In a surprise policy shift, the U.S. Department of State has instructed an estimated 1,400 non-profit public libraries to stop accepting and adjudicating passport applications, citing a ban on fee collection by nongovernmental entities under the Passport Act of 1920. Cease-and-desist letters began arriving in late 2025 but took effect nationwide on February 13, 2026, eliminating a popular service that many rural and working-class Americans rely on for evening and weekend appointments.
Libraries in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York and Oregon report fielding daily calls from would-be travelers who now must compete for limited slots at post offices or county clerk offices. The American Library Association warns that lost application-acceptance fees—often $35 per passport—could force small libraries to cut programming or staff. Passport demand has soared since record 2025 processing backlogs and ahead of the May 2026 REAL ID enforcement deadline, which will push some domestic flyers to obtain passports as alternative identification.
Lawmakers from both parties have introduced bills to amend the century-old statute and permit 501(c)(3) libraries to continue the service. Until Congress acts, mobility planners should encourage employees and assignees to book appointments early and consider regional acceptance facilities inside municipal libraries that are government-run and therefore still authorized.
![State Department Orders Non-Profit Libraries to Halt Passport Processing]()
For travelers who suddenly find themselves without a convenient acceptance agent, VisaHQ offers an online workaround. The company’s U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) lets individuals, families, and corporate mobility teams arrange expedited passport renewals and visa services, track application status in real time, and receive expert guidance on documentation—minimizing the need to secure one of the dwindling in-person appointment slots.
Corporate travel teams may also face higher costs for expedited passport agencies as routine processing times hover at 8–11 weeks. Families preparing for summer assignments abroad should start paperwork immediately to avoid jeopardizing departure dates.
The episode highlights how seemingly small administrative tweaks can ripple through the mobility ecosystem, limiting access to essential travel documents at the very moment when international business trips are finally rebounding to pre-pandemic levels.
Libraries in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York and Oregon report fielding daily calls from would-be travelers who now must compete for limited slots at post offices or county clerk offices. The American Library Association warns that lost application-acceptance fees—often $35 per passport—could force small libraries to cut programming or staff. Passport demand has soared since record 2025 processing backlogs and ahead of the May 2026 REAL ID enforcement deadline, which will push some domestic flyers to obtain passports as alternative identification.
Lawmakers from both parties have introduced bills to amend the century-old statute and permit 501(c)(3) libraries to continue the service. Until Congress acts, mobility planners should encourage employees and assignees to book appointments early and consider regional acceptance facilities inside municipal libraries that are government-run and therefore still authorized.
For travelers who suddenly find themselves without a convenient acceptance agent, VisaHQ offers an online workaround. The company’s U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) lets individuals, families, and corporate mobility teams arrange expedited passport renewals and visa services, track application status in real time, and receive expert guidance on documentation—minimizing the need to secure one of the dwindling in-person appointment slots.
Corporate travel teams may also face higher costs for expedited passport agencies as routine processing times hover at 8–11 weeks. Families preparing for summer assignments abroad should start paperwork immediately to avoid jeopardizing departure dates.
The episode highlights how seemingly small administrative tweaks can ripple through the mobility ecosystem, limiting access to essential travel documents at the very moment when international business trips are finally rebounding to pre-pandemic levels.
