• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Galveston County News Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News Local News

Passports Continue To Be Delayed In Harris, Galveston Counties Due To COVID-19, Employee Shortages – KTRK-TV

passports-continue-to-be-delayed-in-harris,-galveston-counties-due-to-covid-19,-employee-shortages-–-ktrk-tv
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

HOUSTON, Texas — Residents applying for a passport are experiencing unprecedented wait times caused by ongoing staffing shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Harris and Galveston County, and government officials.

Andres Rodriguez, a representative of passport services for the U.S. Department of State, said there are fewer employees, adding to delays.

“We had ramped down operations for COVID-19, so in some locations, we did have less employees coming into the office,” he said. “Then with an increased amount of workload, it added to the existing workload we already had.”

Local counties are experiencing similar challenges. Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess said while processing times have improved in recent months, elongated wait times still persist.

“Passports are definitely delayed by the state department. It was up to 18 weeks to get a passport processed; they just lowered it (in late September),” Burgess said. “So we’re moving in the right direction, but it’s definitely related to COVID-19 and so many people working remotely.”

SEE RELATED STORY: Passport fees about to increase by $20, US State Dept. says

As of December, it was taking eight to 11 weeks for normal passport applications to process. Before the pandemic, the wait was typically six to eight weeks, according to Rodriguez. At the Galveston County District Clerk’s Office, there has been an influx of passport applications since spring 2021 with the office not having to close this past summer.

“We had a downturn when we had the coronavirus. We’re getting back to almost normal levels now,” Galveston County District Clerk John Kinard said.

One of the reasons for the delay is the overwhelming number of new people who are deciding to travel now that less strict COVID-19 restrictions are in place, according to Burgess.

“A lot of people were not traveling at all during the early stages of the pandemic, and so now that things have started opening up, people are getting ready to travel,” Burgess said. “So it’s a bigger influx of new applications because we went so long without any.”

For those unable to wait eight to 11 weeks for a passport, they still have the option of getting their passport expedited for an additional fee of $60-which would instead take about five to seven weeks to process-or there is the option of trying to get an emergency appointment, according to Rodriguez.

In Texas, there are currently three agencies that will take emergency appointments, located in Houston, El Paso and Dallas. For international travel, you must be traveling within 72 hours to receive an appointment and have printed proof of the international travel such as a flight itinerary or hotel reservation, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Burgess advised people who are planning on traveling to start planning for it in advance. Anyone wishing to apply for a passport should check with their local offices to determine what services they are offering.

Click here to view original article with our partners at Community Impact Newspaper.

Galveston County News Online

© 2021 Galveston County News Online

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Galveston County News Online

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT