A long-awaited modernization blueprint for US passport services unveiled

If you ever had to apply for a US passport or renew your existing one, you probably noticed how outdated and low-tech the process felt for modern times. After not being updated for decades, American passport processing is finally getting a much-needed makeover.

On December 13, 2021, President Biden issued a new executive order that aims to cut the amount of time people spend accessing ALL kinds of government services, including scheduling callback time with the IRS, applying for Social Security or Medicare benefits, and renewing a passport. 

These customer experience improvement commitments involve technological enhancements and new digital systems to make the processes more convenient for the public. 

“Technology is a way to do that in many ways―to make it easier, simpler, more accessible for people, whether they are seniors who are trying to get their Social Security benefits or people just applying to renew their passports.”  Biden said.

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The problems with the old system were particularly evident when the COVID-19 pandemic forced passport offices and processing facilities in the US to close for months in 2020. As a result, the system got jammed with millions of passport requests, and the wait times for the passport renewal completion had gone up to over 4 months. Many trips got disrupted as travelers were not getting their passports in time. 

Delays like this had also occurred in the past during government shutdowns due to budget negotiations in Congress.

Once a new digital system is designed, travelers will no longer be required to mail physical documents to the US State Department to renew their passports. The implementation of the new order is expected to take from 6 to 12 months.

According to the White House, this system change will impact over 2 million passengers who come through US airports each day and help cut down the time, effort, and money it takes to print documents, mail them from a post office, and pay using a paper check. 

As stated in the executive order, 

“Every interaction between the Federal Government and the public… should be seen as an opportunity for the Government to save an individual’s time (and thus reduce ‘time taxes’) and to deliver the level of service that the public expects and deserves.” 

The topic captured the attention of some travel industry executives. According to Alisa Cohen, founder of the Luxe Traveler Club, this move is exciting news. Still, she expects it will take a while to be implemented because passports have become one of the hardest parts of travel since the pandemic. 

Meanwhile, Peter Vlitas, Internova Travel Group’s Senior Vice President of Airline Relations, said while he welcomes the Biden administration’s new order to modernize passport services and other government services, he hopes it is part of a more extensive effort to streamline the entire American travel experience. 

Well, that seems to be in the White House’s pipeline as well! 

In travel, the executive order’s other promised enhancements include shorter security and check-in lines at airports thanks to the increased use of advanced technologies. There will also be additional communication channels to make connecting with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) easier for travelers with time-sensitive questions.

We are hopeful here at WikiMiles, but I would not plan on them taking place quite yet. For now, passport renewal remains a hassle. You can find some advice on the best passport renewal strategies here.

Also, if you are a frequent international traveler, you may consider getting a second US passport.

Let us know your thoughts on this by commenting below or messaging us via email or direct message. We’d love to hear from you!