As millions of Americans prepare to pack their bags for international summer travel, there are some important travel reminders to keep in mind during the passport renewal process, which has become very lengthy for many.
“The State Department is committed to providing the best possible service to our passport customers,” the department said in a March 24 statement. “We encourage all Americans to check their passports and renew them immediately if they plan to travel internationally this year.” ”
What to Know About Current Passport Delays
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department has seen an “unprecedented demand for passports” as more and more Americans travel abroad.
In 2022, a record 22 million passports were processed, and the State Department says it is on track to break that record again this fiscal year. To date, the State Department is receiving more than 500,000 passport applications per week, 30 to 40 percent more than the average for the same period last year.
This undated stock photo shows a stack of U.S. passports.
Earlier this month, the department updated its processing times to 10-13 weeks for regular processing and 7-9 weeks for expedited processing. These times are calculated from the time they are received and do not include additional mailing time.
The department also increased staffing levels, adding hundreds of new employees to help maximize efficiency with existing staff working overtime. The department then increased the number of lines and staff at the National Passport Information Center to help handle the influx of calls.
Travel expert and going.com spokesperson Katy Nastro told Good Morning America, “Passport wait times have increased not once, but twice since February of this year.”
Tips for Americans applying or renewing their passports
With a large backlog of passport applications waiting to be processed, the State Department offers some helpful tips to ensure some relief in the face of high demand:
Before making any definite plans for international travel this year, check the expiration date of your passport and act early if it needs to be renewed or if a traveler needs to apply for a passport for the first time.
Adults applying for the first time and children under 16 must apply in person with a parent. Go online to find passport acceptance facilities, which may include public libraries and post offices.
Find out the immigration requirements for the country/region you are scheduled to visit. For more detailed information and tips on this particular topic, see below.
The Department of State website has more information on applications and how to check the status of pending passport applications.
Online here Use the traveler checklist provided by the Department of State, which includes country-specific information for each country/region as well as travel advisories and other information about changing health or security conditions.
The Department also encourages U.S. travelers to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive security updates via email while overseas.
How to expedite passport processing
Photo: The U.S. State Department building is seen in Washington, D.C., on March 14, 2023. celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The U.S. Department of State building is seen in Washington, D.C., on March 14, 2023.
If you need a passport faster than you first thought, the State Department has additional resources to help speed things up.
For an additional $60, you can upgrade your application from regular processing to expedited processing, which can reduce the estimated wait time to seven to nine weeks.
“If you need your passport sooner than expected and you haven’t applied for expedited service – you can actually call the agency retroactively to see if it can be expedited,” Nastro explains.
You also have the option of paying an additional $19.53 to add one- or two-day delivery for a completed passport book. Passport cards are not available for one- to two-day delivery; they can only be sent via First Class Mail.
Even if your passport application was completed in person or by mail, you can call the National Passport Information Center directly to request an upgrade to the type of service you are applying for. To do so, you will need to provide your application number or last name, date of birth, and a credit card to cover the $60 expedited fee.
For those renewing online, log into your MyTravelGov account and upgrade to expedited service, or pay the one or two day delivery service fee to have your complete passport book delivered. You can pay for these additional services in your account until your application is approved.
Passport validity requirements for different destinations
Photo: A passenger hands his passport to an airline agent during check-in at the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Dec. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles, amid a surge in Omicron variant cases. Mario Tama/Getty Images
A traveler hands his passport to an airline agent during check-in at the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) amid a surge in Omicron variant cases in Los Angeles, December 21, 2021.
Some countries also require travelers’ passports to be valid for three to six months anywhere after the intended travel date or you will not be allowed to enter the country/region.
Countries that require passports valid for at least six months for entry include mainland China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Turkey.
Other countries may require U.S. passports to be valid for a different period of entry. For example, the Schengen Area, which includes 27 European countries, does not require U.S. visitors to have a visa, but typically requires Americans to have a passport valid for three months beyond the scheduled departure date.
The U.S. Department of State notes that some airlines will also bar you from boarding if you do not meet the passport validity requirement.
Delta is one of the airlines that complies with the six-month rule for international travel.
“In general, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the planned duration of your stay abroad,” a statement on Delta’s website reads. “In addition, be sure to check if you need a visa to visit your destination country. Please review all international destination entry requirements.”
