You can't travel internationally without a passport, but obtaining one is not the simplest process. To help you understand what is going on and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly-experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest...
The State Department is facing a deepening backlog in processing passports. It’s now taking 10 to 13 weeks for passport applications to be completed, not including mailing time, says the agency. That’s up from pre-pandemic timelines of six to eight weeks. The delays are being blamed on a surge in international travel. The State Department is hiring more agents and approving tens of thousands of hours of overtime to process an expected 25 million passports this year, versus 22 million in 2022.
Among the congressional ideas to ease the delays:
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
- A 12-week requirement for processing time
- A tracking system for folks to monitor their application status
- Expanding in-person appointments at regional passport offices
- Prodding airlines and travel booking companies to provide passport requirement info during booking
Note that some countries don’t accept passports that expire in six months or less. Travelers can pay $60 for an expedited passport and an extra $19.53 for one to two day delivery service, but wait times are still long.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Content
-
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Head South as Treasury Yields Hit New Highs
Expectations for another potential rate hike sent yields on both the 2-year and 10-year Treasury bonds to their highest levels in almost two decades.
-
Biden Cancels $37M in Student Loan Debt for Phoenix University Borrowers
Student loans for 1,200+ Phoenix University enrollees cancelled over misleading ad campaign.
-
Auto Industry’s Electric Transition Sparks Tension With Autoworkers: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter DoE announces $12 billion to support factory retrofits, which autoworkers fear may mean the end of numerous auto manufacturing jobs.
-
When Should You Buy Life Insurance?
insurance If no one depends on your income for support, you probably don't need life insurance at all.
-
Domestic Airfare Is Still Cheaper Than Pre-Pandemic Prices: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Economic Forecasts Although domestic airfare is cheaper, some international flights are still more expensive than usual.
-
Five Reasons Your Healthcare Costs Will Ease: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Economic Forecasts From technical advancements to cheaper drugs, healthcare cost relief is coming.
-
Banks Lost Billions on Bad Loans Last Quarter: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Economic Forecasts Bank deposits are also down, and more people are tapping into their savings.
-
Passenger Rail Is Making a Comeback: Kiplinger Forecasts
Economic Forecasts Privately-owned passenger rail lines are popping up in the U.S. which could make getting to popular vacation destinations easier.
-
Hospitals Say Increased Medicare Reimbursement Is Not Enough: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Economic Forecasts Medicare will bump up hospital reimbursements by 3.1% in 2024, but the industry says it's not enough as it comes off its worst financial year of the pandemic.
-
Central Banks Near End of Rate-Hike Cycle: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Economic Forecasts Some Latin American countries are even cutting interest rates, and more central banks could follow in 2024.
