Congressman Castro Announces New Planned Passport Agency in San Antonio to Help Travelers with Urgent Passport and Visa Services
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that the State Department has selected San Antonio as one of six locations for a new U.S. passport agency, following requirements Castro voted to pass as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
In a post on social media, Congressman Castro celebrated the selection as “incredible news,” citing years of work from San Antonio’s Congressional delegation to establish a local passport agency and save South Texas travelers the trip to Houston, Dallas, or other cities with existing passport agencies.
Background
The 2024 NDAA tasked the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs with providing improved in-person and emergency passport services to residents living in a significant population center more than a five-hour drive from a currently established passport agency. Today, the State Department submitted a report to Congress with a plan to establish passport agencies in San Antonio, Kansas City (Missouri), Salt Lake City, Orlando, and Charlotte. The opening dates and locations of these agencies have not yet been finalized.
Passport agencies and centers are responsible for processing applications received from acceptance facilities and by mail and serving customers by appointment only who have urgent travel to a foreign country in the next 14 calendar days or need a foreign visa in the next 28 calendar days. To learn more about services available at passport agencies and centers, click here.
Congressman Castro’s office routinely helps San Antonio constituents with passport and visa delays and other State Department issues. For more information about these services, constituents can visit www.castro.house.gov/help or call 210-348-8216.
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