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Passports

U.S. Passport assistance is available during designated hours at the Saline County Library Benton and Bryant locations. Appointments are strongly encouraged. Walk-ins are not guaranteed immediate assistance and may have longer wait times or even no availability that day.

To schedule an appointment at the Benton or Bryant locations, fill out the Passport Application Request Form, and we will get back to you by email to confirm or deny your appointment.

Alternatively, to make an appointment in Benton call (501) 778-4766 or to make an appointment in Bryant call (501) 847-2166

Current Processing Times for U.S. Passport Applications (applied on or after October 2, 2023)

Routine4 to 6 Weeks
Expedited2 to 3 Weeks (an extra $60 fee)
Expedited at Agency*Must have international travel within 14 calendar days

For the most up-to-date processing times visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html.

U.S. passport application processing times only include the time your application is at one of the passport agencies or centers. Mailing items are not included in processing times. The total time to get your passport includes both processing and mailing times.

It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive by mail at a passport processing agency or center, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport in the mail after it is printed.

Consider the total time it will take to receive your passport when you are booking travel.

Passport FAQ's

You can apply for a U.S. passport at either library location. To apply, you must fill out the DS-11, bring in an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, show your driver’s license or state-issued ID, and pay with check or money order. See the U.S. Department of State’s website for detailed information. Library passport office hours are different than library operating hours.

To schedule an appointment at the Benton or Bryant locations, fill out the Passport Application Request Form, and we will get back to you by email to confirm or deny your appointment.

We prefer that you make an appointment for passport assistance for either location so we can insure that a passport agent is available, but we do accept walk-ins in Benton. You can make an appointment for our Benton location by calling (501) 778-4766 or Bryant at (501) 847-2166. To receive passport assistance in Bryant, appointments are required.

Passport appointments are required on Saturdays.

Passport photos can be taken at the library and cost $10.00. Please allow extra time for young children.

There are two separate fees. You will need to pay the fees separately. The State Department doesn’t take credit/debit cards. Only photo fees may be paid with a credit/debit card.

To calculate your fees, use this link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/fees.html

Fees Paid to the U.S. Department of State

The application fee is dependent on a number of factors—age, type of passport, and whether you need any additional services.

If you need your passport in a hurry, there could be a fee to expedite the application and/or a delivery fee.

For these fees we accept:

  • Checks (personal, certified, cashier’s, traveler’s) (payable to “U.S. Department of State”)
  • Money orders (payable to “U.S. Department of State”)

*Credit and debit cards CANNOT be accepted for Department of State Fees*

Fees Paid to the Saline County Library

The execution fee is $35 and paid separately to the Saline County Library. If you need a passport photo, the library can provide one. The cost is $10.

We (the Saline County Library) accept the following for photo fees:

  • Money orders (payable to “Saline County Library”)
  • Personal checks and cash (payable to “Saline County Library”)
  • Credit cards

We (the Saline County Library) accept the following for execution fees:

  • Money orders (payable to “Saline County Library”)
  • Personal checks and cash (payable to “Saline County Library”)

Due to COVID-19, there are some updates to processing times.

What to expect: 

  • Mail delays are impacting when the U.S. Department of State is receiving passport applications for processing. Their processing times begin the day they receive your application, not the day you apply/mail it
  • Routine service can take up to 18 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 18-week timeframe includes up to 12 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
  • Expedite service (for an additional $60) can take up to 12 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. The 12-week timeframe includes up to 6 weeks for processing and up to 6 weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.

Our processing times (up to 12 weeks for routine; up to 6 weeks for expedite) do not include mailing times. Mail times vary and delays have been significant. Plan ahead:

We suggest you:

  • Send your application to the U.S. Department of State via trackable mail, so you can track your application before it enters their system. This can be done whether applying at an acceptance facility or by mail.
  • Pay an extra $17.56 for 1-2 day delivery for the return of your completed passport.

More about Status Updates: It may take up to 6 weeks from the day you submit your application until your status is “In Process.” During these 6 weeks, your application is delivered to a mail facility, your payment is processed, and your application is entered into the system. Even if your passport status update says, “Not Available,” your application and supporting documents are safely on their way to the U.S. Department of State. Check online for your passport status.

Use Self-Service Tools Online: The U.S. Department of State call center is experiencing extremely high call volumes with longer-than-usual wait times. You can get your questions answered immediately by using one of the self-service tools available on the U.S. Department of State website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What you see online is the same information that call center representatives can share with you by phone.

Planning to Travel? Apply Early! Apply at least six months before planned travel. Due to limited availability for urgent travel appointments, we cannot guarantee you can receive in-person service at a passport agency or center. We are prioritizing customers with life-or-death emergencies. Visit the Passport Agency and Center page to learn more.

The passport offices are closed any time the library is closed. This includes Sundays and observed holidays. To view a list of observed holidays, visit our hours & locations page.

Benton:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Bryant:

Monday: 9:00 AM -11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM -11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM -11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM -11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM -11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM -11:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Applicants who have been married more than once must fill out the Previous Marriage Info Form and bring it with them to their passport assistance appointment.

  • Completed Form DS-11
    • https://pptform.state.gov/ (this is the link to the form filler tool so that they can fill it out online and bring it with them or print at the library)
  • Proof of U.S. Citizenship
    • U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements:
      • Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
      • Lists your full name, date of birth, and place of birth
      • Lists your parent(s)’ full names
      • Has the date filed with registrar’s office (must be within one year of birth)
      • Has the registrar’s signature
      • Has the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state which issued it
    • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
    • Certificate of Naturalization
    • Certificate of Citizenship
    • Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport
      • Full validity means the document is or was valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.
  • Current government-issued phot ID
    • In-state, fully valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
    • Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
    • Certificate of Naturalization
    • Certificate of Citizenship
    • Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
    • U.S. military or military dependent ID
    • Current (valid) foreign passport
    • Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
    • U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
    • Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
    • Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
    • Note: you may need to show another ID when presenting one of these documents:
      • In-state, fully-valid learner’s permit with photo,
      • In-state, fully-valid non-driver ID with photo,
      • Temporary driver’s license with photo, or
      • Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
  • A personal check or money order for the passport fee made payable to U.S. Department of State
  • Acceptance fee of $35.00 for each application
  • Passport phot fee of $10.00 (if applicable)