As a surge in passport applications continues to lengthen processing times nationwide, officials are still urging travelers to start early when renewing or applying for passports to avoid potential problems.
More Americans have passports than at any time before – 46% today versus 30% in 2008 – and the State Department anticipates the increased demand for the documents will continue, department spokesman Christopher Ashcraft said.
“U.S. citizens are returning to international travel and connecting with the world in droves,” he said.
“(And) as more Americans are traveling internationally again, we continue seeing unprecedented demand for passports,” he said. “In fiscal year 2022, we issued nearly 22 million passports – more than ever before – and we are on track to break that record again for 2023.”
For comparison, there were 4.2 million passports processed in 1993, 7.3 million in 2003, 13.5 million in 2013 and 21.1 million in 2018.
“During some weeks (this year) we are seeing twice as many applications pending compared to the same point in fiscal year 2022,” Ashcraft said.
Officials are attributing the increase in part to a post-pandemic desire to travel by many Americans.
From January through May 2023 the department was receiving more than 500,000 applications a week, and is still getting about 400,000 weekly, Ashcraft said.
As a result, processing times are 10 to 13 weeks for routine applications and seven to nine weeks for expedited processing, which costs an additional $60. Those processing times do not include mailing times, which can add several weeks.
“While processing times can vary based on the seasonality of demand, we are committed to returning to our pre-pandemic processing times of two to three weeks for expedited cases and six to eight weeks for routine passport processing by the end of calendar year 2023,” Ashcraft said.
To do so, the department is increasing hiring and training, authorizing overtime, and investing in automation and other technologies. It is also working to improve its communications with the public so U.S. citizens apply earlier and understand the passport application process.
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Chester County Democrat who represents part of Berks County, has been among the legislators in recent years who have signed letters encouraging the State Department to speed up passport processing and reduce the backlog.
Her offices in Reading, West Chester and Washington, D.C., all help with intaking passport requests, and this year have been getting dozens of requests for help each week from constituents needing to receive their passports more quickly due to emergencies.
While passport help until recently was not among the top five service requests in Houlahan’s offices, it currently is number one, surpassing things like helping with the IRS and Veterans Affairs.
Her offices have closed about 500 passport applications this year, with another 100 in process, she said.
While her offices are there to provide that type of assistance, Houlahan said, those emergency requests should be reserved for the most dire circumstances so that those really needing the help – such as those wanting to attend the funeral of a loved one overseas – can get it.
Victoria Drzymala, constituent advocate for Houlahan, advised applying earlier for your passports than you think you’ll need them and therefore hopefully avoiding the need for expedited processing.
The State Department is giving similar advice, encouraging all Americans to check their passport renewal dates and start the process early if their expiration date is approaching, Ashcraft said.
That is especially important if they might be planning international travel anytime soon, he said.
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Luzerne County Republican who represents much of Berks, said his offices also have experienced an influx of requests from constituents seeking help expediting their passport applications.
“This comes as a result of many tourist destinations now requiring U.S. citizens to have at least six months of validity left on their passports in order to travel, a requirement of which many are unaware,” he said in a release.
Europe’s 27 Schengen Area countries, which include France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Greece, strictly enforce the six-month validity rule, he said. This means you could be denied entry to a country you are visiting even if your passport is not expired.
He said his office has successfully handled hundreds of emergency passport cases this year, but cannot guarantee that outcome.
Meuser therefore has added a dedicated “passport” section on his website at meuser.house.gov/services/passports to help people understand the rules.
