Passport Service Now Offered At Guerneville Post Office

GUERNEVILLE, CA —It’s a new year and that means time for planning new adventures but if your plans are international, you will still need to secure your passport ahead of time.

For international travelers in Sonoma County, the Guerneville Post Office at 14060 Mill St., now offers passport services including photos.

Starting Monday, Jan. 8, passport services are offered from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday by appointment only or by contacting the Guerneville Post Office at 707-869-2167 or 800-275-8777. Special walk-in passport hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays on a first-come, first-served basis.

"We are proud to start this year with new services for our Guerneville and west Sonoma County residents," said Guerneville Postmaster Cole Risley. "We know how important it is to submit passport applications early and in time for travel season. That’s why we’ve expanded our retail services to include passport applications and photos."

Previously, the closest post office for passport service was 9.8 miles away in Healdsburg.

"This new location in Guerneville is a game changer for residents in the surrounding vicinity, who would typically travel to the larger cities of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Sebastapol and Rohnert Park that provide passport services and are less than 20 miles away from Guerneville," U.S. Postal Service Spokesperson Kristina Uppal told Patch.

Within Sonoma County, passport services are also offered at the Boyes Hot Springs Post Office, the North Bay Processing & Distribution Center in Petaluma, and the Kenwood and Sonoma post offices.

A complete list of passport locations is on Usps.com.

"Each location has its own designated appointment availability and schedule for services," Uppal said.

5 Things To Know About Applying For A Passport

1. Passport applicants are asked to fill out application forms ahead of time to help make the process as smooth as possible. Forms and fee information can be found on the Postal Service website or the U.S. Department of State website.

2. Passport information is also available by phone by calling the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778.

3. To apply for a passport, applicants need a valid form of photo identification and proof of citizenship. Proof of identification is a current or previous U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship or a current and valid driver’s license, government ID or military ID. A photocopy of the identification — front and back — must be submitted with your passport application. Proof of citizenship is a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state; or naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship, and an expired passport. The customer must submit a photocopy of the front and back of the Proof of Citizenship.

4. Some customers are eligible to renew by mail.

5. For children younger than 16, there are additional requirements from the U.S. Department of State.

Passport Wallet

No passport would be complete without a USPS Passport Wallet — available in black or brown leather and designed to hold a passport, cash, an ID and up to seven credit cards.

The wallets are available at passport acceptance offices and online from the U.S. Postal Service.