Americans are eager to travel internationally more than ever. Back in March, the State Department shared in a release that it was receiving as many as 500,000 passport applications a week and that it was ”on track to set the record for the highest demand year ever.” As a result, the department is hosting a series of events in states across the U.S. this summer to help travelers complete their applications.
Held at public libraries, recreation centers and other city administrative offices, these Special Passport Acceptance Fairs are set to take place in California, New Jersey, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin. New events are added weekly, with the full schedule available here. If you don’t live near any of the event locations, you can search a list of Post Offices and other locations that can help with a passport application on the State Department’s website.
Note that the fairs are only for new passport applicants, so if you need to renew your passport, the department encourages you to do so by mail.
Whether you’re applying for a new passport or renewing, make sure you plan ahead: the current processing time for passports is 10 to 13 weeks, seven to nine with expedited service.