State Department Releases More Passport Fair Dates for First-time International Travelers

A new batch of Passport Acceptance Fairs are taking place across the country through November.

The State Department is continuing to host passport fairs around the country helping first-time international travelers get their required documents.

The newest batch of fairs, which provide in-person assistance and support with the passport process include events include Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 12; Tucson on Oct. 26; Newark, New Jersey on Nov. 16. 

In total, there are over 25 different passport fair events scheduled over the next two months, with more being added weekly. The agency updates the calendar, and provides a full listing of events on their website. 

While the Special Acceptance Passport Fairs are for first-time applicants only, there are new time-saving tips for people seeking to renew their passport. The Department of State recently launched online passport renewals, which eliminates printing and mailing the renewal forms.

Following the news of additional passport fairs, the State Department also recently shared that processing times for routine passports dropped to 4-6 weeks.

The processing time is considerably faster than a year ago, when the estimate was as much as thirteen weeks to process a new passport application. The Department of State saw a surge of applications, as much as 500,000 a week throughout 2022 and 2023. 

“We change our processing times as demand for passports changes during the year,” the State Department shared on the processing site. “From late winter into summer, demand for passports is generally higher than other periods of the year.”

While the shorter turnaround time is good news, the passport application process can sometimes be difficult for first-time applicants. 

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.