The U.S. Department of State cut down the time it takes to process passports after facing criticism last year for delays.
“Today, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is reducing processing times for passports to 4–6 weeks, down from our prior commitment of 6–8 weeks,” the agency said in an Oct. 3 press release. It is applicable for paper and online applications. Citizens who require expedited services will continue to experience processing times of 2–3 weeks.
“This announcement comes after months of issuing passports well under the 6–8 week commitment and showcases our progress to continuously improve the efficiency, equity, and accessibility of the U.S. passport application process,” the department stated….