The U.S. Department of State has updated its online passport renewal service, allowing travelers to upload documents digitally instead of mailing them.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the rollout is currently limited to a specific time slot around noon Eastern time, starting at 1 p.m.
Once the daily limit is reached, the system will be shut down, and if you see a message that you can’t start your application, officials recommend trying again another day.
Travelers should watch a video on how to select and upload a passport photo.
The limited service is expected to continue for several months.
Processing times are typically six to eight weeks, and the online system is not currently available to applicants who require expedited service or emergency travel options.
This is not the first time that online updates have been made available, but the ministry said it has made improvements to the update.
Since reopening after the pandemic, passport processing times have slowed significantly due to a surge in travelers and reduced staffing, but the ministry says normal services have been restored.
The rollout is part of President Joe Biden’s fiscal 2023 budget, which includes $163 million to revamp passport delivery to allow Americans to access key services online. The budget also includes funding for customer-facing upgrades for the TSA and the Social Security Administration.
The Department’s announcement follows the IRS’s decision to permanently implement a free direct-file system for filing abbreviated tax returns, part of the Biden Administration’s $642 million effort to improve customer service to taxpayers.
