Passport Office is Swamped
 

According to this morning's Chicago Tribune, the number of passport applications is expected to be up 40% over last year, and the time needed to issue a passport has jumped from 6 weeks to 10 weeks or more! Even expedited passports are taking a month. The article can be found on the Tribune's website under Local News. Registration is required.

We sent our renewals off exactly 6 weeks ago today and our checks cleared the banks exactly 5 weeks ago today...and.......we don't have our new passports yet.

A new passport processing office is supposed to open sometime this spring in Hot Springs, Arkansas, so maybe that will relieve the backlog.
http://www.arkansasmediaroom.com/new...lay.asp?id=837

i'm glad mine was due for renewal a couple years ago, before all the additional countries were required! I'm good for another 8 (7?) years!

Buon viaggio!

We applied early mid Jan for a renewal and received it in late Feb. I also liked how you can now check status via web.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/abo.../npic_898.html


I applied 2/9, the message on the above link says: "Your application is still being processed, but the timesframe for issuing your passport has increased due to workload.

When you applied, you requested Routine Service and Routine Delivery of your passport. Passport Agencies use Priority Mail.

This means you should receive your passport within 10 weeks from the date you applied. Depending upon how the facility where you applied forwarded your application, you should receive your passport on or about 04/02/2007."

My daughter applied 3/9 and there is no record of it yet.