Been putting off getting or renewing a passport? The government has set aside a day called “Passport Day” that eliminates any excuses as to why you’ve been putting it off.
Passport Day is a federal government initiative started by the U.S. Department of State where passport offices take walk-ins — no appointment required — and eliminate any expedite fees.
Passport Day was started in 2009 after stricter travel rules were put into place in 2007 and 2009. As of 2007, everyone traveling in and out of the United States by air needs a passport. As of 2009, everyone entering or leaving Canada, Mexico, and the Bermuda Islands must present passport documents.
On all other days of the year, an appointment must be booked with a Passport Agency. Passports normally take 4 to 6 weeks to clear with standard services and 2 to 3 weeks with expedited service. Expedited service comes with a hefty fee. In addition to that, the cost of passports has been rising steadily.
Hours of operation vary by passport agency, so make sure to call beforehand. However, no appointment is needed. You are able to walk in and wait for service, much like when you get a hair cut.
Still not sold? Think about it this way: you decide you want to take a trip. Nothing major, you live in New York and want to go to Toronto for a long weekend. You need a passport. If you don’t have a current one lying around, you have to book an appointment in advance (including working around when there are appointments available and trying to co-ordinate them with your schedule), then wait 2-3 weeks minimum for your information to clear and your passport to be renewed or issued-and that’s if you pay the fine for expediation.
On Passport Day you get to eliminate an entire step-booking an appointment in advance. You get to just walk into the office, wait patiently in line, and start the process. You can even have the expediation fee waved. You’re now free to be able to travel at whim with your currently-active passport, without worry.
This convenience only comes once a year, so make sure you take advantage!
