![]() Therefore, I ask that you please address the following questions: 1. Simply put, the service my constituents have received is unacceptable. However, the OPR system seems to be fraught with significant errors that have caused Virginians headaches, stress, and unfortunately in some instances, delayed or missed travel. In an increasingly online age, I welcome the ability for my constituents to renew their passports through a secure paperless process. That said, the applicants still faced delays and, in some cases, ultimately needed to physically travel to a Passport Agency, often the day before their scheduled travel, in order to have their passport issued. In many cases, my constituents filed well in advance of their travel date and paid for expedited processing. Since the start of 2023, my office has received a significant increase in requests from Virginians who are experiencing considerable delays in the processing of their renewal applications filed through the OPR system prior to its closure. During that time, many Virginians participated in utilizing this system to submit their passport renewals. The OPR system opened to the public in a pilot status in August 2022, and the agency reports it received more than 500,000 applications before they system closed in February 2023. I write today to express my concern and frustration with the State Department’s Online Passport Renewal (OPR) system. Warner for assistance through his website, available here.Ī copy of the letter can be found here and below. Constituents experiencing any problems with new passport applications or passport renewals through both online and traditional applications can reach out to Sen. Warner’s constituent casework team works daily to help Virginians with a variety of federal agency needs, including help with passport renewal. Can you further explain these technical issues and what steps the agency is taking to fix these issues? Members of my staff have been told by Passport Agency officials that “technical issues” can at times impede the processing of an OPR application and that officials must transfer the application into the traditional system for final processing.Does agency data reflect that some Passport Agencies are more successful in processing OPR applications timely than others? If so, what does the agency believe is the source of this imbalance, and how is the agency addressing this problem?.What is the current average processing time of an application submitted through the OPR process compared to those submitted through the traditional process? Please indicate the processing time for applications submitted under both expedited and routine processing.How does the agency determine the assignment of OPR applications to their Passport Agencies across the country? How does this compare to the assignment of traditional applications received?.How does the agency’s handling of passport applications submitted online differ from those that are filed through traditional processes, either by applying at a Passport Acceptance Facility in person or by U.S. ![]() ![]() Warner posed a series of questions to better understand how the State Department plans to address the backlog: ![]() Simply put, the service my constituents have received is unacceptable.” ![]() “However, the OPR system seems to be fraught with significant errors that have caused Virginians headaches, stress, and unfortunately in some instances, delayed or missed travel. “In an increasingly online age, I welcome the ability for my constituents to renew their passports through a secure paperless process,” wrote Sen. In addition to costly delays, many constituents who filed to renew their passports online are receiving little to no information on the progress being made with applications regardless of how well in advance of planned travel their requests were filed, leaving many in limbo waiting for their documents. The online system has been unable to keep up with demand, leaving travelers scrambling to replace their passports at the last minute. Blinken regarding the now-closed Online Passport Renewal (OPR) System, which received more than 500,000 requests from August 2022 to February 2023. Warner sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ensure that the State Department is taking proper steps to clear the passport backlog and fulfill renewal requests. Many constituents are expressing frustration caused by prolonged and unexplained delays as to the status of their travel documents. Warner (D-VA) has seen a steady rise in requests for assistance regarding passport applications and renewals. WASHINGTON – With summer just around the corner, U.S. ![]()
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