Passport Applications Back On Track

On Friday, a temporary sign on the front door of the Half Moon Bay Post Office read: "If the Federal Government shuts down, we will still be OPEN FOR BUSINESS as usual".  With temporary resolution of the impasse in Washington, DC, the sign can be removed. 

"I'd be really shocked if they shutdown," said Ray Quintal.  "I'm not happy that they're playing politics with my vacation."  Quintal, a computer systems analyst who lives in Half Moon Bay, was at the post office trying to renew his passport.  He hopes to go to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in the summer.  "It's purely political, both the Republicans and Democrats are at fault.  Everybody should be cleaned out of Washington, DC.  The problem is, (politicians) are not impacted by anything they do."

With Democrats and Republicans late Friday night agreeing on the framework for a national budget, there should be no interruption in the processing of passport applications.  The U.S. State Department handles passport requests, many that come through the Post Office.  In 2010, the Postal Service accepted 6.7 million passport applications at retail locations across the country.

Elisabeth Erickson was at the Half Moon Bay Post Office on Friday hoping to secure a new passport due to a name change.  She paid the $110 fee, had her picture taken behind the counter, and was willing to wait.  "I'll have a lot of feelings if I don't get my passport.  Right now, it's wait and see."  A Half Moon Bay resident, Erickson works as a human resources specialist in San Jose for a company that has a lot of international business.  "We're reliant on tourism.  I'm confidant there will be a resolution to this Washington situation soon.  If not, I will be pissed off."

According to USPS spokesperson Jim Wigdel,  Passport Day in the USA, an outreach event scheduled for today in the Bay Area at which customers would find information and apply for passports without appointments, has been cancelled.  The event was scheduled for post offices in San Bruno, Redwood City, San Carlos and Los Altos.  Potential tourists hoping for more information are urged to call 1-877-487-2778, the National Passport Information Center.  Customers who have already applied for passports and are looking for their application status can log on to www.travel.state.gov.