New agency will help El Pasoans get emergency passports

By Alex Hinojosa/El Paso Times
Posted: 12/21/2010 02:45:28 PM MST

The U.S. Department of State expects the El Paso Passport Agency to be completed in the next three months. Its opening would make it more convenient for customers in the city to obtain emergency passports, officials said.

The El Paso Passport Agency will be housed at the Anson Mills building, 303 N. Oregon. When it is completed in March 2011, it will be the third passport agency in the state.

Once the agency is open, passport cards will be available on site for emergency or urgent travel situations such as a death in the family. Other services include the replacement of passport cards and books. Customers may also obtain additional visa pages on an expedited basis.

"In the past families had to travel to Houston, Dallas or Tucson to obtain an emergency passports," said Jacqueline Harley-Bell, regional director for passport services, South Central operations. "It was inconvenient and a long eight-hour drive for families. Now having an agency here will be more convenient and practical for those needing a passport or services in an emergency."

Read more about this story in tomorrow's El Paso Times.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_16912323