Proctor Journal

Office Opening Is Just in Time for New Border Rules Effective June 1

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that, after

advocating strongly for a passport office in Minnesota, the U.S. State Department

has opened its first domestic passport issuance facility in Minneapolis.

The Minneapolis Passport Agency is located at 212 South Third Avenue in downtown

Minneapolis. It is designed to provide in-person passport services to American

citizens throughout the North Central border region. The office will be able to serve

U.S. citizens who have urgent or emergency travel needs, with the capability to

issue passport books and passport cards on-site to qualified applicants.

“This new office means that Minnesotans will finally have convenient access to

passport services,” said Klobuchar. “This access is especially important because of

our border with Canada and the substantial international travel that goes through

the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.”

Klobuchar added: “The constituent service staff in my Minnesota office has been

very busy helping people with passport issues, because a high demand for

passports has caused processing delays. Even with this new office, I want

Minnesotans to know that they can continue to contact my state office if they need

help.”

Previously, Minnesotans who needed passports immediately had to fly to the

passport office in Chicago for expedited service. Regular passport applications will

continue to be processed through passport centers in Seattle and Charleston, NC.

Klobuchar said the opening of the new passport office is especially timely because

the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will be implemented on

June 1. The new passport requirements were recommended by the 9/11

Commission.

The new rules will require most American citizens entering the United States to have

a passport or a passport card. (Currently, Americans arriving in the U.S. traveling by

land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean countries do not need a

passport, just proof of identity and U.S. citizenship.)

"The summer travel season is coming up," said Klobuchar. "I don't want

Minnesotans who might be headed to Canada for some fishing to be turned back at

the border."

Klobuchar said her Senate website (www.klobuchar.senate.gov) includes information

on international travel rules and how to apply for a passport book or a passport

card. Minnesotans can also go to www.travel.state.gov or call the National Passport

Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.