The U.S. State Department is alerting travelers applying for U.S. passports that it may take as long as two-and-a-half months for routine processing. Travelers paying extra for expedited processing should expect a four-week wait.
The State Dept. said that aside from the fact that in anticipation of the busy summer season (January through April is typically a peak season for passport applications), the number of applications this year has significantly increased due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a law requiring airline passengers entering the U.S. from within the Western Hemisphere to possess a valid passport.
By June 2009, the same requirement will be extended to travelers crossing U.S. land and seaport borders.
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