The demand for United States passports is surging, leading some area agencies to require appointments for application. Politics may be one of the reasons.
Following the presidential election in November, VisaGuide.World, a leading online resource for travel and immigration information, reported that Google searches into migration were up 1,514 percent in the United States, with people most frequently looking for information on emigrant-friendly countries in Europe and Central America.
Other popular searches included Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Are people really leaving the area?
While the number of Americans expressing a desire to leave the country is on the rise, and passport applications are on the increase, those with their fingers on the pulse of moving trends, e.g., local realtors, aren’t seeing much in the way of sales for people planning to move abroad for political reasons.
Lynette DeLisa, based in the Sparta office for Realty Executives, has been in the industry through multiple election cycles, working across the state and adjacent areas — and has yet to list a home for someone expatriating from the United States.
“We hear this after every big election,” DeLisa said, “But it feels like empty talk. People say they’re going to sell and leave when their candidate doesn’t win, but it’s not that easy, and they don’t go through with it. We do often see people moving out of New Jersey to other states, usually to retirement states with lower costs of living.”
The 48th Annual United Van Lines National Movers Study backs up DeLisa’s market assessment; New Jersey earned the #1 spot for outbound states, with those surveyed indicating retirement, lifestyle, and family as primary reasons for making the move. Both Carolinas made the top five for inbound states in the 2024 survey.
Examining expatriation
In the truest sense of the word, expatriation is the act of renouncing citizenship, but in the broader sense, it refers to the act of living for extended periods or permanently outside the country of one’s citizenship. The Association of American Residents Overseas estimates the number of American citizens living abroad to be 5.5 million, while the Federal Voting Assistance Program places that number at 4.4 million. According to World Population Review, the countries with the most American expats are Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
While the percentage of Americans who permanently renounce their citizenship is small compared to the total number of Americans living overseas, that number has consistently been between 1,000 and 6,000 renouncements annually over the last decade, with the highest number coming in the first half of 2020 — 5,816 between January and June — than any other recent year. Renouncements are published quarterly in the Federal Register as a permanent record of expatriation, a process that can be costly at more than $2,300 in fees and is considered “practically” irreversible.
The top reasons potential emigrants cite for wanting to leave the United States are consistent with the conversations and controversies that mark the current American political climate. Citizens looking to live elsewhere have concerns over the cost of living, healthcare, public safety and firearms control, the job market, and most critically, human rights. Affordable education and beneficial tax laws round out the list of why Americans are seeking new homes abroad.
Passports are a small but critical step
For those wishing to move abroad, being able to leave the country starts with proving current U.S. citizenship with a passport. That’s just a small but critical piece of the expatriation puzzle, which must include research into the immigration process. Websites like Expatsi.com and Expatica.com explore the details and implications of finding a new country to call home, while others focus on immigration law and financial services. The International Citizens Group maintains a list of social media groups and resources for expatriates while cautioning users to use their judgement on which groups to follow or join. The Reddit subreddit r/IWantOut has more than 2 million members, who can post details on where they live and where they want to go to garner advice from others on achieving those goals, while r/AmerExit’s 98,000 members discuss specifically leaving the United States for a fresh start elsewhere.
One of the resounding themes across all resources for expatriation is an emphasis on properly managing paperwork for moving into a new country, such as applying for and securing the proper visa(s) and understanding the immigration laws if one wishes to become a permanent resident. Other considerations for long-term entry to another are health and vaccination status, financial standing, criminal background, and occupation. There is also an emphasis on finding safe housing and lining up services, such as medical providers, as well as researching school enrollment for minors.
In terms of selling a property before moving abroad, Expatsi’s website and other sources all seem to agree on one thing: it’s not the only option. While selling before leaving is a good choice for freeing up immediate capital, long-term renting through a property manager can help supply steady income to support moving and getting situated in a new country. This is an option most suggested for those who aren’t sure if their move will be permanent, ensuring they have an American home to return to later on or sell should they choose. Other options include listing a house as a short-term rental (again with local management in place), but experts warn this could lead to unpredictable income on the property.
Speaking from another perspective, not as a realtor but as an extensive overseas traveler, DeLisa has met expatriates from many corners of the globe.
“I love to talk to people about moving, it’s what I do. And in almost every case, people I’ve spoken to express how difficult it can be to move to a new country,” she said, “Not only Americans but people from other countries. Once they’re settled, things go well, but the process is expensive and can take years to achieve.”
Passport numbers at an all-time high
It bears noting that the recent rise in demand for passports is part of a greater trend. The U.S. Department of State has issued more than 90 million passports since 2021, bringing the number of valid U.S. passports to close to 170 million, which is an all-time high. Much of that surge has been attributed to people wishing to resume travel abroad after COVID restrictions were lifted.
For other applicants, passports are becoming an alternative to the REAL ID requirements being enacted for domestic air travel. While those requirements have been repeatedly postponed, they are currently slated to go into effect nationwide on May 7, 2025. REAL IDs are available via Motor Vehicle Commission Licensing Centers by appointment only in New Jersey; the New York Department of Motor Vehicles strongly encourages making reservations to avoid being turned away, and Pennsylvania has dedicated REAL ID Centers throughout the state, as well as making them available at regular Driver and Vehicle Services Licensing Centers.
Be prepared and exercise patience
Whether for a vacation, extended travel, or permanent expatriation, U.S. citizens seeking new or renewed passports, need to be thorough when preparing their applications, including all documentation and the correct application or renewal form. The State Department has seen some early success in reducing wait times caused by understaffing with its online passport renewal system, but in-person applicants looking for mail-in processing may need to exercise patience when submitting their paperwork.
Within the region, the Sussex County Clerk’s office has enacted an appointment requirement for those seeking to obtain or renew a passport; Passaic County does not require an appointment but does prioritize appointments over walk-ins.
In Pike County, Pa., passport applications are accepted via appointment only at the Milford Branch of the Pike County Library. The Orange County, N.Y., clerk’s office does not currently require appointments for passport services, but also does not offer evening hours; passport applications will only be processed during the regular business day.
Many post offices are also authorized passport application locations; appointments are strongly suggested due to limited walk-in capabilities. Regional post offices with passport processing capabilities include Bloomingdale, Branchville, Highland Lakes, Hewitt, Hopatcong, Newton, Oak Ridge, Sparta, Ringwood, and West Milford in New Jersey, as well as Middletown and Port Jervis in New York and Milford in Pennsylvania. Applicants are encouraged to contact the individual post office ahead of time to confirm the availability of services.
For more information on passports, applicants can visit www.travel.state.gov or call the National Information Center at (877) 487-2778.