An estimated 53 million American adults left the country this summer, and it’s safe to say international travel is back.
Many destinations lifted their pandemic-era travel mandates,though it can still take quite a bit of checking (and re-checking) to go abroad – especially if your passport is expired.
But, for those who live in the United States, the process might be getting a little easier…
The Department of State (DOS) has begun testing online passport renewals for a limited number of applicants. The first 25,000 people who met the qualifications on their website received acceptance to the pilot of the new program at the end of August. Depending on the results, the general public could have the option to renew their passports online early next year.
That means… No more scheduling in-person appointments. No more mailing private documents. No more rushing around the post office.
For those who’ve never done it, the current mailed renewal process takes anywhere from 8 to 11 weeks per applicant. The new program, however, will allow qualifying Americans to submit their personal information online. A move that could shorten this wait by about two weeks.
The DOS plans to continue testing the online system on a limited basis, announcing they will begin accepting another group of qualifying applicants sometime next month. Visit their website for more details on how to participate.
