The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in San José invites U.S. citizens, residents and tourists, living in the Nicoya Peninsula to two Town Hall meetings.

For residents in Montezuma Beach in Cobano Canton, the meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Sano Banano Hotel in Montezuma downtown.

For those living on the beaches of Mal Pais, Santa Teresa and Manzanillo in Cobano Canton, the meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Salón Comunal de Manzanillo (or the Manzanillo Community Hall) in Manzanillo downtown.

The embassy stated that the meeting's primary objective is to engage in open conversations regarding topics of interest or concern.

Additionally, passport renewal services will be provided.

Those interested in renewing their passport should bring an already printed fully completed application, a 2-inch x 2-inch / 5x5 cm photo for each passport application, the pay.gov receipt, as well as their passport and copies of the original documentation, such as birth certificates, and ID cards. Printing will not be available on-site. The adult passport renewal (DS-82) forms can be reached on cr.usembassy.gov website.

In general, children under 16 require both parents to sign a passport renewal application and be present at the time the passport renewal application is submitted. The original birth certificate must be provided as well as a photocopy.

Minors aged 16 and older only require one parent to sign a passport application. The original birth certificate must be provided as well as a photocopy.  The minors under the age of 16 passport renewal (DS-11)forms can be reached on cr.usembassy.gov website.

If a passport gets stolen, lost, or damaged, the applicant must schedule an interview at the embassy by emailing ACSSanJose@state.gov  or visiting the embassy website, since the staff participating in these meetings will not be able to accept the application, the embassy advised.

"Payment for services must be made through Pay.Gov, no on-site payments can be collected," they added.

The correct amount must be paid for the service, as collections are not permitted during the event. If any payment discrepancies arise or the application requires further information, the application may be denied, and/or the applicant may be required to visit the embassy for a formal interview.

The links to Pay.Gov for passport renewal services are listed below.

• In the case of adult passport renewal, the cost is $130 and the document link is DS-82 U.S. Passport Renewal Application Fee Payment Form.

• For younger minors under the age of 16, the passport renewal cost is $135 and the file link is Form DS-11 Passport Application Fee.

• For a first adult passport or minors over the age of 16 and older, the cost is $165  the document's link is on Form DS-11 Passport Application Fee.

As there is only a limited capacity for the meeting, those who would like to attend should email scssanjose@state.gov to confirm their participation.

The Nicoya Peninsula Town Hall is one of the meetings organized by the embassy throughout the country.  Recently, the Consular Section had meetings in Alajuela, Guanacaste and Puntarenas.