Urgent U.S. Passport News!

Check your passport right now to see the expiration date. Passports are good for ten years and then they have to be renewed. Read on to learn about what’s going on with passports!

If you are planning to travel abroad and do not have a passport yet or your passport has expired or will expire soon, you could be in trouble.

According to the U.S. government, there is “unprecedented demand” for passports. So the turnaround time on getting a passport is 10 – 13 weeks. If you are willing to pay extra ($60) for an expedited passport, the wait time is still long at 7 – 9 weeks.

Passports, Passports, Passports!

The U.S. State Department is receiving 500,000 applications a week for passports! That is up 40% over the normal number of applicants.

Click here if you are submitting a new application (not a renewal)!

If you are renewing and not applying for a new passport, the pilot online renewal program you may have heard about has been stopped due to software glitches.

Click here to renew your passport! See below if you would like to renew using the online application or to download an application.

IMPORTANT! The times given by the government for passports are NOT total time but rather processing time. They do NOT include mailing time. Their website says to allow 2 – 4 weeks more for mailing time on top of processing time.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PASSPORT EXPIRATION DATES

It is common for countries to stipulate that a passport be valid for six months after your travel date. Say you are traveling in January and your passport expires in March, so you’re not worried. But you should be! You could be detained at the airport on your way home since your passport would need to be valid through June. although most airlines will not let you board your outbound flight. More than 70 countries require the six months.

BLAME THE PASSPORT DELAYS ON EUROPE!

There is pent up demand for travel post-pandemic and most especially to Europe. It has always been popular during the summer, but this year the demand is CRAZY! Travel agents are actually suggesting their clients consider alternative destinations or a less busy time of year for travel. The most popular places will be Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Croatia. London and Paris are always top picks. Additionally, strong sales are already showing Japan will be a hot spot summer 2023. Choosing these destinations means flight shortages, higher prices, bigger crowds, and less choices.

Here’s my pick for best prices on international flights!

BEST PLACES TO GO THIS SUMMER INSTEAD

Good alternatives are Malta, Hungary, Estonia, Czech Republic, Budapest, Montenegro, Romania, and Poland. Outside of Europe, Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Mauritius.

This is my favorite site for booking international accommodations!

Click here to learn my top five travel picks for summer 2023!