NEWS: Getting a Passport Is About to Get Easier

Disney4me · July 7, 2023

Ready to travel? You’ll need some essentials like a good suitcase, a great pair of shoes, and (depending on where you’re going) a passport!

2022-travel-passport-united-states-airpo

Do You Have Your Passport?

In the past, we’ve talked about passports, catastrophic travel mistakes, and even how to renew a passport through an easier method. But now we’ve got more passport news!

The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will be holding “Special Passport Acceptance Fairs” this year to “help you and your family apply for your passport.” These have been offered in previous years as well.

According to their website, some passport acceptance facilities — like post offices, local government offices, and libraries — will be hosting these fairs across the United States.

©U.S. Department of State

Note that these are generally for passport APPLICATIONS. The government website indicates that most of the events are for first-time customers and children using Form DS-11 to apply. Those who are eligible to renew a passport should renew by mail.

Wondering if an event is happening near you? You can visit the Department of State website and check their calendar to see what might work. New events are being added weekly so be sure to check back for updates. Some of these events require appointments and others are available for walk-ins, but at least it presents another opportunity for you to get help with your passport application process.

©U.S. Department of State

Passport acceptance facilities offer routine and expedited service. But if you need your passport sooner for some URGENT travel, you’ll want to make an appointment at a passport agency or center for that.

According to the Associated Press, there are some passport delays happening right now though. There is a backup of U.S. passport applications thanks to the rebound of travel toward pre-pandemic levels, but there isn’t enough staff to handle the number of applications coming in.

Orlando International Airport

U.S. officials have indicated that the delay is due to staffing shortages and a pause on the online processing that had been launched previously (it has been paused so it can be improved before officially rolling out). The Department is getting around 500,000 passport applications a WEEK, which is about 30-40% more than this time last year.

And long passport processing times will be sticking around for a while. According to CNN, the State Department isn’t expecting to reduce processing times for passports to pre-pandemic levels until the END of 2023. In March, the processing time for new passports was increased to 10-13 weeks for routine processing and 7-9 weeks for expedited processing. Prior to the pandemic, processing times were 2-3 weeks for expedited and 6-8 weeks for routine.

2022-alaska-airlines-star-wars-disney-pl

Where Will You Fly to Next?

So if you’re hoping to get a passport ASAP, understand that there could be some roadblocks in the way. A spokesperson from the State Department has indicated that they’re working on resolving the issue, however, by focusing on hiring and training. They’ve also authorized thousands of overtime hours.

Plus, the Department expects that the online passport renewal system will be available by the end of the year. A spokesperson shared, “Once fully launched, we expect five million customers to be eligible to use this platform each year to renew their passports.”

2022-MCO-Airport-Terminal-C-Atmo-1-700x5

Orlando International Airport

So, if you’ll be traveling and want to apply for a passport, look into these passport fairs to see if they could work for you. Otherwise, you can visit the Department’s website to see how to apply in person at a passport acceptance facility or passport agency.

For more travel news, click here to learn about a new nonstop route announced for the Orlando Airport, and see what award the Orlando Airport was nominated for.