International travel is on an upward trajectory in 2023, as 23% of U.S. adults say they’ll be traveling internationally this summer. That’s up from 20% in 2022, according to the Vacationer’s “Summer Travel Survey & Trends 2023” report.
But nobody in the foreign travel wanderlust crowd is going anywhere unless their U.S. travel passports are in good order.
Unfortunately, with rising demand for travel comes a subsequent rise in passport processing delays.
Noting that demand for passports is “unprecedented”, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a House of Representatives subcommittee in March the U.S. government issued 22 million passports in 2022, with demand in 2023 expected to rise to record levels. Blinken cited passport activity could be up by 35%-to-40% this summer.
That’s a problem, as more passports to process means more wait times for travelers – between 10-to-13 weeks in most standard cases, the State Dept. estimates. More passports to process should add to that wait time.
“If you don’t have your passport and have to apply, I wouldn’t book a June overseas trip,” said Mary DeSpain, president of Destination CLEs, a legal education travel services firm. “You might sweat a bit since right now with the normal processing times at 13 weeks and if you don’t meet the requirements for expedited processing, you really missed your window for June travel.”
How to Accelerate Your Passport Processing Time
Let’s be honest – if you were planning a summer swing through Italy or a safari trek in South Africa, and you haven’t arranged your passport documents yet, you’re just about out of luck – unless you can stretch the trip through August or September.
If you’ve fallen into that category and find yourself starting from scratch or are a few weeks behind schedule, these passport expediting tips are for you.
Get your personal paperwork ready ASAP. Nothing works better than starting the process much earlier than the government even recommends and being patient.
Yet even if you haven’t, a great passport hack is to make 100-percent sure your application and supporting documents (like your pictures and driver’s license) are correct.
“You don’t have to amend them during the process, as that can take significantly longer,” said Elizabeth Gaerlan, senior vice president of communications at Internova Travel Group. “Also, beware of scams, as anytime the government process takes longer than usual, scammers will come along and claim they can get your passport faster for a hefty fee.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Gaerlan noted.
Get an “emergency” appointment. If overseas travel is within 14 days with a plane ticket purchased, then an in-person emergency passport appointment is possible.
“That visit can be outsourced to a passport services firm to act on the traveler's behalf,” said Andrew Jernigan, chief executive officer at Insured Nomads, a travel insurance technology service company.
There may be caveats at that late date.
“One provider provided us with a disclaimer stating "(we) can only expedite US passports to applicants whose flight is within the next two weeks (and 30 days before the flight date for those who have the need to apply for a visa, too,” Jernigan said. “Processing time is about 8-10 business days, with a $499 service fee for passport renewal.”
“A separate fee of $190 (for an adult) to the Department of State will likely apply, too,” Jernigan added.
Try calling the passport office directly. If you’re traveling within 14 days and you still don’t have a passport, call or visit your local passport office and ask them for an immediate appointment.
“Tell them that you only have 14 days (or less) before you will travel,” said James Ian, travel expert and founder of the online travel publication Travelcollecting.com and the online national parks publication Parkscollecting.com. “Most of the time the passport office will expedite the processing of your passport so that you can travel as planned.”
Passport renewals for 8 to 10 business days cost about $139, plus a government fee for a total cost of $309. Renewals for 11 to 15 business days cost $99. With the government fee added, the total cost is $269.
Protect your trip if the passport doesn’t come through. For Americans who just can’t get their passports and still want to book an upcoming trip to lock in good rates in the hope the passport will arrive in time, make sure to protect yourselves.
“In that scenario, people should consider purchasing Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance,” said Elad Schaffer, CEO at Faye Travel Insurance. “With CFAR, travelers can nix their trip for any reason, and get 75% back on their pre-paid expenses, up to their estimated total trip cost.”
You can add on to most travel insurance policies but CFAR must be purchased within 14 days of the date of your initial trip deposit (like your flight or hotel booking). “You’ll need to cancel your trip no later than 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure date,” Schaffer said.
Above all, be thorough. Your best bet for a quick and affordable passport process experience is to do your homework and check all the paperwork boxes.
“Be cautious and thorough when applying for a passport, especially during times of high demand,” DeSpain said. “Ensuring your application is error-free and being aware of processing times can help you avoid delays.”
