New Passport “Mega-Center” to Open Next Spring to Meet Increased Demand for Passports
On December 6, 2007, the United States Department of State announced that it will be opening a second “passport Mega-Center” this coming spring in Tucson, Arizona. The other center is located and already operational in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The two centers will each be able to print and mail out up to 10 million passports and travel documents, something that is intended to meet the expected increased demand for passports that will result from the new passport rules under the Western Hemisphere Initiative Act (WHTI). Since January 23, 2007, WHTI regulations have already required Americans to have passports or other approved documents to enter, re-enter or depart the United States by air.
On January 31, 2008, WHTI requirements will be applied to travel in and out of the United States by land and ferry. That is, U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-complaint document or government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
Passport applications will continue to be processed and approved at the various Department of State passport agencies located throughout the U.S. The Philadelphia Passport Agency is located at U.S. Custom House, 200 Chestnut Street, Room 103, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2970. Its hours are 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.
