Approval of passports taking longer

America's war on terror has lengthened the time it takes to get a passport.

With passports now required to visit Mexico and Canada, it now takes about 10 weeks on average to get them, said Charles Hutson, Cape Girardeau County circuit clerk.

For those in a rush, an expedited passport can be obtained in three to four weeks but at a higher cost, Hutson said.

According to the U.S. State Department, about 1.5 million passport applications currently are pending.