New Mexico residents are rushing to get passports before driver's licenses are no longer accepted at federal facilities next year.
The U.S. Postal Service tells KOAT-TV that the earliest available appointment to apply for a passport at an Albuquerque post office is Feb. 4.
USPS officials say hundreds of residents have made appointments since October.
A passport fair this weekend hosted by the Postal Service to help people sign up is already full.
USPS spokesman Peter Hass says there will likely be more.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently denied New Mexico an extension from tougher federal requirements on state driver's licenses under the REAL ID Act.
New Mexico driver's licenses and IDs won't be valid for federal purposes such as entering military bases starting Jan. 10.
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Information from: KOAT-TV, http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/index.html
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