Passport Processing Times Plummet: Know Your Wait Time
The U.S. State Department has announced a decrease in passport processing times, with routine service now taking between seven and 10 weeks, down from eight to 11 weeks. Expedited service, which incurs a $60 fee, will now take three to five weeks, down from five to seven weeks. The State Department attributes the decrease to increased resources and hiring efforts to meet the high demand for passports. These estimates do not include mailing times. The changes come after a record-breaking issuance of over 24 million passport cards and books between October 2022 and September 2023. The article also provides information on the passport application process and required documents.