New online passport renewal system hits snag as travelers ready for spring break
Updated: 7:21 PM CST Mar 8, 2024
The State Department’s push to modernize the passport process by introducing an online renewal system is behind schedule, just as the spring break travel season picks up.”500,000 Americans were able to renew their passports online. So we learned a lot of lessons from that pilot. We have rebuilt some things, We have tweaked some things,” said Rena Bitter, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Consular Affairs.The online renewal system, which was first announced by President Joe Biden in December 2021, is currently undergoing product testing. However, the system is already behind schedule.Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had previously stated, “It’s going to take six to 12 months to implement it.”The State Department had initially targeted the end of 2023 for the nationwide rollout of the online renewal system. However, officials are not providing a firm timeline for when the system will officially go live.Bitter further explained, “You can imagine that this will be a popular service we expect about 5 million Americans to be able to renew online every year, so we want to make sure we get it absolutely right.”Despite the delay in the online renewal system, there has been progress in other areas. The State Department has announced that passport processing times are back down to pre-pandemic levels after a significant backlog during the pandemic.Americans can now expect to wait six to eight weeks for routine service, and two to three weeks for expedited service, plus mail time.Bitter reassured, “Right now, it takes far less than that, but that is the service commitment to the American people.”During the pandemic, passport wait times increased to 18 weeks, according to the State Department. However, Bitter is confident that the current processing speed will remain stable, even as we enter the peak travel season.
The State Department’s push to modernize the passport process by introducing an online renewal system is behind schedule, just as the spring break travel season picks up.
“500,000 Americans were able to renew their passports online. So we learned a lot of lessons from that pilot. We have rebuilt some things, We have tweaked some things,” said Rena Bitter, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
The online renewal system, which was first announced by President Joe Biden in December 2021, is currently undergoing product testing. However, the system is already behind schedule.
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had previously stated, “It’s going to take six to 12 months to implement it.”
The State Department had initially targeted the end of 2023 for the nationwide rollout of the online renewal system. However, officials are not providing a firm timeline for when the system will officially go live.
Bitter further explained, “You can imagine that this will be a popular service we expect about 5 million Americans to be able to renew online every year, so we want to make sure we get it absolutely right.”
Despite the delay in the online renewal system, there has been progress in other areas. The State Department has announced that passport processing times are back down to pre-pandemic levels after a significant backlog during the pandemic.
Americans can now expect to wait six to eight weeks for routine service, and two to three weeks for expedited service, plus mail time.
Bitter reassured, “Right now, it takes far less than that, but that is the service commitment to the American people.”
During the pandemic, passport wait times increased to 18 weeks, according to the State Department. However, Bitter is confident that the current processing speed will remain stable, even as we enter the peak travel season.
