If you need to apply for a new passport or even apply for a renewal on an expired passport, please be sure to do so as far in advance of your anticipated travel date as possible. The United States is still facing a backlog of passport applications that has caused serious delays that are affecting many would be travelers.

New rules were implemented in January that required passports from travelers coming into the US from countries that did not require passports before the new rules. This caused a large scramble for passports, thus causing the average wait time for a passport to be issued to double. The passport system was unable to handle the surge of passport applications coming in to be processed.


Although assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Maura Harty apologized for the delays, not much has improved. If you need to apply for or renew your passport and you are traveling within the next few weeks, it would be advisable to get an in person appointment at your local passport agency office and choose the expedited service. Although this expedited option is more costly, it may save you quite a bit of waiting time. You can also call the National Passport Information Center for more information, but be advised that many callers have been unable to get through due to heavy call volume. Get yourself comfy with a magazine and a snack before you dial.

The best advice I can give is to apply early! As soon as you start your adoption paperwork, send in your passport paperwork along with it. Also, if you already have a current passport, check the expiration date. Be sure that you will have at least six months left before it expires as of your departure date. If you are planning to travel close to that six month mark, I would recommend starting your renewal paperwork months before just as an extra level of precaution.

Related Reading:
Passports, UK secrets, International adoption in general, and in Quebec
Documents Required for a Viet Nam Adoption

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