Officials have been assuring the travelling public that U.S. passport processing will largely take place without interruption. This is all as the threat of a government shutdown again hangs over us. The State Department has assured us that the online renewal system will continue to operate. Launched last fall, it provides a much easier, more efficient process for eligible applicants.
The U.S. Passport online renewal system allows adults aged 25 or older, who have previously held a passport, to renew their documents without the need for a paper application. Without this new system, users now can’t complete applications or submit them online. Now, they don’t have to go through the hassle of mailing a check or making an appointment to visit in person.
With our new online renewal system, the process becomes pretty easy. On top of that, passport processing times have returned to pre-pandemic or better times. For standard applications, the processing time is four to six weeks. If you do have an expedited request, we can get that done within two to three weeks.
In light of the impending government shutdown, there are concerns regarding the accessibility of passport offices located within government buildings. While many of these places are at risk of closing, other operations are entirely self-sustaining, relying on the money generated from the fees charged to applicants.
“Passport applications should still continue to be processed during a shutdown,” confirmed several members of Congress this week, reflecting a bipartisan consensus on the importance of maintaining this vital service.
Travelers can take advantage of automated passport kiosks at airports for checking in to flights, helping to create a smooth travel experience from start to finish.
On the ground, passport processing will move forward at business as usual. Other immigration-related operations will be more acutely affected. “Immigration court cases on the detained docket should still proceed during a lapse in congressional appropriations while non-detained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes,” according to frequently asked questions about the shutdown.
The Department of Homeland Security has floated just such an estimate. During that five-week period, agencies such as Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not lose a single employee.
Though the State Department promised us otherwise, it’s adequate to say it is still undergoing assessment of its operations across all functions. Each case will be treated on an individual basis.
“The continuance of operations in such instances will be treated on a case-by-case basis by the Office of the Under Secretary for Management,” – The State Department
