To host March Passport Fairs
IMPERIAL COUNTY – The Calipatria, El Centro, and Westmorland post offices will be hosting a series of special weekend Passport Fairs, at which postal employees will accept applications for new U.S. passports, per a press release.
“Our postal employees are hosting these events to help customers who want to get a head start on their summer international travel plans,” said USPS Senior Operations Manager Maria Cosio Moreno. “Now that
COVID-19 concerns have declined and nations are welcoming back travelers, many Imperial Valley residents are eager to get out and see the world. For anyone planning to travel internationally this summer, the first step is to get a passport. Our post offices will host these special Passport Fairs to help them with that.”
“The purpose of these events is to make the process of applying for new passports easy for our customers,” Cosio Moreno said. “A lot of people, especially those with schoolchildren, don’t have the time during the week to visit a post office to submit their passport applications.”
According to the release, the series of special weekend Passport Fairs include El Centro Post Office on 1598 W. Main Street happening on March 18 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Westmorland Post Office located on 199 S. Center Street on March 18 from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and the Calipatria Post Office located on 190 W. Main Street on March 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Customers attending these events will be served on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration is not required, the release reads. Routine and expedited new passport applications will both be accepted. Payment of U.S. Passport Agency fees must be made with cash, debit cards, or money orders.
Applicants are advised to complete their DS-11 new passport application in advance, print it and bring it unsigned to the event with an acceptable passport photo, fees, and documents. The DS-11 application form can be found at travel.state.gov/ content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/forms. html.
For information on new passport application requirements, forms, and fees, visit www.travel. state.gov or call the tollfree National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
“The Passport Agency reminds travelers to submit their passport applications as early as possible, far in advance of planned travel to avoid problems with receiving their passports,” the release reads.