Passport Saturday is This Weekend

The Santa Cruz County Clerk is offering special Saturday passport hours on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 701 Ocean St., Room 210, in Santa Cruz, for individuals and families who need a United States passport, but are not able to apply during regular office hours Monday through Friday.

Special Saturday hours are offered just four times a year. In 2015, Passport Saturdays will be held on February 7, May 9, September 12, and November 7. Passports take 4 to 6 weeks to process. Passport processing times can be expedited to 2 to 3 weeks for an additional fee.

The Saturday passport hours are particularly helpful for families who need passports for their kids. Both parents must appear with their children under the age of 16. If both parents cannot appear, there are other options, including a signed and notarized statement from the parent who cannot be there in person.

Parents must show photo identification, such as a driver’s license, and submit a copy of the front and back of each parent’s identification.

Applicants who are 16 or 17 years old, must appear with one parent who shows photo identification and provides a copy of the front and back of the identification. If the minor has photo identification, it must also be shown and a copy of each side must be submitted along with the application. Copies made at the Clerk’s office are $1 each.

To apply for a passport, you must submit the following along with a completed application:

• Photo identification, such as a driver’s license;
• A copy of the front and back of the photo identification on 8 ½ x 11 inch plain white paper;
• A certified copy of evidence of citizenship, such as your birth certificate;
• Proof of parentage must be submitted for children under the age of 16; and
• One recent color passport photo, size 2 x 2 inches.

U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government.

Passport books cost $80 for citizens under the age of 16 and $110 for citizens age 16 and older. The Passport card is $30 for persons age 16 and older or $15 for persons under age 16. Each applicant must also pay a processing fee of $25 per passport. The U.S. Department of State only accepts checks or money orders for passport applications submitted by mail. The $25 processing fee must be paid in cash or check.

You can renew your U.S. passport by mail using the Form DS-82 if all of the following are true.

Your most recent U.S. passport:

• Is undamaged and can be submitted with your application;
• Was issued when you were age 16 or older;
• Was issued within the last 15 years; and
• Was issued in your current name or you can legally document your name change with original or certified copy of your marriage certificate or the government-issued document evidencing your legal name change.

If any of the above statements do not apply to you, you must apply in person.

All minors, age 15 and under, who have or have not had a passport in the past must apply in person using the Form DS-11.

More information on travel requirements and how to apply for a U.S. passport is available at www.travel.state.gov or by calling the Santa Cruz County Clerk’s Office at 831-454-2060.