Where does a fabulous international vacation start? With the Post Office, of course!

Now the Post Office comes to you at the 14^th Original GLBT Expo, March 24-25, 2007, at New York City’s Javit’s Convention Center. Your most memorable vacation will begin at our Passport Fair, where you’ll be able to apply for a passport that will open the doors to the world.

The cost of a passport at the Post Office is based on the age of the applicant and includes the passport and Department of State processing fee. For those 16-years and older, the charge is $97. Anyone younger than 16 years is charged $82. The U.S. Department of State recommends allowing at least six weeks for passport processing. Passport applications must be made in person at the GLBT Expo or at a participating Post Office. More information can be found on line at travel.state.gov

If you choose the Postal Service to apply for a passport you have one more added benefit: for only $15 your photo will be taken at our Passport Fair. When applying for a passport, customers must present proof of U.S. citizenship (a certified birth certificate or previous US passport) and proof of identification (Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship; Current, valid driver’s license; Government ID or Military ID).

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler. On January 23, 2007, U.S. citizens traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid U.S. passport.

Passport applications can also be made at 5,300 Passport Acceptance Locations in Post Offices around the country. A complete list may be found at usps.com/passport.

About the U.S. Postal Service

Since 1775, the Postal Service and its predecessor, the Post Office Department, have connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits more than 144 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider delivering to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of $70 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 212 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide.