Due to ongoing delays in passport processing brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the US State Department made the decision to honor certain expired passports from American citizens re-entering the United States.
With staffing shortages at both US Embassies and Consulates, as well as at passport processing centers here at home, the State Department has instructed US Customs & Border Patrol officers to honor passports from returning US citizens that expired on or after January 1, 2021.
This temporary measure allows Americans who are returning home from an international destination to use their passport that may have expired while they were forced to remain abroad due to local COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The directive to accept passports from US citizens that expired on or after January 1, 2021, will be in place through December 31, 2021.
Once again, in 2022, travelers will need their passport to be valid and unexpired when traveling, preferable with a minimum of six (6) months validity left on the document upon their return.
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