US Passport. Travel Pulse
A class action lawsuit has been initiated against the U.S. State Department regarding its $60 fee for expedited passport processing. An Oakland resident leads this effort, aiming to reclaim what they call an "excessive" and "arbitrary" charge.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began over four years ago, passport processing times have faced significant delays. Although these times are starting to improve, the plaintiffs argue that the expedited fee is unjustified, considering that regular processing should only take four to six weeks and expedited processing is meant to be completed in two to three weeks.
Applicants already pay $100 or more for obtaining or renewing their passports, which adds to their frustration. The travellers involved in the lawsuit are demanding the return of all expedited processing fees that they believe were unlawfully charged during the class period.
The demand for U.S. passports has surged in recent years, with over 24 million people applying last year alone. However, the fees associated with passport applications have also risen. The lawsuit claims that the State Department has failed to provide adequate reasoning for the $60 expedited processing fee. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
