Passport Applications See Massive Delays: What You Should Know

ACROSS AMERICA — Planning to travel abroad this holiday season? If so, you may want to check your passport now. If it’s expired, or if you need to apply for a new one, you could be waiting months for it to arrive in your mailbox.

The U.S. Department of State recently updated processing times for passport applications and renewals. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, you could now wait anywhere from 12 to 18 weeks — or more than four months — to receive your new passport.

Shelling out an extra $60 for expedited service might not help either. Those paying extra can still expect to wait up to 12 weeks for their document. On top of that, processing times begin the day the department receives your application, not the day you mail it.

Applications submitted now probably will not be processed until the fall, the State Department told The Associated Press.

So, what can you do? If you do your homework and plan plenty ahead of time, you can still get your new passport before you leave town.

“We really encourage folks to apply for or renew their passport at least six months ahead of when you’ll need one to avoid any of those last-minute problems,” Rachel Arndt, deputy assistant secretary of state for passport services, told the AP.

Here’s what you should know before you apply:

What Caused The Backlog

When the coronavirus was first declared a pandemic in March 2020, the State Department sent most employees home and scaled back processing applications. When some workers returned to the office in June 2020, they had a massive backlog of applications waiting for them, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.

More than a year later, they still haven’t caught up. The backlog is also growing as the number of Americans traveling increases.

On top of that, passport applicants can also count on delays courtesy of another federal agency: the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, the 18-week processing-time estimate includes up to six weeks for mailing, according to the State Department website.

What The State Department And Congress Are Doing

Last week, State Department officials said the agency is increasing its staffing by 150 people to address the backlog of up to 2 million applications, The Wall Street Journal reported. As of July 12, passport agencies in 17 cities were open at full staffing levels. Officials also plan to seek approval for another five sites to return to full capacity.

Still, officials cautioned that turnaround times wouldn’t decrease immediately.

The long processing times have drawn ire, which some have directed at members of Congress. While lawmakers have been pushing the department to fully reopen all 26 regional offices, some also wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week, urging him to address the delays.

"It is critical that the Department use all available tools to reduce extended processing times, including strategies developed to address past passport backlogs," the letter read.

The Best Way To Apply

Because of the pandemic-induced backlog, the State Department is encouraging Americans to renew passports by mail when possible. Delays are still likely though, officials told the Journal.

Travelers can renew their passport online at travel.state.gov; however, first-time applicants and those replacing a lost or stolen passport must apply in person at an acceptance facility.

The standard cost for all regular applications is $110, plus a $35 application fee.

If Applying In Person

If you need a new passport right away, the state department offers limited in-person immediate processing at its 26 regional passport agencies. Typically, this is reserved for life-or-death situations or for travel happening within three business days.

However, travelers must make an appointment for this service. Since staffing levels still aren’t back to normal in some areas, appointments have become increasingly difficult to secure. In other cases, the nearest agency with an open appointment is hundreds of miles from a person’s home.

Still, some applicants have no choice but to apply in person. Children under age 16, all first-time applicants, and applicants who have lost their passport or had their passport stolen must apply in person. In-person locations include post offices, clerks of court, libraries and local government offices.

Contact your local acceptance facility to confirm it is open before you apply. If you want to apply at a post office, you will need to make an appointment on the USPS.com website.

Checking On Your Passport Status

You can check the status of your application online or by phone, but be forewarned: There’ve been numerous reports of callers being unable to reach a live person by phone.

Check online at the Online Passport Status System. A status update may not be available for up to six weeks after you apply or renew.