Travelers in need of a passport, leave a little extra time for processing applications.

Carbon County prothonotary Joann Behrens announced that the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, has notified all passport agents that according to the new regulations, the processing time for routine applications for U.S. passports has been increased to six weeks and for expedited services to three weeks.This change affects those traveling abroad who do not have a U.S. passport already.For more information, visit

travel.state.gov.