Originally Posted by
annieway
I used the government's expedited service ($60 fee) a couple of months ago to renew my passport. I think I had the new passport in my hands about 10 days later.
I want to add one caution, however, based on my recent experience. Your old passport is not returned to you with the new one if you go this route. For some reason, they send back the old passport a couple of weeks later. This would not ordinarily be a problem but my old passport included my Brazil visa which I needed for a trip that was coming up soon. I was very worried but the old passport eventually showed up a few days before I left for that trip. It takes several weeks to get a new Brazil visa. I would have had to cancel the trip if the old passport hadn't shown up when it did.
An employee from the expediter my company uses told me that when they expedite a renewal they get the old passport back at the same time as the new one. Since I didn't go that route, I have no idea if what she was telling me is correct.
I'd be very interested if the expediter comments can be verified. I thought it was sop to separate old and new passport and to have old returned later as you indicate. Does the expediter just wait until he has both in hand before returning to customer? I don't believe there is any way to indicate the need to have both documents on any form.
Reading with interest as my passport has a year left, but going to China in early February, want 10 year visa in new passport, and am considering timing of renewal in Dec Jan time frame. Expedited fees and overnighting seem to make sense and then visa. The consulate is in Chicago so no issues there.