The U.S. Department of State proudly announced that it had achieved a notable milestone last year by issuing a unprecedented number of passports. At the same time, the department has made significant progress in improving customer service Successfully reduced passport processing wait times by as much as two weeks.
This achievement reflects the Administration’s commitment to making travel easier and more streamlined for U.S. citizens so they can efficiently obtain passports and begin their international travels with greater ease.
As stated on the official website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proudly announced that it has achieved a historic milestone in the period from October 2022 to September 2023 by issuing more than 24 million passport booklets and cards, setting a new record for the United States.
Applications submitted on or after October 2 will take 8 to 11 weeks for standard service and 5 to 7 weeks for expedited service to process.
The processing times do not include shipping time and start on the day the government receives an application.
“Our dedicated staff have worked countless hours to reduce passport processing times,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We continually evaluate our operations to maximize efficiency and introduce innovations in our customer service and processing models.”
In their continued efforts to refine the passport application process, federal authorities have outlined a comprehensive strategy to further improve efficiency and quality of service.
A crucial aspect of this strategy involves substantial investments in both improving and modernizing technology, with the aim of streamlining the entire passport application and issuance process.
In addition, there is a commitment to increase staff numbers by a substantial ten percent, a key initiative that aims to speed up processing times and meet increasing demand for passports. In addition, hNumerous additional staff are being actively recruited from the recruitment pipeline, ensuring that the Passport Service is equipped with the necessary manpower to meet the changing needs of travelers and maintain a high level of service excellence.
Through these multi-pronged efforts, the U.S. government aims to make the passport application experience more accessible, efficient and convenient for all citizens.
Americans are strongly encouraged to apply well in advance of planned travel dates and at least 6-9 months before the passport expiration date to ensure travelers receive their passports on time.
According to an August report, U.S. State Department passport wait times increased to 13 weeks, while the weekly average for renewals was 430,000. According to the government, the problems started when there was a labor shortage and demand increased after the pandemic ended.
