BY RAMSEY QUBEIN

Pandemic-induced back logs and staff shortages have made deciphering how to get a passport fast more difficult than before. Getting a passport within 24 hours is now virtually impossible for most people. While this was something that last-minute travelers could secure for a hefty bounty before the pandemic, these days, a little patience will be required.

Applying for a passport takes time and a good bit of paperwork: According to the State Department, current routine processing takes six to nine weeks, and for expedited processing four to six weeks—and it’s all even more of a hassle if you’ve never had a passport before. But what happens with you have a trip to Mozambique on Friday, and no passport to show for it? There are some loopholes to actually get a passport in 24 hours, but the stars must truly align: You’ll need immediate travel plans, proof of a qualified life-or-death emergency, or help from an elected member of Congress (to request this, contact your representative’s office directly; it’s not always a guarantee). It may still be possible for others to get an expedited passport renewal if you follow the right steps (and get lucky).

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Posted from Conde Nast Traveler

BY KATHERINE LAGRAVE AND BLANE BACHELOR

When it comes to simplifying international flights, most savvy jet-setters apply for Global Entry, which provides expedited clearance into a U.S. airport following an international flight. Like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry falls under the government’s Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) umbrella, but—unlike its domestic cousin—it’s the key to sidestepping what can often be monstrous lines coming back into the country, making it a godsend at the tail-end of long-haul flights.

And now that international travel is back in a big way—according to travel booking site Hopper, 34 percent of all 2023 travel bookings so far are international—Global Entry access is handier than ever. And there’s good news if you’ve been putting off your application: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that runs Global Entry, has worked through most of the backlog it experienced through the pandemic and re-opened enrollment centers that had been temporarily closed, according to Rhonda Lawson, a CBP spokesperson. The agency also has made significant improvements to streamline a final step of enrollment for applicants returning from an international trip, making the process even more convenient (more details below).