Can my American citizen family member get a new passport while in the Dominican Republic?
As the holidays approach and you look forward to the visit of your American citizen family members, please remind them that all U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, are expected to use a U.S. passport when exiting or entering the United States. In fact, It is no longer possible for American citizens to enter the United States (including Puerto Rico) without a valid United States Passport. If your family member finds that his U.S. passport has expired while in the Dominican Republic, it could take several weeks to obtain a new one. Before commencing travel, U .S. citizens should ensure that they have a U.S. passport and that it is valid beyond the date of intended travel. Passport applications in the U.S. may be expedited for a fee – which is not the case when applying at the U.S. Embassy. U.S. passport offices can be found on www.state.gov under the passport section. On the same webpage applicants can also view current wait times and track the status of their passport application.
