Discover the State Department’s new initiative to assist travelers with passport applications. Special Passport Acceptance Fairs are held across the US for convenient processing.

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Amid a surge in passport applications, the United States Department of State has launched a new initiative called “Special Passport Acceptance Fairs” to assist travelers in completing their application process.

These special events, held at public libraries, recreation centers, and local city administrative offices, aim to cater to the increasing demand for passports nationwide.

Convenient Locations

The Special Passport Acceptance Fairs are in various states, primarily California and New Jersey.

Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin are also hosting these events.

The US Department of State’s website provides a complete schedule of events regularly updated with new locations.

Who Can Attend?

It’s important to note that these special events are exclusively for new passport applications.

Travelers seeking passport renewal are advised to use the mail-in option.

However, the Department of State maintains a comprehensive list of Post Offices and other locations that can assist in processing passport applications.

Travelers can search for these locations by entering their zip code on the department’s website.

Processing Times and Expedited Service

The current processing time for routine passport service is estimated at 10 to 13 weeks.

For expedited service, the processing time reduces to 7 to 9 weeks.

In urgent cases where international travel is scheduled within 14 calendar days, travelers can request an appointment to expedite their passport application at an agency.

Record-High Demand

This year, the State Department has experienced an unprecedented surge in passport applications, reaching as high as 500,000 applications per week.

This volume is the highest recorded within a specific period, surpassing the demand seen during previous surges in 2007 and 2017.

In response to this significant increase, United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has tried to address the bottleneck issues in passport processing.

These efforts include the establishment of satellite offices, recruitment of additional staff, and the expansion of phone lines.

As the demand for passports rises, the Department of State remains committed to ensuring a smooth and efficient application process for travelers.

The introduction of Special Passport Acceptance Fairs, along with other measures, aims to accommodate the growing number of individuals seeking passports.

By making the application process more accessible and convenient, the State Department seeks to meet the needs of travelers across the country.

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