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Town processes passports for busy world travelers
By Nathan R. Huff
The Los Gatos Town Clerk's office is getting people out of the country at a faster rate than ever before. The town's passport service has long since passed the trial period and become a permanent benefit for area residents.
When the town first became an official passport acceptance agency in March 1998, it was one of only three municipal clerks' offices in California to offer the service. Now, Scotts Valley, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County are among many local government offices that have jumped on the passport bandwagon.
Despite the increase in area passport agencies, Los Gatos Town Clerk Marian Cosgrove and deputy town clerk MarLyn Rasmussen are busier than ever helping people legalize their overseas travel.
"We started out with about six or seven a day, then 10 to 12, now we're up to 15 to 20 passports a day," said Cosgrove, who estimates about 75 percent of applicants are Los Gatans. The Town Council approved the service in 1998, after Cosgrove, Rasmussen and former deputy clerk Cathleen Bruhn all took state-certification classes in passport processing. Since the service was started, the town has added one part-time employee and may add another to help deal with the increased workload.
The town makes $15 per passport application, most of which is spent on the administrative costs associated with processing. Cosgrove said the town makes virtually no money off the service. The total cost for an adult passport is $62 dollars, $2 of which is used for postage and $45 to the U.S. Passport Agency. Passports usually take around seven weeks to arrive, but for an extra $35, eager travelers can get theirs in two weeks.
The town still prefers that people make appointments, which allows the clerk's office to explain all the documents applicants need to bring in before they arrive. If prepared, the whole process takes about 10 minutes, usually a lot less time than waiting in the line at San Jose's Meridian post office.
Appointments may be made Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Instructions are available at the clerk's office, located in the town's civic center at 110 East Main St. Call 408.354.6834 for information.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
