Travel News

The Latest US Passport Update – A Big Milestone!

a close up of two passports
Written by Charlie

Here is the latest US passport update with a big milestone having been reached by the US State Department! Find out how many passports were issued, how many are left, and how to get updates on yours!

For the first time since the coronavirus closures had started, the US State Department now has less than 1 million passports to process. This is indeed great news as they have been receiving many new passport applications/renewals every week as well. Here is the latest US passport update so you know how your passport status may stand.

The Latest US Passport Update

Remember, they are processing them a first come/first out basis. To understand how the whole passport processing is accomplished (as well as where your passport is sent), check out this post for a cool infographic to break it all down.

Here is how the State Department did in the last week, as well as the two previous weeks:

Week (Thursday-Wednesday) Applications Received Passports Awaiting Issuance* Passports Issued
This Week (Aug 6-Aug 12) 151,000 968,000 235,000
Last Week (July 30-Aug 5) 139,000 1.06 million 213,000
2 Weeks Ago (July 23-July 29) 143,000 1.15 million 206,000

Not only has the State Department issued more passports this past week than they did in each of the previous two weeks, but they have now gotten below that big 7 figure number of passports awaiting issuance.

I have been hearing from readers lately that passports submitted in June are now being sent back out! This means we are right in the ballpark of the normal summer season for passport processing – great news indeed!

This is especially great news because the passport agencies are not even at Phase Three yet – many are not even at Phase Two! This means they are operating with more limited staffs yet still getting the job done!

Invalid request error occurred.

Now, the State Department has made an effort to let people know that the number of passports awaiting issuance is not abnormal for past years during the busy season. They say this: “In prior years, the average number of passport applications in process during our busy season has routinely exceeded 1 million.”

So, if you have a passport that was sent in, chances are you may not have to wait more than a few weeks before you see your new one coming in the mail!

Getting Your Passport Status and Update

Here is what you need to do, per the US State Department:

Status updates are available online or by calling us at 1-877-487-2778. You can go to our Online Passport Status System and sign up for automatic email notifications about your passport status.

You will receive an email when your passport is 1) In Process: your application is being reviewed at a passport agency or center, 2) Approved: your application has been approved and will be printed, and 3) Mailed.

If you receive a status update of Not Found, your application is still in transit to one of our agencies and centers or we are experiencing a temporary, technical issue with our Online Passport Status System. 

Some of the links on Running with Miles are affiliate links that pay a commission if a purchase is made. Running with Miles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.

2 Comments