Programs: AA 2MMEXP, BA Gold, UA 1MMPremierGold, Hyatt Diamond, IC RA, SPG Gold, FPC Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,876
Another US passport renewal question
I've just finished an international trip and now have nothing scheduled for the next 8 weeks. It's definitely time to renew my passport, which expires in August (fortunately, my last several trips have been to London, where UK Immigration & Border Control, however out-of-control at T5, does not impose a 3- or 6-month validity requirement). So I'd normally mail in a renewal application and probably forego expedited treatment. There is some possibility, however, that I may need to go to Europe on business sometime in that 8-week period (more likely after Labor Day than before), so it is probably prudent to request expedited treatment. But if I send it in, and then in 2 weeks I find I have to travel right away, is there any way to get a new passport quickly with the old one sitting in Washington?
If you're willing to pay the expedite fee, you may be able to get an appointment to get a new one same-day at your local passport office. Here, in MSP, you can go to the passport office in the morning and have a new passport by noon. I would guess NYC has a similar program. It costs the same as the normal expedite fee, but you may need to do what clacko said and get a refundable ticket in order to justify an appointment.
As of today per the state department website, they say regular applications are being processed door to door in 4 to 6 weeks, and expedited ones 2 to 3 weeks (overnighted both ways).
I would send it in tomorrow, and you would get it back probably before they even make the decision to send you again if that's going to be at least two weeks.
The expedited fee is $60, prorated over the 10 year life of a pp, is just $6 extra per year. Your profile shows NYC, so "to play it safe" schedule an appt. at the NYC pp office.
Programs: AA 2MMEXP, BA Gold, UA 1MMPremierGold, Hyatt Diamond, IC RA, SPG Gold, FPC Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,876
Quote:
Originally Posted by cordelli
As of today per the state department website, they say regular applications are being processed door to door in 4 to 6 weeks, and expedited ones 2 to 3 weeks (overnighted both ways).
I would send it in tomorrow, and you would get it back probably before they even make the decision to send you again if that's going to be at least two weeks.
Many, many thanks to you and the other FTers who took the time to post their advice. August has turned out to be a very busy month at work and for that and a couple of other reasons I had a strong preference for not dealing with it in person, so I sent it in on August 1 (via express mail--could not get a street address from them and so could not find a way to use FedEx or DHL). New passport arrived on August 13.
I sent it in on August 1 (via express mail--could not get a street address from them and so could not find a way to use FedEx or DHL). New passport arrived on August 13.
That's quite a trick, given that today's only August 10!
