TOMS RIVER – Do you plan to take an international trip? Is your current passport about to expire? Are you applying for your first passport? Well, look no further. A grand opening event at 11 a.m. Friday, September 8 will celebrate the new Passport Center located at the Toms River Post Office, 130 West Water Street. Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher will join South Jersey A/District Manager Jim Drummond and Toms River Postmaster Tom Wagner for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The public is invited to attend the festivities.
This newly opened Passport Center is the first of its kind in central and southern New Jersey, offering customers a dedicated one-stop opportunity for applying for passports and passport cards, and for obtaining passport photos.
“A passport center dedicated specifically to providing passport services staffed by full-time passport agents makes the application process quicker and more convenient for prospective international travelers across the Toms River area,” said Toms River Postmaster Tom Wagner
Passport appointment hours at the new Toms River Passport Center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Passport service is also available for walk-in customers Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (no walk-in service available on Saturday).
Wagner recommended travelers apply for a passport or passport card at least two months prior to trip departure and bring all required documentation with them to the Passport Center.
Identification, including a copy, is required to prove U.S. citizenship, such as:
- Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport
- Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state (hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable)
- Consular report of birth abroad or birth certificate
- Naturalization certificate
- Certificate of citizenship
In addition, one current ID is required, such as:
- Naturalization certificate
- Valid driver’s license
- Current government ID (city, state or federal)
- Current military ID (military and dependents)
The passport application also requires a recent passport photograph (2×2”). Postal clerks at the Passport Center also offer passport photo services for $15 per photo.
The cost for a passport book is $135 for adults (16 years and older), with separate payments of $110 paid to the State Department for the passport application fee and $25 to the Postal Service for its processing fee (set by the Department of State). For persons under 16, the cost is $105, with separate payments of $80 and $25 respectively.
The cost of passport cards for adults (16 years and older) is $55: $25 in a separate payment to the U.S. Postal Service for the processing fee and a $30 separate payment to the State Department for the passport application fee. The passport card cost for those under 16 is $40: $25 in a separate payment to the U.S. Postal Service for its processing fee and a $15 separate payment to the State Department for the passport application fee. Children under 16 must be accompanied by both parents when applying for a passport or passport card.
To make the process as quick as possible, applicants are strongly encouraged to print and complete their applications ahead of time by going online at usps.com/passport. Do not sign the application form, as the passport acceptance clerk must witness the signing.
In most cases, passport renewals do not require an in-person application process; full information is available at travel.state.gov.
Customers may visit usps.com/passport or call 1-800-ASK-USPS to find the location and customer service hours of regular USPS passport Post Offices. All applications are sent to the U.S. State Department for final processing and approval.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
