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How much and how long does it take to get a US passport?
The US passport allows travel to 185 countries without major restrictions, making it as strong as the UK passport. How easy is it to get one?
Getting a US passport is not a simple endeavor, and takes a considerable amount of time. If you are planning a holiday, it is worth checking your passport is in date to save a potential rush further down the line; you could be waiting over a month for a new one.
What are the requirements?
Firstly, and most importantly, you need to be an American citizen, not resident, to get the passport. If your visa is a non-immigrant visa, then you need to change your status and begin that process before being able to get a passport. After five years of having a Green Card, it is possible to apply for US citizenship
What about the actual process?
So it's all done, right?
Usually, the waiting time for a passport application is between four and six weeks. However, it is possible to pay for your application to be fast-tracked, cutting the time to two to three weeks, but also costing $60 more.
However, this is all based upon usual timings and the covid-19 pandemic has increased the waiting time considerably.
For people over 16, a passport is valid for ten years, while under 16s only last for five.
What about renewing a passport?
The processing methods and time for renewals are the same as if you were applying for the first time. With a standard renewal, your passport renewal will take 4 to 6 weeks and pay no extra fees besides the $110 application fee.