Warning: State Department passport backlog

We shoulda seen this one coming. The State Department apparently has a significant backlog of passport applications, which could affect the vacations of tens of thousands of Americans this summer.

Now, everyone expected a slowdown in processing new passports. In January, a new rule requiring a passport to enter the United States by plane from Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean went into effect. But the State Department site says processing times can be up to 10 weeks.

That may be an understatement. Just yesterday, I received a desperate note from reader Christine Simmons, who had booked an Expedia vacation that was to have begun this morning.

Both she and her husband had sent away for passports back in January. “I received mine three weeks ago,” she wrote. “Based on the government Web site, my husband’s passport was sent March 13. We haven’t received it yet. We have done everything in our power to track it, but to no avail.”

This morning I suggested that she contact Expedia and try to reschedule her vacation. The online agency was very understanding and charged her a modest change fee for a new trip in May.

Meanwhile, I got on the phone to the State Department’s press office. I reached someone who said there was a “significant” backlog of passport applications, to the extent that the State Department had created a special task force to handle queries related to passports.

That sounded very significant to me.

He offered to transfer me to the task force phone line, promising that it wouldn’t take any longer than 5 to 10 minutes before my call was answered. But after 20 minutes on “hold,” I gave up and tried to contact the State Department by e-mail. I reached someone immediately, but was passed along to another spokesman, who, at the time of this posting, hasn’t responded to me.

Based on the conversations with Simmons and the unnamed State Department spokesman, I have a hunch that for some travelers, it may take longer than 10 weeks to get a passport. In other words, if you’re planning a summer vacation overseas, you might want to apply for your passport right now.

I’m happy to report that Simmons’ husband’s passport did finally arrive today — a few hours after they were supposed to leave for their vacation.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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