Trying To Figure Out How Long Will It Take To Get A Passport
Because laws have changed recently in regards to passports, people are now getting them for the first time. The question most asked now is of course, How long to get a passport? This is a very important question to have answered because if there is an upcoming trip that will not require a passport, things could get a little dicey.
One thing to make note of is the increase in passport applications over the last few years. The new laws that went into effect in June of 2009 were first rumored in 2006. Because people knew that the rules were going to change, many casual travelers started to apply for passports so that trips to places like Mexico or Canada would not be prevented because of lack of documentation.
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.
As soon as everything has been gathered, the actual application for the passport can begin. Finding a local American passport office is as easy as going on the Internet and most local post office can do passport processing. To avoid getting caught in a crowd, try and go at hours when the post office will not see a lot steady walk-in traffic.
Once the last step has been completed, it is pretty much out of the applicants 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 dont 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.
Clearly, there is no one answer to the question, How long does it take to get a passport? It depends on the time of year and the type of year. A fair average is one to two months, but it is impossible to be sure. The best method to ensure that your passport arrives on time is to apply at your local U S passport office long before you think you will need one.