Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski today warned travelers in need of a passport that the U.S. Department of State is taking longer to process passport applications. Jastrzemski said routine processing will now take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks.
“The Department of State issued a bulletin this week alerting us to the increased processing times,” said Jastrzemski. “The State Department said this year’s volume of applications has outpaced last year’s record volume by more than 30 percent.”
Jastrzemski said those in need of a passport can schedule an appointment with the Niagara County Clerk’s office to process their application by calling (716) 439-7025. A list of passport requirements can be found at https://www.niagaracounty.com/departments/a-f/county_clerk/index.php. He also encouraged those who have passports to check the expiration date to make sure it is still current.
“Now that we are aware of the longer processing time, I want to urge those who are planning to travel internationally and need a passport to plan accordingly and get their application submitted,” said Jastrzemski.
