Is your passport up to date? I encourage you to check and find out! U.S. Passport Services are continuing to see unprecedented demand for passports. During the pandemic, many people put their travel plans on hold. Well, now that most everywhere is back open and travel restrictions are being lifted, more and more people are traveling abroad. That means more and more people are realizing that they need to renew or apply for passports, leading to an increased volume of applications.

If you plan to travel soon (or hope to), don’t let the increased passport processing times affect your travel plans. The Department of State announced earlier this year that the processing times for passport applications had increased. Routine processing can take 10-13 weeks, and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, can take 7-9 weeks.

Now you might be asking yourself, what if something comes up last minute? You can make an appointment at the Arkansas Passport Center, where my staff and I had the pleasure of visiting this week. Please be aware, if you want a passport appointment and plan to travel in less than ten days, you will likely not receive a passport on time. There are some exceptions for documented life-or-death situations.

If you have already applied and your travel is 6-14 days away, there is still sufficient time to have your passport issued and express mailed to you, and you do not need to book an agency appointment. You can check the status of your passport application online at travel.state.gov.

While visiting the Arkansas Passport Center, my staff and I got to tour their updated facilities and gained tremendous insight into the ongoing passport processing demands. Although the increase in demand comes following the end of the pandemic, the professionals at the Arkansas Passport Center say that we can expect this to be an ongoing issue for the foreseeable future.

Let this be a reminder to remain aware of the passport processing times. Check your passport to ensure it’s up to date. If you want to travel internationally, apply for a passport or get yours renewed beforehand – don’t wait until it’s too late. You should apply for a new passport or renew yours at least three months in advance.

If you need assistance or have questions about your passport application process, my office may be able to help you. Please keep in mind that with the increase in demand, we cannot make any guarantees, but my staff will do their best to help you. You can call our office or visit Westerman.house.gov/contact if you need assistance.