For Immediate Release:

January 12, 2015

Check your passport expiration date

Traveling this winter?

County Clerk’s offices offer quick and convenient passport processing

NEPTUNE, NJ – If your winter plans includes travel to a beachfront or other warm weather location, you may want to make sure that your U.S. Passport hasn’t expired.  Or, if you do not have a U.S. Passport you may want to apply for one today.

In either case, Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French is reminding residents who are United States citizens that the Monmouth County Passport Offices in Freehold and Neptune are available to help residents get their travel documents in order.

“Residents who don’t have a U.S. passport should consider applying for their passport now,” said French. “You may already have travel plans, but you never know when you may have to travel on short notice. Residents with U.S. passports should check the expiration date and start the renewal process about two months ahead of time.”

French also advises people to apply for passports early, well before their planned departure date.

“The County’s Passport Offices have been very successful in processing passport applications and getting them back from the passport issuing agency – the U.S. Department of State,” French said. “Our hope is to help people avoid passport-related complications with their travel plans.”

Passport applications are accepted at two Monmouth County Passport Offices:

• Freehold - Monmouth County Clerk’s Office located in the Market Yard (south of Main Street). The hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Neptune - Monmouth County Connection at 3544 Route 66 (near Home Depot) The hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To obtain a passport, it is necessary to have a certified birth certificate with a raised seal, social security number, a passport photo 2x2 inches in size, and current identification such as a driver's license or government identification. Passport photos are available for a fee of $10 at both locations.

Parents who are making a passport application for a child under the age of 16 are required to appear together or submit additional documentation.

Information about the specific documentation can be found on the County website or by calling the Freehold Passport Office at 732-431-7324 or the Neptune County Connection Passport Office at 732-303-2828.

French recommends that residents contact the Passport Office prior to appearing at the office to be sure that you have the proper documentation and payments.

Passport forms can be found on the Monmouth County website at www.visitmonmouth.com. The passport fee is $110 for adults and $80 for children and must be paid by check or money order. Also, execution fees are $25 per passport application and can be paid in cash, money order or credit card.

For more information, call the Monmouth County Clerk’s office at 732-431-7324 or visit the County website.

Return from all foreign destinations requires a U.S. passport. This includes travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

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