TOLEDO CHRONICLE – The Tama County Recorder’s Office is hosting a special passport event in Toledo, Iowa on Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. to provide passport information to U.S.citizens and to accept passport applications. The Tama County Recorder’s Office is joining the Department of State in celebrating Passport Day in the USA 2011, a national passport acceptance and outreach event.

U,S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S, government.

Information on the cost and how to apply for a U.S. passport is available at travel.state.gov, or by calling the Tama County Recorder’s Office at 641-484-3320.

U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone, in English and Spanish, by e-mailing the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

In order to apply for a passport at the Recorder’s Office, a U.S. citizen must bring a cenified birth certificate or naturalization certificate, photo ID (driver’s license), fill out an application(applications available at the Recorder’s Office), and take a picture (can also bring a passport-approved picture), It takes approximately 4-6 weeks to receive your passport in the mail.