Why Many Need to Renew Their Passport Right Now Olivia Briggs - Smarter Travel
go to original February 25, 2016

If your passport expires soon, you should get it renewed as soon as possible because you're not alone. (CBSN)

If you have a U.S. passport that's expiring soon, the State Department urges you to renew it as soon as possible. Officials are predicting a surge in demand this year as millions of 10-year passports issued in 2006 and 2007 expire.

After the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (which prevented citizens in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda from entering or leaving the U.S. without a passport) went into effect nearly a decade ago, passport wait times increased along with the number of applications.

Applying for your passport renewal soon will help alleviate the congestion expected later in the year.

The Real ID Act is also contributing to the influx. As of January 22, 2018, residents of states that still have not complied with the Real ID ACT will need a passport or alternate form of ID in order to board domestic flights.

As it stands, passport renewals in 2016 will take about six weeks or longer to process (up from four weeks last year). Planning ahead is key.

Read the rest at Smarter Travel

Related: The Best Way to Get a Passport in a Hurry (Smarter Travel)

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