How long can I reissue my American passport before it expires?

1. American passport, if it is about to expire, and you plan to go abroad within six months, it is recommended to apply for renewal now. Normally, it takes six weeks to apply for an American passport, but it is estimated that it will take six months to get one this year.

There may be a backlog of passport applications this year.

The State Council predicted that the demand for American passports may surge in the coming months, which will lead to a backlog of passport processing.

Due to the 9 1 1 terrorist attacks, the US government began to implement the "Western Hemisphere Travel Plan" on June 23, 2007, requiring all travelers (including American citizens) flying between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South American countries, the Caribbean and Bermuda to hold valid passports.

3. According to the data of the State Council, the number of passport applicants in that year exceeded180,000. Since American passports are valid for 10 years, it is expected that millions of people will queue up to renew their passports this year, all at the same time. So it's best to apply in advance.

Globally, passport application procedures have become more stringent, as many countries are tightening their borders. Worried that terrorists will harm their nationals, countries have also begun to use passports to detect who has entered their country.

It's not just international travelers who will block the passport system. In the next few years, the "Real Identity Law" stipulated by Congress will require state certificates to contain some security features, such as machine-readable data chips. In some technologically backward states, residents will not be able to get on planes with their driver's licenses, even on domestic flights. This will also lead to an increase in passport applications.

4. Use identification documents issued by some states, such as Maine and Missouri. If the state government does not adjust in time to catch up with the new standards, residents with driver's licenses will be refused to fly. Some States have extended it, but all driver's licenses must meet the standards by 2020. Frequent travelers who are worried that their state of residence will not cooperate in time can apply for their own passports.