PORT ANGELES — As the June 1 deadline approaches to have a passport or other approved identification — such as an enhanced identification card — to re-enter the United States at land and sea ports nears, the Clallam County Auditor’s Office is getting a little more busy.
“We are experiencing an increase,” said Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand.
So far this year, the Auditor’s Office has received 347 passport applications. Although the number of passport applications the Auditor’s Office has received this year is comparable to what it received on average for every four months, Rosand said the number of people filing applications has visibly increased recently.
The Auditor’s Office is one of three locations in Clallam County that file passport applications.
The other two are the Sequim City Hall, 152 W. Cedar St., and the U.S. Post Office at 424 E. First St. in Port Angeles.
The current wait time for receiving a passport or a passport card is four to six weeks, and that may change as the deadline gets closer.
“[People] should get here early if they’d like to go to Canada this summer,” Rosand said.
People who pay extra can receive a passport in two to three weeks.
Applications for enhanced identification cards such as an enhanced driver’s license can be filed at the state Department of Licensing office at 228 W. First St. in Port Angeles. The DOL office in Forks does not handle those applications.
Other forms of identification that will be acceptable at land and sea ports after June 1 are:
• A trusted traveler program card such as NEXUS.
• Military identification with official travel orders.
• A U.S. merchant mariner document.
A passport card — which can only be used to re-enter the United States through land and sea ports — can be received by filling out the same application for a passport. The card, available since July 14, is wallet-sized and less expensive than a passport.
Passports are already needed to re-enter the United States through airports.
A passport costs $100 for adults and $85 for children under the age of 16.
A passport card costs $45 for adults and $35 for children under the age of 16.
Getting a passport within two to three weeks after filing an application will cost an extra $60. Overnight delivery will cost an additional $14.85.
Updating a valid Washington state driver’s license or other identification card to the enhanced version costs $15. For those people without identification cards or with out-of-state identification cards, getting an enhanced card will cost $60.
The requirements for documentation when re-entering the United States at land and sea ports is changing due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which is part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
