The Thurston County Auditor’s Office received a perfect score in its U.S. Department of State’s Office of Acceptance Facility Oversight (AFO) inspection, demonstrating flawless compliance in its passport operations.
During the comprehensive federal review earlier this year, an inspector evaluated the office’s ability to protect the integrity of the passport issuance process.
The AFO assessed 51 specific criteria, including acceptance procedures, information security, and training records.
The office met every federal requirement, and inspectors identified no non-compliant items, Thurston County announced Wednesday.
“I am incredibly proud of our passport team’s proficiency during this federal review,” said Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall. “This achievement reflects our commitment to providing secure, honest, and excellent service to our residents, even as demand for these services grows.”
Thurston County said this latest achievement continues a strong trend for the auditor's office after it successfully cleared federal inspection in 2024.
The perfect audit follows a period of significant growth for the office, Thurston County said in a news release.
Passport application volume surged 62.7% recently, rising from 4,321 applications in 2024 to 7,031 in 2025. Despite this influx, federal analysts praised the office's “strong organization” and raised no concerns regarding information security or the protection of customers' personally identifiable information.
The report also highlighted staff proficiency, noting that agents answered all interview questions effectively and demonstrated expertise in handling complex scenarios, such as minor applications and identity verification.
The AFO further recognized the facility for its best practices, such as maintaining a bassinet for minor photographs and offering walk-in services when time permits.
“By maintaining these high standards, the auditor’s office ensures that staff handle sensitive identity documents with maximum security This protects residents from fraud and ensures the accurate, efficient processing of their applications,” Thurston County said in a news release.
Passport services are available at the Thurston County Auditor’s Office, located at 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information on passport services is available at ThurstonAuditor.gov
