Passport Service Important
Addison County Superior Court has been helping people travel legally for decades
Tuesday July 10, 2007
By Mike Cameron
In the Post-9/ll era, travel from country to country has become a much more tightly controlled activity. The reasons are obvious. Applying for and being issued a passport to travel outside the United States has become more and more important as the years since 9/11 have progressed.
The rules governing this process changed in early June when the State Department made some key moves to ease a backup in applications for this summer.
During the first week of June, 2007 the Bush administration suspended some of its new, Sept. 11 requirements for traveling abroad, hoping to placate Congress and irate summer travelers whose vacations have been thwarted by delays in the processing of their passports
Homeland Security has temporarily lifted strict requirements for citizens flying to and from Canada, Mexico, the Carribean and Bermuda by allowing those individuals to submit proof that a passport application is in the application process. Proof can be obtained by going onto the world wide web at www.travel.state.gov and follow the guidlines.
According to published reports the suspension should allow the State Department to catch up with what is being referred to as a “massive surge in applications” that has overwhelmed passport processing centers since the rule took effect this year. The result has been a backlog causing up to a three-month delay for passports resulting in ruined and delayed travel plans for thousands of Americans.
The fact remains that even with the suspension, getting a passport is becoming a fact of life no mater if the process at the Federal level is bogged down or not.
Processing passport applications, taking passport photos and reviewing identification required by Federal law is available and has been for many years at Addison County Superior Court.
A simple review of passport requirements includes:
-Valid Certified Birth Certificate(no t a hospital or birth registration) the Certified Birth Certificate will be returned with the passport.
-Valid Photo Identification, College ID
-2 Passport Photos with specific requirements. Photos can be obtained at the time of application.
-Completed Passport Application.
-All Applicants Must Be Present.
-Requirements for Minors include: *those under 14, both parents must be present or a Parental Consent Form completed by one parent. The form must be notorized and a seal is required plus all normal requirements.
For further information call 388-7741.
Superior Court is located in the Judge Frank Mahady Court House off Court Street in Middlebury.
An experienced passport professional will assist you and there is free parking. One final note, cell phones are not allowed in the court house and you will be required to pass through court security upon entering the building.
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