State Department Announces Return to Normal Processing Times for Passport Applications

The State Department has declared that passport application processing times have reverted to standard levels after enduring prolonged backlogs. Wait times, which had stretched to 18 weeks in 2021, have now decreased to 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service. The department expressed satisfaction in fulfilling its commitment to revert to pre-pandemic benchmarks from March 2020, crediting their dedicated employees for the achievement. Earlier this year, wait times were at 8-11 weeks for routine service and 5-7 weeks for expedited service, a notable improvement from previous delays of up to 13 weeks. The surge in demand for passports was described as "unprecedented" by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who revealed that the State Department was receiving 500,000 passport applications weekly in March. This increase in demand was attributed to Americans preparing to resume travel as COVID-19 restrictions eased. The year ending in September 2022 witnessed the issuance of 22 million passports, with the subsequent fiscal year setting a new record of over 24 million passport books and cards issued. The State Department remarked that the percentage of Americans holding passports has risen from 5% in 1990 to 48% currently, allowing more citizens to travel internationally than ever before. Legislators have responded to the passport processing challenges, with proposals such as the PASSPORT Act aimed at streamlining the application and renewal process.