My son's 28 pages passport just arrived. Last visa page is 26 and there is a tape there just like yours. First visa page also starts at page 8. Just for fun, I looked at our old passports. The last visa page is 27. So in the last 5 years or so, we were shorted 1 page!

I mailed my passport renewal application at the end of March (expedited treatment) and the check was cashed electronically in early April. However, the website still shows my status as "not available." Does this suggest that there's some problem and is there any way to track down whether the agency actually has my application?

Thanks!

Wow, that's odd. I also mailed in the renewal application on 4/10. Delivered to Philadelphia on 4/14. Check was cashed on 4/18. Status "in process" on 4/19.

Here is my dilemma. We are full-time international Nomads. My passport expires mid 2024. I will be in the states from May 25 to Aug 31. Surely, with expedited service, I should be able to get mine renewed in that time?? I will need it for our trip back on the road ( Asia) by 2nd week of September. This is my only real window to get it renewed. Three months for expedited renewal?? Yes?

You could get it done at an embassy or consulate and not have to worry about the long wait.

Has anyone around here already used the long waiting times (compared to other similar countries) and the fact that the old passport must be surrendered during the renewal (also unusual in other countries) as an argument to get a second, parallel USA passport? I can't see how certain professionals can be expected not to travel for so long, or pop into some inconvenient and far-away issuance agency after some telephone acrobatics...

Has anyone done the consulate trick as a tourist with his children's passports? I presume the rules are the same - two parents present and that's it?
Considering the shorter 5 year validity period, long and uncertain renewal times... if multiplied by several children, the slowness' consequences are also multiplied and start to unpleasantly affect travel plans.

The fact is that the old passport can be examined by the embassy/consulate personnel for the DS-11/DS-82s and the passport returned to the applicant for the applicant’s use during the entire period between the applicant submitting the application in-person at the embassy/consulate and returning to the embassy/consulate to pick up the new (full duration) passport. I touched upon this being done in a post in this thread:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35146999-post2367.html

See the last sentence in the first paragraph of that post: “It’s also possible for the embassy/consulate to allow the applicant to keep the current passport (used for the application) for use (to stay and/or travel) until picking up the new full duration passport after it gets back to the station.” Upon being informed via email that the passport is back at the station, someone just needs to show up with the email and the old passport (and their own passport/ID) and then the station will collect the old passport, invalidate it, and return the invalidated passport and the new passport.

In other words, this allowance for applicants outside of the US reduces the strength of a case for wanting a second/limited duration US passport as a secondary US passport.

Yes, lots of acquaintances do this with their children. Both parents present is part of the same routine as when doing it at passport agency offices in the US. Without an appointment, the embassy/consulate may make a fuss and reject access — depending on the particular circumstances involved for a potential applicant. In other words, for those considering this, best to book an appointment for passport services at the consulate/embassy before wanting to count on having it done while visiting another country.

I initially applied for routine service w travel date in July. Giving it about 15 weeks. Then I sought upgrade to expedited service but declined on expedited shipping. One of the passports came days after they charged my cc. They charged me for expedited shipping despite clear no to the question on whether to upgrade shipping. Who do I contact to get the 20 bucks back as this was not authorized.

How did you upgrade to Expedited processing, was it online? I need to do for mrs passport.

Does it reset the clock if you move to expedited or does the previous wait time count?

based on the reddit thread, locater 62 (western passport center) is the slowest

Yep. It's already been 6 weeks since Tucson received the applications and the statuses are still "in process."

I'm beginning to panic.

Submitted my renewal application early March with expedited service in both directions.
Application received 03/09/2023
Check cashed 03/10/2023
In Process since that date with application locator 62 (ack!)

I am traveling to Denmark in two weeks, so tried to call the 877 number this morning, was given a voicemail that due to high call volume I should try later, then it hung up (no option to hold or get a call back).

I live in central Florida and don't understand why my renewal was sent to Tucson to be processed.

The closest agency is in Miami (4 hours drive) and it's impossible to get through via phone to make an appointment. It's unclear, but sounds like if I've already submitted my application, that I have to wait until I'm within 5 days of my trip, not 14, to go get a passport at an agency. Is this correct? I've sent a query to my congressman's office this morning.

I had to renew because my passport was expiring in September, so my trip would have been less than six months before expiration. I never expected this would be a problem. I was spoiled living abroad for 30 years when I would mail my renewal to the embassy and have a new passport back in about 3-5 days in the post, easy peasy. I thought paying for expedited service with two months advance would be no problem.

Any tips, other than to try to take a deep breath? Do I really have to wait until my trip is within 5 days to try to get to a passport agency in person?

5 business days. Nick at Frequent Miler wrote a detailed report of his experience that may provide some ideas and backup options: https://frequentmiler.com/success-ex...t-application/

Unfortunately, this part of our govt is operating in the "ignore unless someone is in crisis" mode.

Thanks, I actually just read that post a short while ago. What was frightening from that article is that even if I wanted to get an appointment in Miami 5 days before my flight, it sounds unlikely I'd be able to get one. My congressman's office came back to me and asked me to send them my proof of travel, which I've done. They wrote back to say they have submitted it to the passport agency on my behalf but that I need to wait to hear back from the passport agency directly.

It sounds like this is the route thousands of people are going, and I'm now finding tons of threads on multiple sites about people in similar situations. So I guess it's a wait and see if the reach out from my representative will do any good.

We have prepaid accommodations for a month, and an expensive round trip - I think the flight can be changed for $200, but new flights are more than double as expensive as those we have with many dates sold out. I guess I'd have to send my husband on his own and me try to get there as soon as I can. We are going for his father's 90th birthday (his mom is 93) and it's important for us to get over to see them at least once a year given their age and inability to travel to see us.

I never imagined I'd be stuck without a passport for several months since the need to travel internationally could arise at any time.