Passport Acceptance Agency will now open once a month on Saturday at the Monterey Park City Clerk’s office. “This is a pilot program to meet the needs of busy citizens who are unavailable to come during normal business hours,” announced David Barron, City Clerk.

The City Clerk’s office opens the last Saturday of each month to assist citizens with processing applications for new passports. The service is available between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. by appointments only. (No other City Business will be conducted.)

Passports are now needed for international travel as well as crossing and returning over the nation’s borders to Mexico and Canada. Passports are also needed for persons sailing on cruise ships that stop at foreign ports such as Ensenada or Puerto Vallarta.

U.S. citizens can apply for a passport by visiting the Monterey Park City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 320 West Newmark Ave., Monterey Park. Walk-in applicants are welcome, but appointments are recommended to minimize waiting time.

New adult Passports cost about $100, and $85 for children. Photo services are also available in the City Clerk’s office. Photos are required for Passport applications. Persons applying must have photo identification such as a Driver’s License and an original birth certificate. Naturalized citizens must have photo identification and their original U.S. Naturalization Certificate. Children age 15 and under must be accompanied by both parents.

An alternative to Passport Books is a Passport Card for Americans who travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Applications for the cards are also available at Monterey Park City Hall. The wallet-size cards will cost $45 for adults and $35 for children, cheaper than a regular passport, and adults who have passports will have to 
pay only $20. The Passport Cards will be accepted for land and sea crossings between the United States and Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, but not for airline travel.

For further information contact the City Clerk’s Office at (626) 307-1361. For rush Passports, persons are asked to contact the State Department directly at 877-487-2778. Information may also be obtained by visiting city clerk web page in the Monterey Park city website at www.ci.monterey-park.ca.us.