January 19, 2016

Don’t be stuck in the cold without your U.S. Passport!

WHITE PLAINS, NY: Did the recent winter snow blast have you wanting to travel to warmer tropical climates?  If so, don’t delay in applying for your U.S. Passport.  If you apply now, you can be wheels up and on your way to hot spots in the Caribbean and South America before the winter ends. 

“I recommend getting the necessary documents together and applying sooner rather than later to avoid any hiccups in your future travel plans,” stated Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni, whose office is a designated passport acceptance agency. 

A certified copy of your birth certificate, a valid driver’s license, the application fee in the form of check or money order, and the processing fee is usually all you need to apply.  Once accepted, routine passport applications generally take approximately four to six weeks and for an additional charge, expedited service reduces the time to two to three weeks.  Keep in mind that passports for children under the age of 16 expire every five years. To apply for a passport for a child under the age of 16, both parents and the child must appear in person or have a notarized “Minor Consent” form and signed by the absent parent. This form can be downloaded from our website at www.WestchesterClerk.com.

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.  If you are planning to apply, please call (914)995-3086 or visit www.WestchesterClerk.com for specific requirements.

The Office of the Westchester County Clerk, located at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains accepts applications 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

-###-