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: Cautious Investors Let Stocks Drift LowerMarkets weigh encouraging trends for earnings and tariffs against concerning signals from U.S. consumers.
-
A Smart Way to Combat Economic RollercoastersSavings With rates on CDs remaining high for now, a CD ladder allows you to maximize your returns with flexibility to your cash when you need it.
-
Travel Trends You Can Expect This SummerThe Kiplinger Letter Domestic trips will trump foreign travel amid economic uncertainties, though some costs are down.
-
AI Goes To SchoolThe Kiplinger Letter Artificial intelligence is rapidly heading to K-12 classrooms nationwide. Expect tech companies to cash in on the fast-emerging trend.
-
What To Know if You’re in the Market for a New Car This YearThe Kiplinger Letter Buying a new car will get a little easier, but don’t expect many deals.
-
Universal Savings Accounts Are Like Roth IRAs, But With a TwistThe Tax Letter Republican lawmakers and conservative think tanks are proposing a new type of tax-advantaged savings account. Think Roth IRAs, but not just for retirement.
-
Will Lower Mortgage Rates Bring Relief to the Housing Market?The Kiplinger Letter As mortgage rates slowly come down here's what to expect in the housing market over the next year or so.
-
Car Prices Are Finally Coming DownThe Kiplinger Letter For the first time in years, it may be possible to snag a good deal on a new car.
-
New Graduates Navigate a Challenging Labor MarketThe Kiplinger Letter Things are getting tough for new graduates. Job offers are drying up and the jobless rate is increasing. Are internships the answer?
-
QCDs Are a Tax-Smart Way for Retirees To Donate to CharityThe Tax Letter With QCDs, retirees can save on taxes by making donations from their IRAs directly to charity. Here's what you need to know about qualified charitable distributions.
