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PASSPORTS

Who needs a Passport? A U.S. citizen needs a passport to depart and/or enter the United States and most foreign countries. Exceptions may include short-term travel where a U.S. birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship may be accepted. Your travel agent or airline can provide you with this information.

Where to apply for a Passport? If you have never had a passport, you must appear in person with a completed form (DSP-11 available at the County Clerk's office or download the form.

If you have never had a passport, you will need to bring with you:

1. A certified copy of your birth certificate--this must have a State or County Raised seal and must include the date it was filed. Naturalization papers are also accepted.
2. Two passport pictures (2"x2")*
3. Your Driver's License or State ID
4. A check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State for $75.00.
5. A check, money order or cash in the amount of $25.00 for the County Clerk's fee.
6. All applicants over the age of 16 must execute their own application.

Fees:

Age sixteen (16) years and over (passport is good for 10 years) --$75 Check or money order to the U.S. Department of State, $25.00 to Montmorency County Clerk

Age fifteen (15) years and under (passport is good for 5 years)-- $60.00 Check or money order to the U.S. Department of State, $25.00 to Montmorency County Clerk

Children fourteen (14) years and older must sign their own applications along with one parent. Both parents must be present with ID to execute a passport for children under the age of fourteen (14).

Special Requirements for children under age fourteen (14): Both parents and/or child's legal guardian(s) must appear with the child. If only one parent appears, you must submit one of the following:

• Second parent's written statement consenting to passport issuance for the child, must be notarized (form DS 3053).
• Primary evidence of sole authority to apply or A written statement (made under penalty of perjury) explaining the second parent's unavailability.

If the child has a previous passport, please bring it with you as well as a certified copy of your child's birth certificate.

Renewal of Passport: Passports are renewable by mail if you are at least sixteen (16) years of age or older and in your current name and issued within the past fifteen (15) years. Applications and information are available at the County Clerk's Office or download at U.S. Department of State site. If the following criteria applies, you may renew by mail:

1. Your previous passport must have been issued on or after your sixteenth birthday.
2. Your passport must have been issued within the last fifteen (15) years.
3. If your name has been changed due to marriage or by court order, you must submit proof of the name change.
4. It is undamaged.

If you have had a passport before, you will need:

1. Your old passport (if you do not have this anymore, you will have to fill out a DS-64).
2. Two passport pictures ((2"x2")
3. A check or money order payable to U.S. Department of State for $75.00.

You should receive your passport within six (6) weeks.

For Expedited Passport Service: Passports will be received within two (2) weeks. You will need to purchase one (1) prepaid Express or Priority Mail envelope (depending on your needs), with labels for each, from the Post Office BEFORE you come into our office to apply. We will complete the labels when you arrive. Express Mail is generally overnight delivery. Priority Mail is within three (3) days delivery. Check this link for current U.S.P.S. rates.

You will also need:

• your completed BUT NOT SIGNED application
• 2 passport quality photos
• a certified copy of your birth certificate, OR PREVIOUS PASSPORT
• a valid driver's license or photo I.D. card
• a check or money order for $135.00 payable to U.S. Department of State with optional $14.96 for overnight return, and cash, check or money order payable to Montmorency County Clerk for $25.00.

The agency is open Monday - Friday from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Central Time and will only offer service by appointment. Customers may schedule an automated appointment twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days a week by calling (312) 341-6020.

When customers arrive at the Chicago Passport Agency, they will go to the intake window to have their appointment verified. Customers must present acceptable evidence of their U.S. citizenship, such as Certified Birth Certificate, previous U.S. Passport or Naturalization Certificate.

Montmorency County Office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 A.M. - 12:00 noon and 1:00 - 4:30 P.M. Closed all legal holidays. For more information, call the Montmorency County Clerk's office at (989)785-8022.

*Passport Photos: Need to be taken alone, sufficiently recent to be a good likeness (normally taken within the last six (6) months), and 2x2 inches in size. Photo must be clear, front view, full face taken in normal street attire without a hat or dark glasses and with a white or off-white background. Snapshots, most vending machine prints and magazine or full-length photographs are unacceptable.

 

 

Thursday, December 17, 2009 10:37 AM