Wait times for US passports are getting shorter – just in time for winter travel!
Passportless Americans worried about delays endangering their winter gateways can rest easy knowing that processing times have decreasedThis was evident from a statement from the US Department of State on Thursday.
It’s not a myth: more than 50% of American citizens don’t have a passport. Several factors contribute to this particular situation, setting them apart from their peers in other developed countries.
Historically, domestic travel within the beautiful, vast and diverse U.S. mainland and overseas territories has been sufficient to meet the travel needs of most citizens.
But that no longer applies to younger generations, especially those drawn to digital nomadism or remote work, official data shows.
Since the end of the pandemic, the need for passports has increased again, leading to long processing times: up to thirteen weeks for standard applications and nine weeks for accelerated, but more expensive services.
Many Americans have reported that this bottleneck has forced them to cancel or postpone their travel plans, and are expressing frustration over the requirement to submit old passports for renewal. However, that is a standard practice around the world.
Today we woke up to good news. Americans who like to explore the world can now expect regular passport processing to take four to six weeks, compared to the previous six to eight weeks.
For those who need it their passport faster, the expedited service can process your travel document in two to three weeks, for an additional $60.
Please note that these new processing times do not include post times, which may disrupt the process slightly.
“It may take up to two weeks for your application to reach us, and two weeks for you to receive your passport after we have sent it by post,” warns the US Department of State.
However, the reduction in processing times is thanks to a new online passport renewal system that became available nationwide last month, after multiple rounds of beta testing.
To benefit from this service, travelers must be over 25 years old, upload a photo and pay through the platform with a debit or credit card.
Which US states have the most travel abroad?
The desire to explore abroad does not seem to appeal to all Americans equally.
According to USA Factsin 2023, New Jersey residents led the nation in passport applications, turning 766,830 people into potential international travelers – representing 8.3% of the state’s population, the highest percentage of any U.S. state.
Other states with residents who enjoy international travel include Massachusetts (7.7), Hawaii (7.6) and New York (7.5).
As of today, the US has issued 0.48 passports per resident. However, this does not mean that 48% of Americans have a passport, as citizens can own both passport books and passport cards, meaning the actual number of passport holders is smaller than it seems.
What to do if your passport is stolen, lost or damaged
If your passport is ever stolen, destroyed or lost, don’t waste your time:submit immediately DS-64 form with the US Department of State.
This report is shared in the US and The stolen/lost Interpol travel document databases, preventing offenders from abusing your stolen identity.
