A rare passport fair is coming to Durham, just after REAL ID changes
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- NCCU will host a two-day passport fair March 9–10; no appointment needed.
- Bring completed application, photo, proof of citizenship and other documents
- Passport fairs cut down on some wait times for residents.
It’s time to stop putting off getting your passport.
An upcoming two-day, no-appointment passport fair is coming to the North Carolina Central University Passport Office on Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The office is located in NCCU’s A.E. Student Union, 511 Nelson St., Durham, in room G-32, next to the mail center.
Passports aren’t issued the same-day, but applying at the fair cuts down on the total time its takes to get a passport back.
A passport is one of the alternatives you can use at airports if you don’t have a REAL ID. On Sunday, Feb. 1, the Transportation Security Administration began enforcing its federal identification standards with a $45 fee and longer wait times for people who don’t have the proper ID, The News & Observer previously reported. The TSA announced the system in early December and began enforcing the fee at RDU and airports nationwide this month.
Do I need an appointment?
No appointment is needed, and the event is open to the public.
What do I need to bring?
You’ll still need to bring the proper documentation to the passport fair.
The following documents are required:
- A completed passport application (called a Form DS-11)
- A 2 by 2 inch color photo with a white or off-white background taken within the last six months
- Proof of citizenship, which can include a U.S. birth certificate with the full names of both parents, an expired Passport, a certificate of naturalization, a certificate of citizenship or a consular report of birth abroad.
- Proof of identification, which can include a driver’s license or official military identification card. The ID needs to have a photo or physical description and signature.
- Applicants who have changed their name need to provide a marriage license or a court order.
How much does it cost?
Application fees still apply during the passport fair.
It’s cheaper to get a passport card at $30, which allows for land and sea entry into Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries, but it can’t be used for international air travel.
A passport book can be used for international air, land and see travel, and costs $130 for adults and $100 for children under the age of 16.
The application fees must be made by check or money order, made out to the U.S. Department of State.
There is also a separate $35 fee that can be paid by check, money order, credit card or cash that’s made out the NCCU Passport Services.
Richard Stradling contributed to this report. Portions of this story were previously published in The News & Observer.
