SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter reminds residents who intend to travel internationally during the upcoming holiday season to apply as soon as they can for new or replacement passports. The Clerk’s office at 20 Grove Street in Somerville, NJ is a passport acceptance agency that can help residents fully complete applications, ensure all documentation is present and up-to-date, and even take a passport photo for those who don’t have one.
“Somerset County’s residents love to travel, and my office is here to make international travel for business, vacations, or to see loved ones a little easier,” said Clerk Peter. “The passport process is a little confusing, and once the State Department gets the paperwork it can take as much as three months to complete. If you are traveling overseas, make an appointment today.”

While walk-ins are accepted at the Clerk’s office, this can significantly increase wait times for service. It is highly recommended that applicants visit https://soconj.gov/passports to schedule an appointment, especially if they will require a photo or are obtaining passports for children.

The Somerset County Clerk’s office is a passport acceptance agency, but does not process or approve passports. That role is filled by the United States State Department, and all inquiries after applying must be made by the applicant to the State Department. Approximately two weeks after visiting our office, applicants can start tracking their passport’s progress on the Department of State’s site at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/status.html.

The State Department reports that normal passport applications are currently taking 10 to 13 weeks to complete, and even passport applications expedited with an additional $60 fee can take seven to nine weeks. State notes that these timeframes don’t include time that the application or passport are being transported by the United States Postal Service