Travel misinformation

That blood test is hard, I studied for a week and barely passed

I know just keep studying or.no passport.for you.next time.. Did they hand you the passport.at the library??

But then, how many things happening now would you have thought would come to fruition a year ago? DNA test to make sure your birth certificate matches your genetic gender? Or other factors? Maybe not so farfetched.

Ummmmmm, misinformation? OK..the blood draw isn’t true but the library in part is:

“Use this site to find the nearest acceptance facility where you can submit your U.S. passport application. Acceptance facilities include post offices, clerks of court, public libraries, and other local government offices which accept passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. Search for facilities by zip code, state, or state/city. You can also find facilities which offer on-site photo services.” US State Dept Website

https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

It's my policy not to listen in on other's conversations. I'd be missing context and it's none of my business.

Oh Gail! So funny! Where are the passports filed? Travel section? Self-help section? Science section related the blood work?

And sometimes you can’t help overhearing others’ conversations!

… So a urine sample is no longer required?

Said you need to go to the main library or the main post office.

Oh Gail! So funny! Where are the passports filed? Travel section?...

As pointed out by margie -

Use this site to find the nearest acceptance facility where you can submit your U.S. passport application. Acceptance facilities include post offices, clerks of court, public libraries, and other local government offices which accept passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. Search for facilities by zip code, state, or state/city. You can also find facilities which offer on-site photo services.

So what was the misinformation? The Easttown library at 18 miles from Downingtown, Adamstown library at 35 miles away and Bensalem 50 miles away, each offer passport services, all three with passport photo taken on site.

A Fee of $150 is high when the actual fee is $130. Not something I'm getting upset about, I'd consider it a rounding error.

So the big misinformation is about the need for and probably the cost of a blood test. For some visas, it has historically been necessary for the applicant to get medical exams, TB or VD tests. Not something im getting bothered about.

Not something outrageous and hopefully the receiver of advise does consult their local library and get the proper help they need. Again I'm staying out of other folks' conversation. But as an experienced traveler with all the expertise, imagine the help you could have been providing with some kind and polite suggestions.

I can’t help but smile at the fact that a post about misinformation contains misinformation itself.

Is that common in many places? Libraries around here dont provide any such services. They might have the forms but are not deputized to deal with applications. Even at the main post offices, only certain people are authorized to accept applications. So I would have believed that was misinformation too.

Is that common in many places? Libraries around here dont provide any such services...

It is. Not knowing where you live and not asking, have you looked? You can check at this link - https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

Within 25 miles of where I live there are three public libraries that offer Passport Acceptance, one of those being the Charles City County library. A very rural county of only 6,600 residents just west of where I live.

Stan it’s becoming more common. So no this is not “misinformation.
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2011/02/01/running-a-passport-acceptance-facility-at-your-library/

https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

This is interesting! I had also never heard of libraries doing this, so out of curiousity, I went to the state dept website above. In my state, there are no libraries within 250 miles of me that do anything with passports. Only post offices, and in some rural areas, the county courthouses. In my county there are only a few post offices that do - most do not. And the few that do require an appointment. (Which I already knew - people here know that you have to go to the designated P.O. for passport stuff).

But in the next neighboring state to me there are many libraries, as well as post offices, that are listed.

Looks like it varies a lot from state to state.