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The US Department of State advises people intending to travel abroad that passport processing times delays continue and could last until the end of the year.
“We are working hard to return to our pre-pandemic processing times by the end of the 2023 calendar year.… We will update our website with current processing times as we move toward this goal,” a State Department spokesperson told CNN.
For this summer, users could see their trips frustrated because, to obtain the document, the issuance process would take up to 6 monthsThis is due to the great demand for the document, which reached 400,000 requests per week.
“We are focused on hiring, training and retaining staff to address the current increase in demand. We have increased staffing levels and have hundreds of additional employees in the hiring process,” the spokesperson told CNN.
As recently as March of this year, the State Department noted that passport applications had increased between 30% and 40% compared to 2022while secretary Anthony Blinken said the demand for this document was “unprecedented” with 500,000 requested per week.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, it could take an American user between two and three weeks to obtain their documentbut it was in March 2023 that routine processing for new passports went from 10 to 13 weeks, while expedited processing, where an extra $60 is requested, went from 7 to 9 weeks.
“We understand that some customers face long wait times. when they call the National Passport Information Center and we are taking steps to improve the experience. We encourage customers who have already applied to check the status of their application online and sign up to receive email updates. How our contact center can help you depends on the date of your traveland if you have applied or have not yet applied”, reads the Department of State page in the Office of Consular Affairs section.
The Department of State advises users who plan to travel abroad to process their passport in advance and keep in mind that there are four times available for issuance, which are: Routine, Expedited, Urgent Travel, and Emergency.
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