Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Department of State
Operational issues involving other service partners have impacted when the State Department receives passport applications for processing.
By Forum Staff
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) on Thursday that borough residents seeking to travel abroad should be aware of delays in processing times for passports.
The U.S. State Department has informed Meng that Postal Service delays and operational issues involving other service partners have impacted when the agency receives passport applications for processing. As a result, the agency said that customers should expect the following timeframe:
- Routine service can take up to 18 weeks from the day a customer submits their application to the day they receive a new passport. The 18-week timeframe includes up to 12 weeks for application processing and up to six weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
- Expedited service (an additional $60) can take up to 12 weeks from the day a customer submits their application to the day they receive a new passport. The 12-week timeframe includes up to six weeks for application processing and up to six weeks for mailing times on the front and back end.
- The processing time for passports begin the day that the agency receives an application, not the day it is mailed. The State Department advises individuals to send their applications via trackable mail which allows people to track their application before it enters the system, and can be done whether they are applying at an acceptance facility or by mail. Applicants can also opt for an extra $17.56 for 1-2 day delivery for the return of their new passports.
Meng said that she is also working to reduce the lengthy delays. Meng, who serves as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations – the panel that oversees the State Department – on Thursday morning secured a provision in a key spending bill that calls on the agency to address the long wait times, and inform Congress on how it is addressing the problem.
The measure, included in the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill – which funds the State Department – urges the Department of State to dedicate the necessary resources to ensure passport and visa applications can be processed in a timely manner, consistent with processing times from before the COVID pandemic. It also directs the Secretary of State to submit a report to the Appropriations Committee detailing the demand and processing length of new passports, passport renewals, and visa applications including factors contributing to increased wait times, and an action plan to address such factors. The bill is expected to head to the floor of the House today, where it is expected to pass in the coming weeks.
In addition, Meng and other Members of Congress sent a letter last Wednesday to Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Ian Brownlee, and cc’d Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, calling for the application delays to be resolved.
“As our borough and city continue to move past the coronavirus crisis, local residents are once again interested in traveling, and are planning to seek passports needed for their trips,” said Meng. “As I work to address the long wait times, I encourage New Yorkers to be cognizant of the extended wait times, be informed about the processing timeframe, and follow the State Department’s guidance to ensure that passports are received without further delays.”
