Passport reminder for Western North Carolinians’ summer travel

Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) announced the latest U.S. passport processing times and information to assist constituents traveling outside of the United States during a period of unprecedented passport requests to the U.S. Department of State.

Edwards said, “As summer travel kicks into gear, many constituents have planned vacations outside of the country and will need a passport. My office can assist constituents seeking a new passport or renewal through the U.S. Department of State. Currently, the State Department is experiencing unprecedented passport demand so if any constituents have international travel plans, it is important to check your passport expiration date now.”

Below are some reminders to avoid an expired passport from ruining travel plans:

• U.S. passports are valid 10 years for adults and five years for children under the age of 16.
• Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months prior to entering the country.
• Constituents should always research their destination’s entry requirements at travel.state.gov/destination before booking travel.
• When applying for one’s first passport, constituents will need to apply in person at one of the State Department’s acceptance facilities.
• Passport renewal requests can be mailed in.

Steps to take when passport has not been received:

• If it has been 90 days since the constituent has received the “mailed” status, contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC).
• If the constituent will be traveling within 14 days, call NPIC to check if there is time to reissue the passport or request an appointment based.

The current passport processing times do not include mailing times to and from the State Department facilities and are as follows:

• Routine: 10-13 weeks
• Expedite: 7-9 weeks and an extra $60

It can take up to eight weeks after constituents receive their passport for their supporting documents to be returned. If it has been longer than eight weeks, call NPIC.

If a constituent in the 11th district needs assistance with getting a passport, they can contact my Hendersonville district office at (828) 435-7310. For more information, visit edwards.house.gov/passport or travel.state.gov/passport.