By Michael V. Cusenza

Five area elected officials are set to host an event later this month to help constituents apply for or renew a passport.

“Passport Day,” hosted by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) and Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Forest Hills), will take place on Sunday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the United States Post Office in Forest Hills. The facility is located at 106-28 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375. It follows several other passport events that Meng has held for more than two years throughout her congressional district, and this upcoming one will be the first in 2025.

To receive a passport, an individual must be a U.S. citizen or non-citizen national, and they need to complete the application form which Postal Service clerks at this upcoming event can assist with on-site.

The following is what constituents should bring:

• If applying for a first-time passport, bring an original copy and photocopy of proof of identity AND U.S. citizenship documents.
• For a renewal, bring the most recent passport and name change documents if there are any.
• Children under age 16 must apply in person with two parents or guardians using form DS-11. Applicant must provide U.S. citizenship evidence. Parents must show relationship and present ID. If one or both parents or guardians is absent, more documents are needed.
• Debit/credit card, or check/money order made payable to “Postmaster” for acceptance fees.
• Check/money order made payable to “U.S. Department of State” for processing fees.
• A color passport photo taken in the last six months, or a photo can be taken on-site with an additional fee.

The fees you pay depend on: your age; if you want a passport book, passport card, or both documents; how fast you need your passport, and where you apply. The costs of applying for and renewing a passport can be found at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html. The State Department noted that it cannot refund the passport application fee and the execution fee. By law, the agency collects both fees and keeps them even if a passport is not issued.

In 2023, standard processing times for passports ranged from 10-13 weeks and expedited requests took approximately 7-9 weeks. Meng pushed the State Department to decrease this backlog, including questioning then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the problem during a congressional hearing, and now standard processing times are down to 4-6 weeks and expedited processing is just 2-3 weeks.

Applications for both first-time passports and renewals will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, visit travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html.

“We are glad to partner together to bring this important service to those we represent, and to make the process easy and convenient for constituents,” the five lawmakers wrote in a statement. “We look forward to seeing local residents come out on Sunday, May 18 to take care of their passport needs.”