WLKM - Update – U.S. Passports

From my archive of press clippings:

WLKM


Update – U.S. Passports


February 24, 2010 by WLKM


St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie Bender reports that passport fees are expected to increase.
In a new release on the subject, Bender said, “We were notified on February 22, 2010 by the U.S. Passport Office that fees will be increasing. There is no firm date set yet as they have to have a 30 day comment period first. That time period began on February 9, 2010.”

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"(A) “Cost of Service” study was conducted in June of 2009 and the results indicated that the fees should increase. The last fee increase was four years ago."

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"According to Bender, the notice also indicated that passport fees are used not only to cover the costs of producing a passport book or card, but they are used to cover the costs of providing emergency services for American citizens overseas in crisis situations; along with helping Americans who have been the victims of crime while traveling or living abroad; and providing support to the families of American citizens who have died overseas."

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If you have any questions, call the County Clerk’s office weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (269) 467-5603.

TTT - Love Cruises? New Card Is Your Passport

From my archive of press clippings:

The Tampa Tribune

Love Cruises? New Card Is Your Passport

Applications for the passport card are being accepted. The cards will be issued starting next month.

By NICOLA M. WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 13, 2008 Updated: 06/13/2008 12:16 am

TAMPA - So long, bulky passport book. Hello, plastic card. For U.S. citizens hopping on cruise ships to the Caribbean or crossing to Canada or Mexico by car, the State Department has introduced a wallet-sized swipe-y card that costs less than half the price of the traditional passport.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The catch: You can't fly with it."

"(B)y June 1, 2009, all travelers visiting those nearby countries will be required to have a passport; a certified birth certificate will no longer be sufficient as proof of citizenship."

"The passport card contains all the vital information featured in a standard passport, minus the pages for cool stamps.

It carries the cardholder's photograph and a chip inside that holds travel information.

U.S. citizens are currently required to present some form of ID proving their U.S. citizenship when they travel to and from border countries such as Mexico, Canada and the islands in the Caribbean.

While some travelers carry passports, others bring certified copies of birth certificates."

"Costs for a certified birth certificate vary, but the cost of a passport card is $45 for an adult and $35 for a child.

A regular passport costs $100 for an adult and $85 for a child."

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"They are only valid for land or sea crossings between border countries such as Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

They are not valid for traveling by plane.

To apply: Go to any passport application facility."

NJ.COM - Employee accused of passport theft. Clerk allegedly stole fees, held applications.

From my archive of press clippings:

The Times

Employee accused of passport theft. Clerk allegedly stole fees, held applications.

Friday, May 23, 2008

BY KEVIN SHEA

A Mercer County Clerk's Office employee was charged with official misconduct yesterday for allegedly pocketing the fees for U.S. passport applications for the past several months.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Authorities say Ishmael M. Raines, 34, of Philadelphia, not only stole the fees, which range from $85 to $160, but also didn't process the applications and failed to return documents that people submit to get a passport, such as birth certificates or expired passports. "

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"Passport fees range from $60 to $135, and the clerk's office charges a $25 processing fee for each application, according to the clerk's website.

State records show Raines has been a Mercer County employee for about two years.

The prosecutor's office and Sollami-Covello both said the matter was referred to the prosecutor's office by the clerk's office through the county's Inspector General.

The prosecutor's economic crimes unit is investigating."