Passport applicants jam post office

HARLINGEN — Local post offices are now requesting that passport applicants make an appointment.

“Summer is usually slow for us, but not this year,” Jeff Jenkins, postmaster at the Harlingen Main Post office, said Friday.

Mindful that effective June 2008, U.S. citizens will need a valid passport when entering the country from Mexico or Canada, Rio Grande Valley residents aren’t putting off obtaining their passports, Jenkins said.

Jenkins said there were as many as 70 passport applications per day in July at the Harlingen post office, and there’s no indication it will slow down.

“Because of the volume of people applying, we recommend that (applicants) call the office before coming,” Jenkins said. “But we do have a first come, first serve basis here in Harlingen.”

Postmaster Joe Cantu at the Weslaco Main Post Office said that office is requiring appointments because of the large number of applications.

“It doesn’t take longer than 10 minutes to apply, and we see at least 35 people a day,” Cantu said. “But, we’re booked through Oct. 15.”

Cities like McAllen and Pharr are also starting to require appointments, Cantu said.

Post offices in San Benito and Mercedes don’t offer passport applications, sending residents to neighboring cities.

Jenkins said more post offices are becoming aware of the need for passport service.

“We have dual lines because we don’t want regular (postal service) customers to be waiting either,” Jenkins said.

If residents prefer to skip the passport appointment, they can visit the Cameron County Courthouse where the District Clerk’s Office processes passport applications, office manager Rosie Sheldon Sotelo said.

Sotelo said appointments aren’t required at the courthouse and applicants are served in the order they arrive.

“We have six people that can work with them,” Sotelo said. “The wait isn’t long at all.”

In July, the courthouse processed 50 to 80 applications a week, Sotelo said.

“The numbers have really gone up this summer because people are preparing for next year,” Sotelo said. “A lot of people cross into Mexico and now they will need a passport to walk over.”

First-time passport applicants can expect a 12-week wait before receiving their passports, Sotelo said.

“We’re in the process of opening the service to the annexes, like the one in San Benito,” Sotelo said. “But, at the moment, people must apply at the courthouse.”

Sotelo said she recommends that the applications should be prepared before arriving at the courthouse, but it must be signed in the presence of an official, Sotelo said.

Passport applications are processed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at select post offices and the courthouse.

The required passport photo can be taken at the courthouse for a $15 fee.

Retailers like Walgreens and Wal-Mart also offer passport photos that meet government standards for $7.99 and $9.95 respectively.

LOCAL PASSPORT AGENCIES

— Cameron County District Clerk’s Office, 974 E. Harrison St., Brownsville, 956-544-0843

— Harlingen Post Office, 1502 New Combes Hwy, 956-423-1464

— Brownsville Post Office, 1001 E. Elizabeth St., 956-546-9462

— South Padre Island Post Office, 4705 Padre Blvd., 956-761-4252

— Weslaco Post Office, 109 N. Border Ave., 956-968-7412