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Casework Corner - Passport Agency May Refund Your Expedite Fee

By Joshua Dieker
District Representative

Since January of this year, over 500 Kansans have contacted Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's office to request help with their problems applying for a U.S. passport. Many of their applications were mired in a massive backlog over the summer, after the State Department changed travel regulations to require a passport for air travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. During the worst stretch, the average application processing time nearly doubled, from 10 to 18 weeks.

Some Kansans who learned of the backlog from news reports decided to pay an extra $60 fee to expedite their applications, hoping for a faster turnaround. Unfortunately, many found themselves waiting far longer than the few weeks usually required for an expedited passport.

If you paid to expedite your passport application and believe that you did not receive expedited service, there's good news: You may be eligible to receive a refund of your $60 expedite fee. To apply, simply contact the State Department at the address below. (You may also contact the State Department by e-mail at refundsatpassportservices@state.gov.)

Service Refund
Department of State
2999 Passport PL
Washington, DC 20522-2999

Your refund request should include your passport number, name, mailing address, phone number, date and place of birth, the approximate dates you applied for and received your passport, and the reasons why you believe your application did not receive expedited service.

Please keep in mind that the State Department considers requests for refunds on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, they do not refund passport application or execution fees, and they do not compensate applicants for missed travel.

The State Department announced earlier this month that the turnaround time for passport applications has, at last, returned to normal. Even so, if you encounter trouble at any stage of your passport application, please do not hesitate to contact Congresswoman Boyda's district offices for help. You can reach us at (785) 234-8111 in Topeka or (620) 231-3011 in Pittsburg.  We would be pleased to assist you.