Post office plans fair on new passport rules

The U.S. Post Office will host a Passport Fair on Saturday, Sept. 23, to help Utahns fill out passport applications in advance of new requirements for Americans traveling to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

The new passport requirements of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act go into effect Jan. 8, 2007.

The Passport Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salt Lake Main Post Office, 1760 W. 2100 South.

Applicants should bring proper proof of U.S. citizenship or naturalization (a state-issued certified birth certificate, available by contacting the State Department of Health or your state of birth; a previous official passport; or a naturalization certificate if you are foreign-born. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable).

Applicants should also bring one officially acceptable state or government photo ID (either a driver's license, a military photo ID or a state-issued photo ID. Workplace IDs are generally not acceptable). The passport application also requires two recent identical photographs, which must meet specific passport requirements.

To save time, download passport application documents at USPS.com/passport and fill them out beforehand. However, don't sign the application form, as the passport acceptance clerk must witness the signing.

The cost of a passport is $97 for adults 16 and older, $82 for those under 16. Passport applicants are advised to apply at least two months prior to departure.

For more information, go to USPS.com or call 1-800- ASK-USPS.