
Here in Camden County, South Jersey, you can get your passport at any of
the "County Stores". I would assume that other counties have a similar
thing.
There are over 5,000 places in the country you can submit the paperwork for
a passport, post offices, city halls, courthouses, etc. The database of
them all (searchable by zip) is over at
http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/
and you can also search by those that can take pictures, handicapped
accessibility, etc.
You might also check out libraries to get birth certificates.
Ours had a country desk only manned one afternoon a week.
But walk in, walk out 10 minutes later with raised seal
birthcertificates.
Camden County in New Jersey has what they call a "County Store", in 4
different locations. It allows you to access a wide range of county
information/services in one location. They do wills, passports, fishing
licesnses, have senior programs, health screenings/human services among
other things. They basicly take the available services to more
convenient locations and are either in a mall or a local storefront.
I don't think the other South Jersey counties have the same thing.
There are really three different Jersey's. North, South and Central.
Central being the area near Woodbridge, Menlo Park etc.
I'm really glad so many people knew about this. I guess I was behind the
times. But our local PO did charge the two (separate) checks...One for
county and one for the (federal) Passport. I know in the past I've
seen people post that this could be done in a local PO. When I went
into one they looked at me as if I had two heads. Not explaining that
it was up to the post master to choose if they wanted to or not. They
also didn't bother telling of of the other local PO's that did have
this service....Shame on them!
I was one of those Staten Islanders for 18 yrs. We not only shopped for
clothing in NJ, but bought gas for our cars. Untill my husband started
working in NJ, I would be in NJ at least once a week, buying gas and
other things. Even if it weren't for the tax advantage, it was so much
nicer shopping in Woodbridge and Menlo Park.
Here in Camden County, South Jersey, you can get your passport at any of
the "County Stores". I would assume that other counties have a similar
thing.
What are the "County Stores"?
Camden County in New Jersey has what they call a "County Store", in 4
different locations. It allows you to access a wide range of county
information/services in one location. They do wills, passports, fishing
licesnses, have senior programs, health screenings/human services among
other things. They basicly take the available services to more
convenient locations and are either in a mall or a local storefront.
