Travel surge causes ‘unprecedented’ passport processing delays
AAA urges anyone planning international travel to check their passport first. Post-COVID surges in international travel have led to unprecedented processing delays that may affect travel this summer and, possibly, through the end of the year. As a result, passportprocessing times are more than double what they were before the pandemic.
“International travel is coming back with a roar which has caused a bottleneck in passport processing,” says Sheila Nielsen, Travel Advisor for AAA in Norman. “Before booking that dream vacation, the first question we ask our clients is their passport status. Overlooking an expired passport would be a costly mistake for anyone planning to travel.”
The U.S. Department of
State, which issues U.S. passports, reports routine processing times of more than three months (10 to 13 weeks, as of March 24) after receiving an application. Mailing times may add another month (two weeks on each end). Even expedited applications may take more than two months to process (seven to nine weeks). International Travel Surge Increasing delays in passport processing come as no surprise. AAA booking data shows international travel has grown over 200% since 2022. State Department data shows a record 22 million U.S. passports were issued in 2022 (up 42% from 2021), and 2023 is on track to be another recordbreaking year.
Since December, AAA partner RushMyPassport reports expedited passport applications have been on the rise. Almost 800 applications spiked in March, which is three times more than the busiest month last year. Given the backlog at the State Department, the trend is expected to continue.
FIVE PASSPORT TIPS EVERY INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER SHOULD KNOW:
1. Don’t miss out on international travel. U.S. citizens are required to carry a valid U.S. passport when flying internationally. However, they must also carry it when driving or walking across the border to Canada or Mexico. If you do not have one, or your passport expires before year’s end, AAA advises you to submit your passport application or renewal for summer travel ASAP.
2. The U.S. Department of State issues passports. Until COVID-19, routine passport processing was four to six weeks. Now, due to pandemicrelated application backlogs and a surge in travel demand, wait times are now longer, ranging from 10 to 13 weeks. In some cases, expedited services may take up to nine weeks. Mail time must also be factored in; it may take up to two weeks for the U.S. Department of State to receive a mailed application and another two weeks for it to return.
3. Detailed instructions for passport application/renewal are available online. Anyone planning to travel this year should visit the U.S. State Department website to initiate the process as soon as possible.
4. Many countries have a six-month passport rule. Even if a passport is not due to expire until after a planned trip, it might not be usable. Several countries require that a traveler’s passport remain valid for at least six months after their trip ends. AAA advises travelers whose passports expire this year to start the renewal process now.
5. Passport processing requires travelers to temporarily surrender their birth certificate (first-time applicants) or their current/expired passport (renewals). While those documents are returned after the newly issued passports are issued, anyone who needs their birth certificate or uses their passport for identification unrelated to foreign travel should have a backup form of identification in the interim.