Dear Friends, 

I am excited to share that I will be hosting a CA-34 Community Town Hall and Mother's Day Celebration on Saturday, May 13, at 9:30 am PT!

I will be discussing current events, sharing updates on my work in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., celebrating mothers in our community, and answering questions and concerns you may have. Staff will also be on site and ready to help if you need assistance with federal agencies and services including the IRS, Social Security Administration, and Veterans Affairs.

Light refreshments will be served. Due to limited seating, attendees must RSVP.

What: CA-34 Community Town Hall and Mother's Day Celebration

When: Saturday, May 13th, at 9:30 am PT. Doors open at 9:00 am PT.

Where: Lincoln Heights. Address will be sent to RSVPs on Friday.

If you have any questions, please contact my Los Angeles District Office at (213) 481-1425.

Sincerely,

Thank you to everyone who joined me last Sunday for my office’s first Passport Fair with the U.S. Postal Service. The hardworking staff of Eagle Rock Post Office were able to help more than 100 of our constituents – many of whom were children – get their first passports or passport renewals. If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry; we will host more passport fairs in the coming months.

With the busy summer travel season just around the corner, it is more important than ever to be ready NOW in your passport applications and renewals. Our State Department passport offices have experienced a surge in passport applications, renewals, and requests for appointments, and my office’s casework team has also been getting many calls for help with passports. Make sure to read the tips below to be travel ready for this summer and the rest of the year.

Check your passports!

• Some countries require that your passport be valid (not expired) at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. 

• If you plan on traveling with family members, make sure their passports are valid as well. 

• Minors’ passports (issued at age 0-15) are given only 5 years of validity. For adults (age 16 and older), it’s 10 years. 

Understand the application process and processing times. 

• Learn how to apply for or renew your passport here. 

• Use this online tool to figure out what form you need to use (note: this is not an application form). 

• Know the differences in fees based on age, processing time, and type of application here. 

• As of March 2023, it takes 10-13 weeks for routine applications to be processed and 7-9 weeks for expedited ones (at extra cost).

• If you have “urgent” travel needs (non-emergency travel in 14 calendar days) or “emergency” travel needs (must be “life-or-death"), check here to learn how to make an appointment. In both instances, you must provide proof of travel.

How can my office help? 

• If you haven’t received your passport within the estimated processing time, we can help you contact the U.S. Department of State to check on the status of your passport. 

• In either “urgent” or “emergency” travel needs, we may be able to help you get an appointment at a passport office. Please fill out my office’s digital privacy release form in order to get your casework started then call my district office at (213) 481-1425 to confirm receipt. 

What can you do? 

• Check the status of your passport application.

  • If you have applied in-person or renewed by mail, you can check the Online Passport Status System to check your application status.

  • If you renewed online, you must log in to check using your MyTravelGov account. 

• Upgrade your application from routine processing to expedited processing for an additional $60 even after you submitted your application. 

  • If you applied in person or renewed by mail, call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. 

  • If you renewed online, you can login to your MyTravelGov account and upgrade to expedited service.

• If you have urgent travel needs, you can call the U.S. Passports Center at 877-487-2778 (available Monday - Friday, 5am – 7pm PT).

• If you need to cancel an appointment at a passport agency or center, you can email [email protected].