Mike Morsch, Regional Editor
The Mercer County Clerk’s office will be offering passport services from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the East Windsor Municipal Building., The County Clerk, Paula Sollami Covello, and her staff, along with East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, will be on-site to process U.S. Passport applications for local U.S. residents., East Windsor area residents interested in getting a passport are encouraged to come out and take advantage of the convenience, as passport photos are also available on-site. While walk-in applicants are always welcome, passport applicants are encouraged to call 609-989-6465 to reserve a specific time and avoid a wait. However, every effort will be made to include all applications and knowledgeable passport staff will be on-hand to assist applicants with their forms., If you are unable to take advantage of the passport event, the county clerk’s office processes United States passport applications on a regular basis, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the clerk’s office, 240 W State St, Trenton. Passport applications are also processed at the Mercer County Connection located at the Hamilton Square Shopping Center on Highway 33 and Paxson Avenue in Hamilton. This satellite office offers evening and Saturday hours for the convenience of Mercer County Residents. Passport photos are available at both locations., Routine applications for U.S. passports typically are processed between six to eight weeks, so apply now for mid-summer, fall, or winter travel., “Travelers who have not yet applied for a passport should not hesitate as the overall demand for passports has been rising, due to changes in U.S. travel requirements which now require travelers to have passports for air, land, and see travel to and from the United States, which includes the Caribbean Islands, Canada, and Mexico,” said County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello., To apply for a United States passport, applicants will need (1) Proof of U.S. Citizenship in the form of a state certified birth certificate, a U.S. naturalization certificate, or a previous U.S. Passport; and (2) Proof of Identify in the form of a current Driver’s License or State issued identification card., A U.S. passport is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for minors. The cost for a passport is $110 for adults and $80 for minors, in addition to a processing fee of $25. The federal government requires a separate check for each passport application. Passport photos will be taken on-site for $15 ($10 for senior citizens and minors under 16)., For children, Federal passport guidelines now require both parents to appear in person – or one parent in person with notarized federal consent forms – when applying for a passport for a child under 16. No cash or credit cards will be accepted at events. For more Clerk events, passport details, and additional information, see www.mercercounty.org/countyclerk.
