| Press Statement Richard Boucher Washington, DC November 1, 2001 Question Taken at November 1, 2001 Daily Press Briefing Passport Processing at Domestic AgenciesQ: What is the situation at the domestic U.S. passport agencies as regards mail intake and the processing of applications? A: WE HAVE CHECKED WITH THE SIXTEEN DOMESTIC PASSPORT AGENCIES.
ALL BUT THE WASHINGTON, DC, AGENCY ARE ACCEPTING MAIL AND PROCESSING APPLICATIONS BY MAIL. THE WASHINGTON AGENCY IS HANDLING A LIMITED NUMBER OF CASES FROM PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR APPLICATIONS IN PERSON. THREE AGENCIES (BOSTON, LOS ANGELES AND NEW ORLEANS) ARE NOT OPENING MAIL THAT COMES FROM WASHINGTON FACILITIES, BUT FEW APPLICATIONS COME FROM THIS CHANNEL.
THE SPECIAL ISSUANCE AGENCY, LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, DC, IS A SEPARATE PASSPORT AGENCY THAT ISSUES OFFICIAL AND DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS AGENCY WOULD RECEIVE MAIL FROM BOTH THE BRENTWOOD POSTAL FACILITY AND STATE ANNEX 32 (SA-32). AT THIS TIME, THE AGENCY IS NOT TAKING MAIL FROM EITHER OF THESE LOCATIONS. OTHER APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED. EMPLOYEES AT ALL SIXTEEN AGENCIES ARE TAKING APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS IN DEALING WITH THE MAIL.
THE SIXTEEN PASSPORT AGENCIES ARE: BOSTON, CHARLESTON (SC), CHICAGO, CONNECTICUT, HONOLULU, HOUSTON, LOS ANGELES, MIAMI, NEW ORLEANS, NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, PORTSMOUTH (NH), SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, THE SPECIAL ISSUANCE AGENCY, AND WASHINGTON. |
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