I had something sent via Priority Mail get returned to sender. I have no idea where it is n:(w. I guess I need to find the tracking number and look again. I was under the impression that it would be returned. Silly me.

What address do you FedEx things to for passport applications?

From the website, it looks like FedEx has partnered with RushMyPassport (a company which has ratings all over the place) for renewals only: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/printing...ort-photo.html I am not sure I like the idea of two hands in the process but, with the USPS performance,
maybe it is better. When I researched how FedEx can deliver to PO Boxes (as renewals require) they say they use USPS for "the last mile." Now there is a non starter for me.

Update for Routine service

• Mailed: Wednesday, 12/15/21 via first class mail from SNJ to Philly (probably received on Friday 12/17/21)
• In Process: Monday, 12/20/21 (Locator 34 'Charleston')
• Check Cashed: Tuesday, 12/21/21
• Approved/Shipped: Wednesday, 1/19/2022
• Received: Estimated 1/25/2022

Has anyone received their supporting document back in a reasonable time? It has been 5 weeks since I got my passport and still haven't gotten my cert of naturalization back. I called and all they said was just to wait as they can't track anything. The website said up to 4 weeks so I'm not sure if they have backlogs or something.

Just a sort of out-of-the-hat January 2022 application that went up for application locator number starting with 71 that meets the conditions indicated in my above post. Application submitted in-person abroad on a Thursday. [Standard application fee, of course.] No application nor status update showed up online at passporstatus.state.gov for application until around Wednesday, which is when the status changed to "in process". On the next day -- that is the first Thursday immediately after in-person submission of application -- the application status update on the state.gov site showed the passport as "mailed" to the embassy/consulate. The applicant may have it in hand within well less than 14 calendar days from date of in-person application, if they care to get it in person from the USG. And that's even with at least one holiday in the picture.

I didn't keep track precisely but I think it was like 8 weeks.

Came in a manila envelope, normal first class mail.

This happened to me and I never saw my passport again. Had to report it lost. That's why walking in or using a courier are the only options I trust now.

Here is my timeline and I will keep it updated. I chose routine processing (not expedited) because the processing time looked OK in the past couple of months. Even though I don't have immediate travel plans, I hope to receive my passport sooner. :)

1/11/2022: First time new passport application submitted at a local USPS office. Plenty of USPS appointments available nearby and it seems not many people apply for passports in Jan.
1/22/2022: "In Process" showed up on the website. Locator # 69 (where is it?). I was anxious as many people could see their status after 3-4 days of submission.

One question. Where is Locator #69? I googled it online but didn't get a definite answer. Someone said it's New Hampshire but I only saw #68 for New Hampshire. If you know #69, please share it with me. Thanks.

Final Update!

Update for Routine service

• Mailed: Wednesday, 12/15/21 via first class mail from SNJ to Philly (probably received on Friday 12/17/21)
• In Process: Monday, 12/20/21 (Locator 34 'Charleston')
• Check Cashed: Tuesday, 12/21/21
• Approved/Shipped: Wednesday, 1/19/2022
• Received: Saturday, 1/22/2022

Only 19 bus days between them receiving and shipping.
Received NG passport via Priority Mail (even though I didn't pay for faster shipping)
Shipped from Tucson AZ.
Also, I also was able to immediately update TTP with the new passport

I believe normal shipping is Priority Mail e.g. 1-3 days depending on distance (more during Covid), and faster shipping is Priority Mail Express e.g. next-day service.

An update on this, which might give people some reassurance. My USPS prompt still says that delivery has been unsuccessfully attempted and that I must request another attempt. This has been the message since Jan. 13. However today, when I checked my passport status, I was
pleased to discover that it was received on 1/19 and my check has also been cashed. Maybe a scanning miss? Or general USPS sloppiness....

My data points on three renewals:

- 2 kids, via appointment at a local library on Dec 4th
- In process on Dec 11
- Received Jan 25

- 1 adult, mailed on Dec 11
- In process on Dec 18
- Received Jan 22

Normal processing on all of them.

Our old passports have not yet been returned, but it sounds like it takes a couple weeks for that (?). I have a couple live visas in my old passport so I really want it back.

A little off topic, I just received my NG passport but I wonder about the workmanship. On the binding between the last page and back cover, there is a little white strip of what looks like "book tape" made maybe a mesh fabric material. It seems to be sticking up and I wonder if it should be glued to the cover. Is that basically what holds the pages to the cover other than the stitching? The inside layer of paper on the back cover is wrinkled there.
I also notice "fibers" embeded in the paper are quite large, maybe that's a security feature. The back cover also seems to have a scuff mark or some glue material stuck to it.

Normal processing at 4 US embassies this month in Europe had the standard passports (for the regular processing fee) issued and available for pickup within 9-14 calendar days of in-person application.