Originally Posted by transcendi

Timeline for regular non expedited application for my wife, still in process.
No international travel plans coming up, so we don't absolutely NEED the passport, but it would be nice to have her naturalization certificate back.

4/26 - applied for new passport in person at USPS, told processing time was "12 weeks."
6/7 - check cashed, application shows up as "in process," locator number begins "61"
....then radio silence.

8/12 - reached out to our Congressman's office.
8/13 - response from Western Passport Center, to inquiry from our Congressman's office - "If the applicant is traveling soon we suggest that she upgrades to Expedite service for 60.00 so that we can start processing the application and upgrades to UPS overnight delivery for 17.56. Please send us credit card information by replying to this email so that we can process the application asap, thank you!" 15 weeks in, they're telling us we need to pay more money for the privilege of receiving worse service than promised at the outset.
8/16 - was about to send Congressman's office an email thanking them for reaching out, but as I'm literally writing the email, got a UPS email notification that an overnight package was on the way from Western Passport Center.

A bit mysterious, but we'll take the passport in our hands, if it indeed arrives tomorrow.