East Windsor to Hold Special Passport Day

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello and East Windsor Mayor Janice S. Mironov will once again hold a special Passport Day for residents on Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the East Windsor Municipal Building.

The staff of the Mercer County Clerk’s office will visit the East Windsor Town Hall to process US Passport applications on-site for the residents of East Windsor and all other parts of the County.

“I am so pleased to be able to offer this convenience to the citizens of East Windsor,” says Clerk Paula Sollami Covello. 

“I am delighted that we are bringing this valuable service to East Windsor and helping our local residents with their passport applications by providing a convenient local option,” Mayor Mironov said.

Participants in East Windsor’s passport night are encouraged to call and reserve a time to have their applications processed and their passport photo taken, if needed. Residents should call 609- 989-6465 to reserve a specific time.

Additional representatives from the County Clerk’s Office will be on-site to assist residents with their forms. Every effort will be made to include those residents who did not make an appointment. However, those who arrive within one hour of the closing time may not be processed. Residents are encouraged to arrive early.

To apply for a US Passport, residents will need:

1. Proof of US citizenship in the form of a state certified birth certificate, a US naturalization certificate or a previous US Passport.
2. Proof of identity in the form of a current driver’s license or state issued identification card.

A US Passport is valid for ten years for adults and five years for minors. The cost for a passport is $110 for adults and $80 for minors plus 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 or $10 for senior citizens. The Clerk’s Office will accept checks or money orders for payment. No cash or credit cards will be accepted at this event.

For the young, Federal passport guidelines, now require both parents are required to appear in person - or one parent in person with required documentation - when applying for a passport for a child under 16. The previous cutoff was age 14.

“The change was aimed at protecting children from parental abductions and to prevent children from attempting to run away to a foreign country," Covello said.

While routine applications for US Passports are now being processed much faster, from four to eight weeks, the early fall season is a good time to apply since the US State Department historically receives large numbers of applications during late fall for holiday travelers.

“Travelers who have not yet applied for a passport, should not hesitate, because the overall demand for US Passports is expected to be extensive due to holiday travels at the end of the year,” advises Covello.

For those who will be unable to participate in the passport event, the Mercer County Clerk’s office processes US Passport applications on a regular basis, Monday through Friday during business hours at County Clerk’s Office, 209 South Broad Street in Trenton.

In addition, one can also apply for a US Passport at the Mercer County Connection located at the Hamilton Square Shopping Center on Highway 33 and Paxson Avenue in Hamilton. The County Connection satellite office offers evening and Saturday hours for the convenience of Mercer County residents. Passport photos are available at both locations.

For further information on US Passport requirements, and what personal documents are needed to obtain a passport, residents should visit www.mercercounty.org and click on County Clerk or call 609-989-6473.