Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710
FAX (215) 567-7850
Contact: Communications and Development
NORTHEAST REGIONAL LIBRARY NOW A PASSPORT ACCEPTANCE FACILITY
The new Passport office offers passport processing and photographs
PHILADELPHIA, June 26, 2017—The Free Library of Philadelphia is pleased to announce that the Northeast Regional Library has been designated as a U.S. Department of State Passport Acceptance Facility. The Passport Office, on the first floor of the library—located at 2228 Cottman Avenue—opened to the public May 27, 2017. Services include passport processing for new U.S. passports or passport cards, passport photographs, and expedited service.
The Passport Office is open
- Tuesdays 3:00–7:00 p.m.
- Wednesdays 3:00–7:00 p.m.
- Fridays 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Saturdays 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Appointments are available by calling 215-725-1740 or emailing passports@freelibrary.org. The office is staffed by two passport agents.
The location was chosen because the State Department saw the need for additional passport services in Northeast Philadelphia. The community surrounding the Northeast Regional Library has one of the highest percentages of foreign-born residents in the city of Philadelphia. The passport services add to the Free Library system’s robust offerings for new Americans, which include English-as-a-Second-Language classes, travel and foreign-language materials, online Citizenship Test preparation resources, online language tutorials for over 70 languages, and more. In February, Northeast Regional Library hosted an Immigration Resource Fair that highlighted these resources as well as employment and housing information.
Convenient access to passport services is more important than ever to Pennsylvanians. In accordance with the REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2005, beginning January 22, 2018 Pennsylvania residents who do not get a new REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identity card will be required to use a passport book or passport card, or other federally approved form of identification, for domestic air travel. Current Pennsylvania drivers’ licenses and ID cards do not meet the requirements of the REAL ID Act. In addition, the State Department expects 10 million more passport applications in 2017 and 2018 than in the previous two years. To prepare for this increase, it has been opening more passport agencies and counters.
The Northeast Regional Library Passport Office only handles applications for new passports. Those needing to renew a passport should visit the U.S. State Department’s website: travel.state.gov/passport/renew/renew_836.html. The Passport Office accepts money orders or personal checks; it does not accept cash. Costs for the available services are set by the State Department:
- $110 for 4–6 week passport delivery (check payable to U.S. Department of State)
- $170 for expedited passport delivery (check payable to U.S. Department of State)
- $25 processing fee (check payable to Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation)
- $10 photo fee, if necessary (check payable to Free Library of Philadelphia Trustees)
For more information about the services available at the Northeast Regional Library’s Passport Office, visit freelibrary.org/passports or call 215-725-1740.
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The Free Library of Philadelphia system, with 54 locations and the Rosenbach, advances literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity with millions of digital and physical materials; 25,000 yearly programs and workshops; free public computers and extensive Wi-Fi, including neighborhood Hotspots; and rich special collections, including those at Parkway Central Library and at the Rosenbach. With more than 6 million in-person visits and millions more online annually, the Free Library and the Rosenbach are among the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia and boast a worldwide impact.
07/06/2017
Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850