Delays in Passport Fast-Track Process

The backlog of applications for U.S. passports has caused the U.S. State Department to adjust its passport processing timetable, and the agency is alerting passport applicants that "expedited" service will now take about three weeks. The previous timetable for expedited service (which costs an additional $60) was one week. According to the Washington Post, "last year, the agency processed 12.1 million passports. Through the next four years, officials expect to process almost 100 million passports." The increase is due in large part to new passport requirements that went into effect in January 2007.

• Updated Passport Application Processing Times (State Dept.)
• Washington Post: Fast Passport Service Gets Slower
• New Passport Law (FindLaw)