If you have ever been through the process to get a passport or know someone who has, you have probably heard that it is not very easy.
But, if you plan to travel internationally this year the process is getting a little easier.
The U.S. Postal Service has launched the USPS Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler tool (RCAS).
Of 4,800 Post Offices around the country that offer passport acceptance services 3,100 of them take appointments over the phone. Now those offices that take appointments will also offer the RCAS tool, making scheduling a slot to apply for a passport easier.
For the appointment, travelers need to bring with them the following items:
- The completed DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport form, which can be found at the Department of State website at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html. Do not sign the form
- Proof of US citizenship
- Proof of identity (valid driver’s license, government employee ID, military ID)
- Photocopies of U.S. citizenship and identification documents (these will be sent with the application, but bring originals for proof documentation)
- Appropriate payment. Acceptable forms of payment can be found on the Department of State website. (Please note that neither debit nor credit cards are acceptable forms of payment by the Department of State)
- Appropriate passport photo, if passport photo services are not available at the selected Post Office location
