Same Day Passports

Economy
1

Americans for an additional cost use to be able to get their Passports the same day, even if they had to travel to the only office available in their state.
With more technology it takes now on average four to eight weeks weeks to get a Passport. Third world countries have a faster turn around on their Passports than Americans do. Even of it has a higher cost, I am sure that many Americans would pay extra to have their Passports the same day. It can possibly be one dedicated office per state, but it needs to happen. Getting a Passport should not be complicated in a new and moden world.

3

I’m hoping that the State Department (which oversees the issuance of passports) under Secretary of State Rubio will, with the help of DOGE streamline the Passport system.

There is no reason that a Passport should take 6-8 weeks or more to process. Likewise there should be justification for the (currently) $130 application fee, and the separate $35 “acceptance” fee. Yes, I can understand a fee for processing, but what sets that fee amount?

And do we really need to take all of this hard copy documentation to an acceptance center (Post Office, etc)? Why not provide a means of securely submitting an application online, with digital photos, etc.

Then there’s the “expedite” fees - want in in less than 6-8 weeks? Expect to pay $60 more dollars for 2 week service, along with $22 for “overnight” delivery by mail (otherwise it’s regular first-class mail).

And heaven forbid if you need it less than 2 weeks, you have to go to an actual Passport Office, and even there with the expedite fees can still not turn it around in a day.

Ideally, it should be as follows:

  • New passport - not to exceed 3 weeks, $100, all documents uploaded online to a secure website.
  • Renew passport - not to exceed 2 weeks, $100, all documents uploaded online.
  • Expedited passport - travel in less than 2 weeks, $100 + $50 expedite fee at a Passport Office, leave with passport same day. Application still done online, along with uploading all documents - and when expedite is selected, you pick a Passport Office and make an appointment within the same workflow.