Saturday Passport Hours October 26 – In Time for Holiday Travel

The Santa Cruz County Clerk is offering special Saturday passport hours on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 701 Ocean St., Room 210, in Santa Cruz, for individuals and families who need a passport, but are not able to apply during regular office hours Monday through Friday.

The County’s regular passport acceptance hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Special Saturday hours are offered just four times a year. October 26 is the last passport day for 2013 and is scheduled in time for applicants to get their passports before the holiday travel season.

The Saturday passport hours are particularly helpful for families who need passports. Both parents must appear with children under the age of 16 in order to apply for a passport. Parents must show photo identification, such as a driver’s license, as well as submit a copy of the front and back of each parent’s identification. Applicants who are 16 or 17, must appear with one parent who shows photo identification and provides a copy of the front and back. If the minor has photo identification, it must also be shown and a copy of each side submitted along with the application.

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 over. 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.

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