The U.S. State Department has assigned "Passport Day in the USA" to Saturday, March 27. Although it may not be as exciting as "Talk like a Pirate Day," the day creates an open invitation for U.S. citizens to start the process of getting a passport. Twenty-three passport agencies around the country will be open from 10 AM to 3 PM to accept passport applications without a previous appointment.
On standard days, you can only apply for a passport without an appointment if you want to fill out an expedited application and pay an addition $60 fee. Expedited application will also be accepted on March 27. The convenience of Passport Day helps families prepare for any upcoming spring or summer international travel. Since the event takes place in the morning and early afternoon, you can check an important item off of your to-do list and still have plenty of time to enjoy your Saturday.
About 2,000 other locations will be open to celebrate the day and help with passport application processing. According to a press release issued by the U.S. State Department:
"Many passport acceptance facilities around the country will also be hosting Passport Day in the USA events. U.S. citizens can visit www.travel.state.gov to find a participating passport acceptance facility near them and the event details. This website also contains complete passport information about what is needed to apply for a passport, as well as the application fees and processing times. U.S. citizens may also call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778."
Last year was the first official Passport Day in the USA. In March 2009, over 57,000 applications were accepted. Four new passport agencies have been added this year (in Detroit, Dallas, Minneapolis, and Tuscon), so the number of application in 2010 could very well be even higher. A number of passport-themed events are also scheduled to take place to celebrate the occasion. Happy Passport Day!
