Before visiting a foreign country, you should ensure that all your travel concerns are addressed. My District Office in Wichita is ready to help. If your travel dates are closer than 12 weeks away, please call my office first at 316-262-8992 before applying so that we can assist you in the process.
For forms and official information, visit travel.state.gov.
Check expiration dates:
Before booking your trip or purchasing an airline ticket, check the expiration dates of family members’ passports. Children’s passports are valid for five years only.
Apply early:
Apply at least nine months in advance of your planned departure date.
Use trackable mail:
Use trackable mail to quickly ship the application to the State Department and purchase overnight delivery for State to return the completed passport.
Ensure applications are accurate and complete:
Any issues with citizenship, ID, fees, or photos could cause delays well beyond the original projected timeframe.
Passport appointments:
Passport appointments are being prioritized for applicants with life-or-death travel and requests for appointments are generally not being recognized unless the travel date is within five days.
As of Feb. 8, 2024, passport processing times are 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service with an additional $60 fee.
Please note that mailing times are not included in processing times. Processing times only include the time your application is at one of the passport agencies or centers. The total time to get your passport includes both processing and mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive by mail at a passport agency or center, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport in the mail after it's printed. Consider the total time it will take to receive your passport when you are booking travel.
My office is ready to help if you have further questions about passports, and I understand how challenging these delays can be.
