YUBA CITY, Calif. – Jon Poganski was concerned about making it to Toronto, Canada, to assist his team in a race car series. While the process of applying for a passport was relatively simple, finding an appointment to submit the application proved to be a challenge. Passport acceptance centers are fully booked, with no available appointment slots.
Customers form early morning lines at the Sutter County clerk-recorder’s office to submit passport applications. (Fox News)
In certain parts of Northern California, appointments for passport applications are not available until mid-September.
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Although the United States Postal Service passport acceptance facility accepts walk-ins, nearly all appointment slots are booked for the next 45 days.
“Due to the surge in demand for passports, we are experiencing a high volume of requests for passport appointments,” said a USPS spokesperson.
This situation, like Poganski’s, can prevent travelers from making their scheduled trips.
Employees at the Sutter County clerk-recorder’s office have noticed a significant increase in passport applications. (Fox News)
“Planning the trip took some time,” Poganski said, as he had to drive over an hour to find an acceptance facility that could process his passport application.
The Sutter County clerk-recorder’s office in Northern California is one of the few passport acceptance facilities that only accept walk-ins and do not schedule appointments.
“There was a period when the passport agency was not accepting any applications, so we have a backlog of people wanting to apply,” said Clerk-Recorder Donna Johnston.
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Johnston mentioned that customers start lining up early in the morning, even before the office opens, to ensure their passport applications can be submitted. The acceptance center then sends the applications to the State Department for processing.
The Sutter County clerk-recorder’s office in Yuba City, Calif., is one of a few passport acceptance centers where walk-in appointments are accepted rather than appointment-only services. (Fox News)
“I had a coworker come in early to cover for me, so I could be here when they opened at 7,” Poganski said. Johnston added that they occasionally have travelers from other states come to their office to submit applications.
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“The easing of travel restrictions has also led to an increase in the number of visitors,” Johnston said.
State Department data reveals a significant drop in passport issuances during the pandemic in 2020. In 2020, just under 12 million passports were issued, compared to over 20 million in 2019. In 2021, more than 15 million passports were issued.
“To avoid delays and potential travel disruptions, U.S. citizens and nationals should apply for a new passport as early as possible,” stated a State Department spokesperson.
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Due to the lack of available appointments and processing times, obtaining a passport could take several months.
The current processing time for routine service is 8-11 weeks, while expedited service takes 5-7 weeks. These time frames represent the waiting period after applications have been received by a passport agency.
