New York passport renewal during COVID-19
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many things have changed in terms of when, where, and how we travel. In particular, passport operations have been significantly changed indefinitely. If you are interested in New York passport renewal services in the near future, here is what you need to know.
Prioritization
One of the main things that have changed in terms of passport renewal is that the New York Passport Agency is prioritizing those who have to leave the country due to a life-or-death emergency. This is specifically for those who have a major emergency that requires them to have to leave the country within 72 hours. They are also now offering more appointments for these services than in previous months.
By Appointment Only
Another thing you need to beware of in terms of New York passport renewal services is that all services are being offered by appointment only. No matter what type of passport services you are seeking, you need to be sure to call ahead or fill out an online form to schedule an appointment before you travel to the office.
Delays
Yet another major thing you need to be aware of is the fact that there will likely be delays for those who are not in the need of a passport for an immediate life-or-death situation. This is due to the fact that services were shut down entirely in March, and have only been slowly reopening since June. Nevertheless, there were many people who had already sent in their paperwork or visited the office for passport services before the office was shutdown. This means that the office has to prioritize older applications before moving forward with those that were sent in recently This has caused significant delays in terms of processing for virtually everyone who is in need of passport services.
Restrictions
Lastly, when visiting the office, face masks or coverings are required in all common areas, which includes the lobbies. Patrons are also expected to observe social distancing as much as possible, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Overall, although things are getting back to normal at the New York Passport Agency, we still have a way to go. Unfortunately, this means that the average person, who is not in need of a passport for an extreme emergency, can expect delays in terms of the processing and receipt of their passports. Therefore, if you need to renew your passport in the near future, you should make an appointment and/or submit all paperwork as soon as possible.
