Traveling outside the country in less than 14 days and don't have a passport?

Never fear, you master or mistress of procrastination. A new local passport office for last-minute-dashing people is here to bail you out.

The Minneapolis Passport Agency, located in the old federal building at 212 Third Av. S. in downtown Minneapolis, is there for those who need to travel out of the United States in two weeks or less.

There are a couple of things you should know:

One, it is only for those who are traveling in less than two weeks and lack a valid or up-to-date passport.

And, two, you must make an appointment and visit the office in person.

If you are not traveling within 14 days -- or do not need a foreign visa -- you are encouraged to visit your local passport acceptance facility. Often, that is your neighborhood post office or another local government office. To find the facilities nearest you, go to iafdb.travel.state.gov/DefaultForm.aspx.

Travelers who are truly pressed for time, however, may find that the Minneapolis Passport Agency is just the ticket. The agency takes appointments on Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Tuesdays, the hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To make an appointment, call: 1-877-487-2778.

The office is closed on federal holidays and can be closed because of inclement weather. This is Minnesota, after all.

There is no cost to make an appointment at a passport agency, though there are fees for the passport itself.

To help spread the word about the Minneapolis agency, and to just help people get their passports, the agency is hosting Passport Day in the USA from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Staff will be on hand to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications.

For more information on how to obtain a U.S. passport, go to travel.state.gov.

James Walsh • 612-673-7428