With the coronavirus pandemic waning, Americans are back to traveling internationally in a big way – and unfortunately, that means a longer waiting time for passports.
According to NPR, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed there is an “unprecedented demand” for passports, with the U.S. State Department fielding a half million passport applications a week.
“That’s 30 to 40% above last year, so it’s dramatic,” Blinken said.
In 2022, the State Department issued a record 22 million passports, and 2023 is on track to break that record, NPR reports.
Currently, the standard processing time is 10 – 13 weeks. Expedited applications take 7 to 9 weeks, and neither includes mailing time, which can take up to two weeks each way.
The message from the State Department is loud and clear. If you plan on traveling internationally this summer, you need to get that passport application in ASAP.
“Processing times fluctuate throughout the year depending on demand and we anticipate that they will rise, especially as we approach the busier travel season,” the State Department said in a press release.
