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U.S. passports can now be renewed online, State Department announces
The State Department announced Wednesday that Americans can now renew their adult passports online, fully rolling out a system that bypasses the traditional method that required printing out a form and mailing a check.
“By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible,” the State Department said in a statement. “Thanks to increased staffing, technological advancements, and a host of other improvements, the average routine passport is being processed today in roughly one-third the time as at the same point last summer, and well under the advertised six to eight weeks processing times.”
The State Department launched a public beta version of the new process in June, which is now available 24/7.
The requirements for renewing a passport remain in place through the online system, including uploading a passport photo, paying fees and renewing within a certain timeframe. As with mail renewal, a passport that has expired within the last five years can be renewed online.
As of now, only adult passports are available to be renewed online, and only those living in the U.S., either a state or territory, can renew their passports online.
Rena Bitter, assistant secretary of consular affairs, told reporters Wednesday that the processing time is still six to eight weeks.
“The benefit of online passport renewal is that it’s a more convenient service,” Bitter said. “We don’t expect to have a different service standard for people who apply online versus people who apply by mail. We just want to make sure that we give the American people a choice to be able to do either.”
In 2021, COVID-related staffing shortages and other factors led the wait time for passport renewal to balloon to 18 weeks, despite a drop in demand. In 2023, demand bounced back with more Americans resuming global travel, further straining the system. The State Department announced later in the year that processing times had returned to normal.
According to the State Department, 48% of Americans had passports in 2023, up from 5% in 1990.
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Shohei Ohtani becomes first player in major league history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season
Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers star going deep twice to reach the half-century mark and swiping two bags to get to 51 against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
Ohtani hit his 50th homer in the seventh inning, an opposite-field, two-run shot to left against Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. One inning earlier, he hit his 49th, launching a 1-1 slider from George Soriano 438 feet to the second deck in right-center.
He took care of the stolen bases earlier in the game, swiping his 50th in the first and his 51st in the second.
The Japanese star led off the game with double against Edward Cabrera and swiped third on the front end of a double steal with Freddie Freeman, who reached on a walk.
Ohtani has been successful on his last 28 stolen base attempts.
He reached the milestone in his 150th game. Ohtani was already the sixth player in major league history and the fastest ever to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, needing just 126 games.
Ohtani’s previous career high in homers was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he also made 23 starts on the mound and won his first of two AL MVP awards.
Manager Dave Roberts said before Thursday’s game that he noticed Ohtani getting more aggressive on the bases in the second half of the season.
“I also think that Shohei realized how good of a base stealer he has become or can become,” Roberts said. “I think he likes the challenge of studying pitchers and learning the tendencies. I think that’s something that intrigues him.”
Ohtani’s previous career high for steals was 26, also in 2021. He has not pitched this season while recovering from elbow surgery, allowing him to focus his attention on batting and baserunning as the Dodgers’ everyday designated hitter.