State Department cuts U.S. passport processing time by up to two weeks announced Thursday.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs said waiting times for both online and paper applications have been reduced to four to six weeks, down from previous processing times of six to eight weeks.
Expedited processing time is still two to three weeks, according to the announcement.
Last month, the ministry made it possible to renew passports completely online.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the online passport renewal system is “an important step forward in making it easier for Americans to access passport services.”
Most adults over the age of 25 can apply online if their passport is valid for 10 years, have a passport book, and are located within the United States or one of its territories.
The news comes a year after two Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill that would introduce new measures to clear the backlog of passport applications and reduce processing delays.
The proposed bill is called passport lawimproves communication with current passport holders and streamlines the process by notifying current passport holders one year before their passport expires. It also ensures that customers are aware of passport requirements when booking international travel.
Passport processing times took a huge hit during the pandemic, and only last December did the State Department announce that wait times were back to pre-pandemic standards.
