Can Somebody Please Tell Me How Long Will It Take To Get A Passport
Getting a passport is not the rare occurrence that it used to be. Today, more and more people are using them on a regular basis because of the different law changes that went into effect. Anyone asking “How long will it take to get a passport?” would do well to educate themselves on the whole process to make sure that they don’t get caught without the proper documents during travel.
People are now getting passports like never before. Ever since the rumors of the new laws started to get circulated, the general public started to wise up a little bit in regards to getting a passport just for the sake of having one. It is never a bad thing to have the documentation and because of the long wait, it was safer to have it sitting in the drawer.
The applicant is responsible for the first step of the application process. The applicant must obtain passport photos, a government issued ID card, and a proof of citizenship. The faster this part of the application is completed, the faster the whole process will go.
When everything is together, it is time to head to a passport office to start the application process. In the United States, local post offices are the primary sources to get a passport application. While not every post office processes passport applications, many of them have this ability. It is best to check the USPS website for exact locations that offer this service.
Once the application has been approved by the application center, it is sent off for processing. This is the longest part of the application process. This is also the part of the application that worries most new applicants, as this part of the application has been known to take a great deal of time.
Currently, the average wait time to receive a passport once it has been accepted is about 4-6 weeks. When vacation seasons are coming around, this time frame can be a bit longer as there will be many more applications coming into the offices. The law changes that went into effect actually helped this cause as people would wait close to a year at times to get their passport.
The government also offers a quicker service, but it has to be paid for by the applicant. If there is a trip coming up and they don’t want to risk not getting their passport in time, they can pay the extra fees and be guaranteed that their passport will be returned within a certain period of time. The fee is $60 and can be avoided by simply not waiting until the last minute to get everything processed.
Clearly, there is no one answer to the question, “how long to get a passport?” It depends on the time of year and the type of year. A fair average is one to two months, but it is impossible to be sure. The best method to ensure that your passport arrives on time is to apply at your local American passport office long before you think you will need one.
