| The U.S. Department of State Passport | | | | Filed for passports for my wife and me first |
| Services recently increased the waiting | | | | week in January for March 18 trip. Now told |
| period for passport processing causing chaos | | | | they will not be ready until March 27, well |
| e frustration for would-be travelers. Routine | | | | after our departure date. Please advise." |
| passport processing which, for many years, | | | | |
| took only six weeks to complete now requires | | | | "I need to know the status of three passports |
| up to 10 weeks or more. Expedited services | | | | for my children. We are leaving the country |
| can take up to four weeks instead of the | | | | in two weeks and I thought we would have |
| usual two. | | | | their new passports by now. Please advise." |
| | | | |
| The increase in processing times is a | | | | "My application has been processed, but will |
| response to a 44% increase in passport | | | | arrive too late for my trip. Can I expedite |
| applications. Two factors have contributed to | | | | the process before 3/16? I cannot get through |
| the greater demand. One, the months of | | | | [to National Passport Information Service] by |
| February through April are usually | | | | phone or e-mail to save my life." |
| high-volume months due to the fact that | | | | |
| travelers are preparing for both Spring break | | | | "My family and I applied for passports in |
| and summer vacations. | | | | January and when we went online to find out |
| | | | the status they said they would be sent on or |
| Two, a new law that went into effect January | | | | about March 28th. We our leaving on our |
| 23 of this year requires all persons, | | | | vacation on March 29th. We need our |
| including U.S. citizens, traveling by air | | | | passports to travel. We are leaving in 2 |
| between the United States and Canada, Mexico, | | | | weeks!!! Please direct me to the right |
| Central and South America, the Caribbean, and | | | | person to speak to. I've tried calling the |
| Bermuda to present a valid passport, Air | | | | National service but can't get through |
| NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant | | | | because of the large volume of calls." |
| Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration | | | | |
| Card, Form I-551, if applicable. | | | | Travelers who are able to get through to the |
| | | | National Passport Information Service and set |
| Many travelers who were unaware of the | | | | up an appointment as a regional passport |
| increased demand applied for a passport | | | | agency found themselves facing extremely long |
| thinking they would receive it within a few | | | | and chaotic lines. |
| weeks. They then found themselves | | | | |
| desperately seeking a way to get their | | | | An efficient, although costly, alternative is |
| passport in time for their scheduled trip. | | | | to contract a private passport and visa |
| Following are just a few of the numerous | | | | expediter. Expediting services have a special |
| messages U.S. Passport Service Guide has | | | | relationship with the U.S. State Department |
| recently received. | | | | that allow them to hand deliver applications |
| | | | and pick up prepared passports for their |
| The National Passport Information Service has | | | | clients in 10 days or less. Fees start at |
| representatives available from 7:00 am to 12 | | | | about $59 and can reach $169 for same day |
| midnight. However, you have about as much a | | | | service. This does not include fees charged |
| chance to get through as you do winning the | | | | by the U.S. government nor overnight |
| lottery. Following are just a few of the | | | | delivery. |
| numerous requests from desperate individuals | | | | |
| seeking assistance to get their passports on | | | | While the cost of passport expediting through |
| time. | | | | a private service may be expensive, it can |
| | | | mean the difference between actually |
| "Are you able to expedite a passport | | | | receiving your passport before your departure |
| application that is already being processed? | | | | date and having to cancel your trip. |