![]() "So, I’m rescheduling my flight for an appointment you might not be able to get," he said.Ĭurrently, the State Department notes on its website that a standard wait time for a passport has dropped from 18 weeks to 8-11 weeks. And sign up for BREAKING NEWS emails delivered straight to your inbox. Get breaking news alerts in the FREE FOX 13 Seattle app. RELATED: Flight cancellations slowing as Fourth of July weekend ends A rule that had been in place that would have allowed him to travel was in place, due to the long backlog of passports being processed around the country, but that rule expired July 1. His passport is valid, but it expires soon. Perkins was supposed to fly to Munich for job training early Tuesday morning. He spent several hours waiting in line before they ultimately told everyone that they wouldn’t be able to see anyone that day. Jeff Perkins, who drove up from Portland, said he’d waited most of the day for a walk-in appointment. So, it remains unclear whether the issues in Seattle are happening at other offices across the country, or if they are a one-time or long-term issue. haven’t been responded to-as the man noted to the people in line, they work on East Coast timeframes. Inquiries sent to the State Department in D.C. The worker, wearing a lanyard identifying him as a public affairs officer, told FOX 13 News that there’s no holdup, it’s simply an issue of volume and a small waiting room inside. "Inefficient, understaffed and, I’d say, not very empathetic for people that need emergency passports," Cook described. You have to keep calling, they’re two hours ahead of us, so 6 o’clock in the morning is the best time to call." He and others described that sometimes you’ll find an appointment, but by the time you get through the questions associated with it, the spot will be snatched up by someone on another line.Ī worker at the Seattle office told one patron: "Over 200,000 people are calling that number every day. That’s why Cook spent days calling what he estimates was more than 200 times. However, if someone cancels, you can potentially pick up the appointment. Usually, you can request an appointment 2 weeks out. That line he’s referring to is for emergency passport situations. in the afternoon I was able to get the appointment here – I was in Chicago, the only place I could get the appointment was in Seattle." "I spent last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday calling," explained Cook.
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