County lowers passport photo fees for awareness event

• Woodbury license center

The county license center in Woodbury is one place residents can get passports. Staff photo by Hank Long

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Are you ready for the upcoming holiday? No, not Easter, but "Passport Day in the USA."

On Saturday, March 28, many licensing centers across the country are participating in a national passport event to provide passport information in preparation of June 1, 2009, when U.S. citizens must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico via land and seaport entries.

Washington County commissioners voted Tuesday, March 17 to approve a resolution to recognize the national event that aims to educate citizens on the upcoming passport changes.

As a result, the county licensing centers will have extended hours (from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) on Saturday, March 28 and will reduce the fee for obtaining a passport photo from $15 to $5 on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28.

County licensing centers open on Saturdays are located in Woodbury, Forest Lake and Stillwater.

Only passport services will be provided during the extended hours on Saturday, March 28 (from noon to 3 p.m.).

For information on county licensing center locations, go to www.co.washington.mn.us/info_for_residents/ and click on "Passports" under the header "Service and License Centers."

Tags: news, county, passport, licensing, woodbury, stillwater