Coming Soon: A Better Way to Renew Your Passport
Words by Jerod Morales
At last! This cumbersome process will soon become easier and more efficient. Soon you will be able to renew your passport online thanks to an Executive Order designed to streamline interactions the public have with government agencies and to rebuild trust with the government.
Passport turnaround times were never speedy before the pandemic at 6-8 weeks, and now you can expect to wait 8-11 weeks for standard processing time. If you pay $60 to expedite the process you can expect a 5-7 week processing window. Note: these times don’t include the 2 weeks it could take from the day you apply to your application being “In Process.”
Moving to an online system should greatly reduce much of the hassle that comes with renewing your passport. The White House Fact Sheet states:
“Americans will be able to renew their passports securely online, saving time from having to wait and the effort and cost required to print, go to a post office, and use a paper check. This new online process will be done with safety and security.”
When will this change go into effect? The White House press secretary says to expect 6-12 months. However, the ability to apply for a passport online started December 2021 on a limited basis.
