INDIANA — If your travel plans include visiting any country outside the USA, including Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Bahamas or Bermuda anytime soon, then you will need a passport. Current regulations state in addition to presenting a valid passport book when returning to the United States by air, you’ll now need to present a U.S. passport at land borders and sea ports of entry to return home.

The Postal Service makes obtaining a new passport or renewing your old one an easy and convenient experience. Post Offices throughout the Greater Indiana District will be hosting special Passport Fairs on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 18. For information on the times of the passport events, please call (800) 275-8777 and you will be directed to your local Post Office.

Nearby locations include North Manchester, Huntington and Fort Wayne at Hazlewood Avenue on Feb. 11 and Columbia City, Syracuse and Fort Wayne at Clinton Street on Feb. 18.

USPS recommends that customers factor in six weeks for application processing time. Expedited processing of the passport application by the Department of State is available for an additional cost of $60.00. Overnight delivery of the application to the Department of State by Priority Mail Express is available for a fee of $23.75; return also by Priority Mail Express is available for a fee of $15.45. With the faster processing, customers should receive their passport approximately three weeks from the time of application.

Passport fees are $135 total for adults 16 years and older with a separate payment of $25 to the Postal Service for its processing fee, and $110 payable to the Department of State for the passport application fee For persons under 16, the total cost is $105, which includes a $25 processing fee to the Postal Service and $80 payable to the State Department. The Postal Service also offers a passport photo service at a cost of $15.

The application must be paid by cash or check. Credit or debit cards, as well as cash or checks, may be used to cover the cost of photos and acceptance fees.

Bring in proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either a certified birth certificate issued by the city, country or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate. Please note that a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.

Bring in proof of identity. This must be either a previous U.S. passport, a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, a government ID or military photo ID.

Passport photograph services will be available on site for a fee of $15.

To save time in this process, customers can download a passport application at the Department of State website. All applicants must appear in person, including minors. Applicants under age 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.