Editor’s note: This post was updated on July 7th, 2020.
Swift has the same information everyone else has regarding obtaining a passport. The best place to get updates is travel.state.gov.
Article Summary:
- I applied for my passport months ago. Where is it?
- Only passports for emergencies are being processed at this time.
- As of July 6, 2020, 12 U.S. Passport Agencies are in phase one and 4 U.S. Passport Agencies are in phase two of the three-phase reopening plan.
- During phase one, appointments are limited to customers who must travel internationally in the next 72 hours due to a life-or-death emergency. During phase two, most staff will return to the agency and processing of previously received applications will resume.
- I applied for an expedited passport months ago. Where is it?
- All expedited passport services have been suspended until further notice.
- What’s considered an emergency?
- Life-or-death emergencies are injuries, serious illnesses, or deaths in your immediate family that requires you to travel outside the United States within 72 hours.
- What do I need to apply for an emergency passport?
- You’ll need to provide proof of the life-or-death emergency such as a statement from a mortuary, a signed letter from a medical professional or hospital, or a death certificate.
- How Can I Check the Status of my Passport Application?
- Go to the U.S. Passport Application Status webpage.
- Can I apply for a passport right now?
- You should wait until the Passport Agency is back open. If you apply now, you will experience significant delays.
- Can I Apply Through a Third-Party Passport Agency Like Swift?
- You can but there will be delays in processing times.
- Can I Renew My Passport Right Now?
- Unless you have a life-or-death emergency, please wait until normal operations resume to renew your passport.
- Where Can I Get Updates on When Passport Processing Will Start Back Up?
- Frequently check the travel.state.gov website.
- Why will there be delays once the Passport Agency reopens?
- There are only 26 passport agencies in the United States. They will need to get back up and running, and will have significant backlogging from previous applications. As of June 15, 14 U.S. Passport Agencies are entering phase one of their three-phase reopening plan.
- There are only 26 passport agencies in the United States. They will need to get back up and running, and will have significant backlogging from previous applications. As of June 15, 14 U.S. Passport Agencies are entering phase one of their three-phase reopening plan.
If you’re currently looking to obtain a passport, you’re not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people are in the same boat, and most (if not all) of those people have similar questions in regards to when they’ll be able to apply and receive their passport.
If you’re looking for some clarity, here’s what you need to know:
I Applied For a Passport Months Ago. Where Is It?
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Passport Agency had to shut down and as of March 25, 2020, they’ve been processing passports for emergencies only. If your passport application was not considered a life-or-death emergency, your passport application has been put on hold until the Passport Agency reopens.
As of July 6, 2020, 12 U.S. Passport Agencies are in phase one and 4 U.S. Passport Agencies are in phase two of the three-phase reopening plan. During phase one, appointments are limited to customers who must travel internationally in the next 72 hours due to a life-or-death emergency. During phase two, most staff will return to the agency and processing of previously received applications will resume.
I Applied For an Expedited Passport Months Ago. Where Is It?
As of March 19, 2020, all expedited passport services have been suspended until further notice.
What’s Considered a Life-Or-Death Emergency?
The U.S. Department of State states that life-or-death emergencies are injuries, serious illnesses, or deaths in your immediate family that requires you to travel outside the United States within 72 hours. Immediate family includes a parent, spouse, child, aunt, sibling, uncle, etc.
What Do I Need to Apply For a Life-Or-Death Emergency Passport?
In order to begin the process of receiving a passport for a life-or-death emergency, you’ll need to provide proof of the life-or-death emergency such as a statement from a mortuary, a signed letter from a medical professional or hospital, or a death certificate. Please note that these documents must be in English or translated to English. You’ll also need a passport application with all supporting documents, as well as proof of international travel that relates to the emergency (plane ticket, reservation, etc).
How Can I Check the Status of my Passport Application?
You can check the status of your application and sign up for updates by going to the U.S. Passport Application Status webpage.
Can I Apply For a Passport Right Now?
You should wait to apply until the Passport Agency reopens. According to the U.S. Department of State, if you apply or renew for a passport now, you will experience significant delays of several months to receive your U.S. passport and the return of your citizenship evidence documents.
Can I Apply Through a Third-Party Passport Agency Like Swift?
You can apply through a third-party passport agency such as Swift, but there will still be delays in processing times. It might be helpful for you to apply through a third-party passport agency if you want the comfort of knowing that they’ll be handling the application process for you.
Can I Renew My Passport Right Now?
According to the U.S. Department of State website, unless you have a life-or-death emergency, please wait until normal operations resume to renew your passport.
Where Can I Get Updates on When Passport Processing Will Start Back Up?
To get updates on when passport processing will start back up, you should frequently check the travel.state.gov website.
Why Will There Be Delays Once the Passport Agency Reopens?
There are only 26 regional passport agencies across the United States and it’s going to take some time to get them running and back up to speed. Furthermore, all of the passport agencies will be backed up from prior passport applications that haven’t yet been processed.
As of July 6, 2020, 12 U.S. Passport Agencies are in phase one and 4 U.S. Passport Agencies are in phase two of the three-phase reopening plan. During phase one, appointments are limited to customers who must travel internationally in the next 72 hours due to a life-or-death emergency. During phase two, most staff will return to the agency and processing of previously received applications will resume.
We understand that you’re frustrated because frankly, we are too. It’s important that we all be patient during this time and just know that we’ll get through this together. Swift has the same information everyone else has, and the best place to get updates is travel.state.gov.
