The United States’ latest government shutdown has been ongoing for around a month, but those applying for passports don’t have to worry about their applications being delayed.
The State Department notes on its website that “consular operations domestically and abroad will remain operational” during the government shutdown. However, the department further stated on September 30 that “certain domestic support for consular operations will be suspended.” Notably, the government designates the Bureau of Consular Affairs, a part of the State Department, as an essential agency that must continue operating during the shutdown.
Consular operations include passport and visa services, as well as assistance to American citizens while abroad. That said, those applying for a passport for the first time or renewing shouldn’t experience processing delays due to the shutdown.
What Else Should Travelers Know About The Government Shutdown And The Current Passport Application Process?
The government shutdown began October 1. Federally funded government agencies and operations have been paused. That said, passport and visa operations are different, as they are funded directly by Americans who pay to have their travel documents processed, updated, and returned to them.
The State Department notes on its website that passport application processing times are currently standard. That means a four to six week wait for routine processing and two to three weeks for expedited service, not including mailing times.The United States Postal Service is also funded directly by its users, so its passport deliveries shouldn’t be delayed by them either. The State Department notes, “It may take two weeks for your application to get to us, and two weeks for you to get your passport after we mail it.”
Though passport and visa application operations may be running smoothly, several other government-related sectors of the travel industry are not during the shutdown. The disruptive consequences include nationwide air travel delays and employee sickouts caused by certain essential federal workers being required to work without their scheduled pay.
