Money Control Place
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Stocks
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Stocks
  • Investing

Money Control Place

Business

U.S. passport processing times return to pre-pandemic levels

by December 20, 2023
December 20, 2023
U.S. passport processing times return to pre-pandemic levels

Processing times for U.S. passport applications have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the State Department announced Monday.

Routine passport applications are currently processed within six to eight weeks, while expedited service, which costs an additional $60, takes two to three weeks, the department said.

‘With this update, we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020,’ the department said in a statement. ‘This reflects the work of dedicated employees working for the American people.’

A US citizen holds his passport while waiting at the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Mohammed Talatene / Picture alliance via Getty Images

Lingering pandemic-related factors and a surge in overseas travel had disrupted processing times earlier this year, scuppering plans for thousands. As recently as July, routine processing times had slowed to between 10 and 13 weeks, and seven to nine weeks for expedited processing. The department said that, during some weeks this summer, it saw nearly 400,000 applications submitted.

A department spokesperson said staffing levels had increased by 12% since December 2022, with hundreds of additional staffers in the hiring pipeline. Department staffers have also worked tens of thousands of hours of overtime. From January 2023 through October 2023, the department authorized 30,000 to 40,000 overtime hours each month. It also tapped volunteers from across the department working on surge teams, including retirees and new hires adjudicating passports before reporting to other assignments.

Nearly half of all Americans, around 48%, now possess a current U.S. passport, compared with just 5% in 1990. There are now over 160 million valid U.S. passports in circulation, nearly double the amount from 2007.

While Transportation Security Administration screenings at U.S. airports continue to set records some days, there are signs that the post-pandemic ‘revenge travel’ trend is slowing down, as flyers trim budgets amid a slowing economy.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Top Five Charts of 2023 #2: Ten-Year Treasury Yield
next post
BP becomes latest to pause Red Sea shipments as Houthi attacks continue

Related Posts

George Soros hands control of his $25 billion...

June 12, 2023

Heineken CEO on Bud Light campaign fallout: ‘You...

August 2, 2023

U.S. jury finds realtors liable for inflating commissions,...

November 3, 2023

Tesla’s affordability push eases growing doubts about its...

April 24, 2024

Paris seeing signs of strong travel demand ahead...

June 24, 2024

Plummeting stock, boycotts and flagging sales: What’s fueling turmoil for Tesla?

March 18, 2025

The Body Shop shuts down U.S. operations, with...

March 12, 2024

Most Americans falsely think the U.S. is in...

May 24, 2024

Subway is adding deli slicers to give customers...

July 6, 2023

Frontier Airlines does away with change fees in...

May 19, 2024

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest

    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right Now

    • 1911 Gold Temporarily Suspends Operations at True North Complex due to Bissett Evacuation Order

    • Ontario Backs Down on Key Bill 5 Provisions, Echoes BC’s Mining Debate

    • Appeals Court Grants Trump Temporary Reprieve on Tariffs, “TACO” Taunts Gain Steam

    Categories

    • Business (1,223)
    • Investing (2,503)
    • Politics (3,699)
    • Stocks (1,614)
    • Uncategorized (20)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: MoneyControlPlace.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 moneycontrolplace.com | All Rights Reserved