Passports available at your local township hall

By JEFF HAWKINS
Plainfield Township Deputy Clerk

On June 01, 2009, U.S. citizens must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the US government to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bahamas at land borders and sea ports of entry.

At Plainfield Township, we’ve been telling our customers to apply now, ahead of the June 1, 2009 deadline, and on March 28, the Plainfield Charter Township Passport Acceptance office will be open to the public to accept applications

Plainfield Charter Township only accepts check or money orders for payment of fees. Passport photos are available on site, for an additional charge.

We do take passport pictures here on site. They are $10.00 for a set of two. Passport prices are as follows:

Adult (age 16+): $100.00, plus pictures. These are good for 10 years. Child (age 15 and under) $85.00, plus pictures. These are good for five years.

Passport Card prices are as follows:

Adult (age 16+): $45.00, plus pictures. These are good for 10 years. Child (age 15 and under): $35.00, plus pictures. These are good for five years.

Prices are set by the US Department of State and are the same nationwide, with the exception of the picture prices, which can range from free to $29.00, depending on the location. Passport fees need to be paid in two checks or money orders ($25.00 to the acceptance agent and the remainder to the US Department of State) as they are mailed to the US Department of State on a daily basis. Processing time at our office normally takes 5 to 10 minutes and to receive your passport normally takes approximately three to four weeks. You can expedite the process for an additional $60 per application (payable to the US Department of State), which then take 10 business day, plus mail time.

You can find more information at www.plainfieldchartertwp.org or www.travel.state.gov.

The public is offered this special invitation to join us for Passport Day in the USA, offered in cooperation with the US Department of State Passport Services and Plainfield Charter Township. This is part of a  national passport  acceptance and outreach event.

It will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Plainfield Charter Township Offices, 6161 Belmont Avenue NE, Belmont, Michigan 49306-9609. For more information, call (616) 364-8466.