The State Department says Americans overseas wishing to return home can do so even if their passports have expired. Those with passports which expired on or after 1 Jan January 2020, can use it for ‘direct return travel’ to the US until the end of this year.
“US Customs and Border Protection officers will accept certain expired US passports, thereby assisting US citizens who have been affected by appointment backlogs at embassies and consulates overseas’ it said.
There was a massive backlog for new passport renewals last year after passport applications were halted for three months due to the pandemic.