Maybe its because these posters are getting their renewed passports from the printing centers such as TPC/WPC, and APC (maybe NPC?) and/or the GPO is trying to run out the stock they have. I would imagine that these are customized printers specifically designed given the added sophistication of the engraving and printing required so this isn't something that can easily ordered. The agencies will normally only print for pick up as they are mainly designed serve people who need a passport within the next few days...

23 Days total for Next Gen passport-expedited
 

I am putting my timeline on here to hopefully easy somebody’s anxiety! I know reading threads helped mine. I am a US citizen but was born in another country. I stupidly realized last minute that my foreign birth certificate and driver’s license would not be sufficient to go on my cruise on November 20th, 2022. Complete rookie mistake (face palm).

Expedited Timeline:
October 6th: mailed priority mail with typed passport app, expired passport (as of March 2022) and check totaling $208.32. I was quoted that it would reach the destination by October 8th.

October 14th: packaged delivered to P.O. Box in Philly.

October 17th: check cashed and application status “in process.” Received application processing number beginning with 53 (Seattle processing center)

October 18th: reached out to local US congressman in order to have an extra push for the passport to be back in time for my trip on November 20th.

October 19th: received word from congressman that they would be in contact and would reach out to US Department of State on my behalf. A few emails were exchanged in which Congressman believed I would receive my passport by second week of November.

October 28th: Status “shipped” from Tucson, Arizona. I received a USPS tracking number. I paid for 1-2 day delivery. The status then changed from shipped to approved.

October 29th: received Next Gen passport.

23 total days! So happy with this.

It took about 4 days after receiving my passport for it to be accepted on the TTP website.

Has anyone tried the soft-launch of the online passport renewal? Is it any faster than mailing in the paper application?

My take is that it’s at least marginally faster than the average mailed-in renewal application, assuming otherwise near equivalent circumstances for an application.

Sadly, the soft-launch is not accepting any more renewal applications as of :eek:ctober 26:

Gah! That's what I get for waiting a few days.

I've been putting off taking my passport photos (mostly because it's a huge pain to take one of myself without an extra person to help).

Go to a photo shop or studio - it's not expensive, they'll appreciate the business, it doesn't take long to get the photos and you'll have them done.

David

Also most photo shops and studios know what is required and the format (I worked in one once that had a jig that was specifically sized to cut out US passport sized photos) and will usually guarantee that the photos will pass the state department's requirements for positioning, etc. (and if not they'll at minimum retake them for you) whereas if you get it done at the post office, they don't seem to really care, and if your photos get rejected, you'll get an apathetic shrug in response.

Yeah, just kind of inconvenient for me to track one down since I've been traveling back and forth a lot recently. I hear my local FedEx does them though, so maybe I'll try that.

You mean to say it is not accepting any more renewal applications from those not already having a MyTravelGov account to submit a renewal application online? That’s what the State Department language is meant to indicate.

Thanks! I just tried again and still doesn't accept it after three weeks. I will check with CBP agent at land crossing next week. Maybe they can update it.

I have! I signed up in Aug for the Sept openings. I submitted my application on 9/19 and the book arrived on 10/19 exactly. I did pay for expedited service. The passport card arrived about a week later. On a travel TikTok acct, some people were reporting they got their book in 10 days which seems like it's not possible but who knows. Overall it was a very easy process. The longest wait time was going from submitted/received to Reviewing. Basically it eliminated probably 1-2 weeks of USPS and having your application opened by someone. But the real benefit is eliminating the anxiety of your application to actually arrive and not be lost in the mail and knowing when that clock actually starts for processing.

Timeline is this:
mid-Aug - can't remember exact date but it was maybe a day or two after the Aug submission window closed. I started prepping my digital photo at this point so it was ready in time. I used an online service, which was a waste of $$.
9/19 - received email that online applications were now open to those who registered in Aug. Application completed & submitted.
10/12 - received email saying my application was now being reviewed by a DOS employee.
10/17 - received email saying:
10/19 - Passport book received.
10/25 - Passport card received.


EDIT: I should note that the pilot online renewal process does not allow you to request a large passport book. Only the standard book. It just dawned on me that the new passport book is thinner than my old one by A LOT. The old book was a large + I had extra pages added before they stopped doing that. Anyway, we'll see how long this one lasts. Hopefully the option for a large passport book is added when the program becomes permanent.

You should still register to be notified for the next window so that you're in the queue. You basically register for the next set of openings in order to submit your application. See the timeline in my other post.

State says it is invalidating the current passport as soon as they receive the request to renewal. Seems to me they shouldn't invalidate the current passport UNTIL a decision has been made to approve and move forward the renewal request. If they end up denying the renewal now the pax is stuck not having a valid passport which was perfectly fine 5 minutes earlier....