CARIBOU, Maine — To make it easier to apply for a U.S. passport, the Caribou Post Office is hosting a Passport Week with extended hours, which began yesterday, Feb. 16, and will run through Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.
Caribou Postmaster Lisa Cantafio said, “With routine passport processing times of four to six weeks, it’s never too early to start planning for that out-of-country trip. And we’re here to help.” She cited USPS.com as an excellent resource for getting passport paperwork and locating other acceptance facilities across the nation.
Strong travel demand from the U.S. propelled 20 million American tourists abroad through the first four months of 2015. According to the World Tourism Organization, that’s 7 percent more than that period the prior year — and the Postal Service is ready to prepare travelers for such future excursions, the postmaster said.
Those interested may stop by the Caribou Post Office at 41 Sweden St. between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. through Friday or 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. No appointment is necessary. Postal clerks can even take passport photos if customers do not have their own.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations, Cantafio added.
