Getting a passport or renewing your current one has become much simpler. The U.S. State Department recently revealed plans to open new passport offices in six cities nationwide, adding to the existing 29 offices.

The new offices will be strategically located across the U.S. to help millions of Americans easily get or renew their passports. Currently, about 48% of Americans have passports, a significant increase from just 5% in 1990.

While you can renew your passport by mail or sometimes online, the only way to get a new passport is to apply in person at a passport office or acceptance facility. Visiting a passport office is also the most straightforward way to renew an expiring passport. These new offices will be a great help to many travelers.

Here are the cities where the new passport offices will soon open:
– Salt Lake City, Utah
– Kansas City, Missouri
– Orlando, Florida
– Charlotte, North Carolina
– San Antonio, Texas
– Cincinnati, Ohio

The exact opening dates for these offices haven’t been announced yet, but all locations have been confirmed. This is welcome news for millions of Americans who previously had to travel long distances to reach a passport office. For instance, people in north or central Florida had to drive to Miami, which could take over six hours. Similarly, residents of Charlotte, North Carolina, had to go to Atlanta, more than four hours away.

These new offices in densely populated cities will make it much easier to find a passport office nearby.

Regarding mail applications, you can renew an expired passport by mail, but you can’t apply for a new one this way. However, I don’t recommend renewing by mail due to the long processing times, which can take 6 to 8 weeks, plus additional mailing time.

As for online applications, the State Department introduced an online passport renewal system at the beginning of 2023. However, this is only for renewals, not for first-time applications. The online system has had many glitches and takes as long as mail renewals.

Therefore, I suggest applying for or renewing your passport in person at a passport office. You can schedule an appointment by calling 1-877-487-2778.