US Passport Processing Times Reduced by 2 Weeks: State Department
The U.S. Department of State cut down the time it takes to process passports after facing criticism last year for delays.
"This announcement comes after months of issuing passports well under the 6–8 week commitment and showcases our progress to continuously improve the efficiency, equity, and accessibility of the U.S. passport application process," the department stated.
During the January to July period last year, the senator's office worked on more than 1,600 passport-related cases, up from just 43 cases during the same period in 2019 prior to the pandemic.
By Dec. 18, 2023, the agency had returned to its traditional 6–8 week processing times.
"Passport processing backlogs have been a nightmare for my constituents. It has been almost four years since the start of the pandemic," Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. "There is no excuse for forcing the American people to wait more than three months for a passport."
The bill seeks to expand the online passport renewal system for first-time adult applicants; mandate a text and email notification system about application status; and boost congressional oversight of State Department modernization efforts.
The regulation also seeks to accelerate the passport renewal process by increasing software use in matters related to passport adjudication. The Government Accountability Office would be tasked with conducting a top-to-bottom review of the passport issuance system.
"This transformative approach will not only address many of the problems that led to the backlog but also deliver modernizations that are overdue and will set the system right for decades to come," said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who introduced the bill.
"By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said according to the announcement.
