In anticipation of a surge in passport applications the U.S. Department of State is encouraging travelers to renew or apply for passports now.
The State Department issued nearly 18 million passports in 2007 when the law went into effect that required passports for citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. At that time, the backlog of applications caused some delays in processing and issuing passports. With the passports issued in 2007 and nearly another 31 million passports set to expire within the next three years, state officials anticipate a similar flood of applications.
Don’t get stranded by delaying in applying for your passport. Renewing an adult passport can be done by mail if the applicant meets certain criteria. Children under 16 and first time applicants must apply in person. There are more than 8,000 authorized passport acceptance facilities where you can apply, including designated U.S. post offices, clerks of court, and public libraries. If you are traveling in less than two weeks or need a foreign visa within four weeks, you can schedule an appointment at a State Department agency.
More information on how or where to apply for passports is available at Travel.State.Gov/ApplyEarly or by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778 or at 1-888-874-7793, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
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