Urgent passport warning for Americans heading abroad this year issued by State Department

Americans planning international travel this year have been issued an urgent warning by the State Department regarding passport applications.

The department advises individuals to apply at least six months before their intended travel dates due to a significant backlog in processing applications.

Currently, the processing times for normal passport applications range from 10 to 13 weeks, while expedited passports take approximately seven to nine weeks, according to the information provided on the agency's website.

However, these timeframes are estimates and not guarantees.

The State Department acknowledges the record-high demand for passports and anticipates that the demand will continue to rise throughout the spring and remain elevated throughout the summer.

Americans are being urged to apply for a passport at least six months before they need it due to a backlog in applications (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In a statement a spokesperson said: "We are on track to set the record for the highest demand year ever, far surpassing volumes seen during previous surges in demand in 2007 and 2017.

"During some weeks this winter, the Department received more than 500,000 applications, the highest number ever for this time of year, exceeding our official projections."

The deluge is on-track to top last year’s 22 million passports issued, the State Department added.

The epic wait times are blamed on lingering pandemic-related staffing shortages and a pause of online processing this year.

There is a much-feared backup of U.S passport applications (AFP via Getty Images)

In response to the surge in applications, the agency is directing additional resources to meet the unprecedented demand witnessed in 2023.

A spokesperson added: "As more Americans are travelling internationally again, we are directing resources to meet the unprecedented demand seen so far in 2023."

For those who have already applied for a U.S. passport, the State Department provides an online service to check the status of their application.

Given the current circumstances, Americans planning international travel are strongly urged to heed the State Department's warning and submit their passport applications well in advance.

Doing so will help ensure timely processing, minimise the risk of disruptions to travel plans, and provide peace of mind during the heightened demand.