A backup of U.S. passport applications has caused significant delays for travelers, with too few staff to handle the increasing demand. The backlog is attributed to pandemic-related staffing shortages and the suspension of online processing. The State Department is receiving a record-breaking 500,000 passport applications per week, on track to surpass last year's 22 million passports issued. The delays have left travelers in a state of uncertainty, with some resorting to buying additional plane tickets to cities where their passports are being processed. U.S. officials have acknowledged the problem but have not provided a timeline for resolution.

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