Getting a passport is not the rare occurrence that it used to be. Today, more and more people are using them on a regular basis because of the different law changes that went into effect. Anyone asking “How long will it take to get a passport?” would do well to educate themselves on the whole process to make sure that they don’t get caught without the proper documents during travel.
First, it is important to note that passport applications have skyrocketed in recent years. This is not due to a spike in international travel, but is instead due to a new law that requires passports for land travel to border countries. The law, which went into effect on June 1st, 2009, made passports mandatory for travel between the U.S. and Mexico or Canada. Word of this law caused a spike in passport applications as early as 2006.
The applicant is responsible for the first step of the application process. The applicant must obtain passport photos, a government issued ID card, and a proof of citizenship. The faster this part of the application is completed, the faster the whole process will go.
When everything is together, it is time to head to a passport office to start the application process. In the United States, local post offices are the primary sources to get a passport application. While not every post office processes passport applications, many of them have this ability. It is best to check the USPS website for exact locations that offer this service.
Once the last step has been completed, it is pretty much out of the applicant’s hands. This is the part that takes the longest and it will often just depend on how many other applicants there are at that time. Realize that applications are coming in from all over and they all have to be processed.
Currently, the U.S. Department of State estimates passport-processing time at 4-6 weeks. This figure tends to fluctuate throughout the year. As high vacation season approaches, the number of applications tends to increase and the waiting period increases accordingly. During very busy times the wait can be several months. During the time preceding the law change, passport-waiting periods were occasionally seven months to a year. It is unlikely that such waiting periods will occur again in the near future.
The government also offers a quicker service, but it has to be paid for by the applicant. If there is a trip coming up and they don’t want to risk not getting their passport in time, they can pay the extra fees and be guaranteed that their passport will be returned within a certain period of time. The fee is $60 and can be avoided by simply not waiting until the last minute to get everything processed.
how long does it take to get a passport? The truthful answer is that it all depends on what method is chosen. It can be as quick as a week and as long as two months, it is all about how much the applicant wants to pay for quick service. However, why not just head over to the local U.S. passport office now and get the process rolling so you have the passport in place just in case it is ever needed.
