The University of Arizona Office of Global Initiatives held a passport fair yesterday at its U.S. Passport Office location on campus to give students a chance to get their passports in time for spring break travel.

The UA U.S. Passports Office is usually only open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. during week days, but it offered special hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday for people to come in and apply for a passport or renew it.

“The University of Arizona’s Office of Global Initiatives passports normally experiences a rush of applicants during Tucson Rodeo Days, when local students have a break from school,”  immigration document processor Melanie Marsh said in a press release. “In an effort to prevent long lines, the office will host a special Passport Day acceptance event.” 

          RELATED: Students have little to fear in latest government shutdown, for now

Pre-business student Arielle Hardy took advantage of the fair. Despite being from Arizona, Hardy applied for her first passport today so that she can apply for the Eller Global Cohort program. This program enables accepted students to complete their first semester of upper-division core Eller college requirements in Fortaleza, Brazil over summer. 

Elizabeth Cappel was another student who attended the fair. She went in to renew her passport as it had expired. She also thinks she might visit Mexico over summer. She said the wait time may have been an hour long, but once they were in, the process only took 15 minutes.

“It was very good, quick and convenient,” said Lois Brown, a local who is planning on taking a cruise over summer using her new passport.

Applicants were asked to bring a recent passport photo, proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, a fillable passport application and a check or money order to pay fees. 

The office hosts a passport fair annually.

Follow Zachary Ogden on Twitter