Originally Posted by wahoyaho (Post 35187291)

04/20 - Submitted in person at USPS
04/25 - Received, In process, locator code 53
??/?? - Approved
??/?? - Received

Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 35170740)

New data points from me! So happy to be part of this little ballet again. This time there is no rush, hence:

March 17th - deposited two normal US passport applications at USPS for children. Renewals. One of them has a request for an endorsement - let's see if that delays it.
March 24th - first cheque cashed.
March 27th - second cheque cashed (electronically).
Both are showing as "in process" since March 24th, apparently being dealt with in Buffalo. No emails received despite requesting them.

Alex

Originally Posted by SusanDK (Post 35200666)

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!)

Originally Posted by SusanDK (Post 35201579)

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.

Originally Posted by yabadoo (Post 35206503)

Any update on your status and timeline?

Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 35196174)

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.

Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 35206958)

Thank you, that is very helpful. As a foreigner, I remain frequently baffled at how certain things are so easy, and other things so difficult in the US compared to what I am used to. Advantage of being able to renew the passport at USPS: great convenience.
Disadvantage: since the USPS people are not officers of the passport bureaucracy the passport needs to be sent along for inspection too. Something that you can avoid by doing it at a consulate!
Conclusion: once you have managed to get your hands on a US passport, make sure to always renew abroad if you want speedy service? :-)

Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 35207343)

I have an almost embarrassing number of people staying at my/my family’s places outside of the US doing in-person passports renewals while outside of the US. It’s the successor to an old habit I picked up as a kid when wanting to get some home feeling while out of the country and looking for excuses to go to the embassies. :D But now it’s other people’s kids and adults I send in to get passport applications turned faster (and cheaper) than at home. There are the inconveniences of needing passport appointments at the selected embassy/consulate and of the security/security restrictions to enter the consulates/embassies; but if in the national capital or primary commercial capital of a foreign country for 3 weeks at a stretch anyway or returning within 3-4 weeks to the same such place, it’s been a reliable way for my acquaintances to rather quickly get new passports back. And since the embassies/consulates tend to be in nicer parts of the cities, at times it could be considered an outing to check out an area that may otherwise not have been seen while visiting.

The typical turn I see in the EU this year too is usually less than 8 business days.

Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 35207343)

I have an almost embarrassing number of people staying at my/my family’s places outside of the US doing in-person passports renewals while outside of the US. It’s the successor to an old habit I picked up as a kid when wanting to get some home feeling while out of the country and looking for excuses to go to the embassies. :D But now it’s other people’s kids and adults I send in to get passport applications turned faster (and cheaper) than at home. There are the inconveniences of needing passport appointments at the selected embassy/consulate and of the security/security restrictions to enter the consulates/embassies; but if in the national capital or primary commercial capital of a foreign country for 3 weeks at a stretch anyway or returning within 3-4 weeks to the same such place, it’s been a reliable way for my acquaintances to rather quickly get new passports back. And since the embassies/consulates tend to be in nicer parts of the cities, at times it could be considered an outing to check out an area that may otherwise not have been seen while visiting.

The typical turn I see in the EU this year too is usually less than 8 business days.

Originally Posted by crescatfloreat (Post 35207682)

Amazing! You could almost turn this into a business. FastPassPortBnB?

Originally Posted by SusanDK (Post 35206596)

No change in the status, still "In Process," but the passport agency replied to my congressman's office stating that my application would be put in the queue with other congressional inquiries by date of travel, which is now only a week and a half away.

Before receiving this communication, I had also tried to call the 877# this morning, and had the option for a call back since hold time was over an hour. I requested the call back, but that was over six hours ago and crickets.

Originally Posted by naumank (Post 35207923)

My kids' applications have been stuck at 62 (Tucson) since March 13. Still "In Process." Very disappointing.

Originally Posted by naumank (Post 35207923)

My kids' applications have been stuck at 62 (Tucson) since March 13. Still "In Process." Very disappointing.

Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 35207343)

I have an almost embarrassing number of people staying at my/my family’s places outside of the US doing in-person passports renewals while outside of the US.

The typical turn I see in the EU this year too is usually less than 8 business days.

Originally Posted by SusanDK (Post 35209494)

I assumed that the passport services via the embassy were for citizens living abroad and/or emergency situations, not to process a routine renewal.

Originally Posted by Xyzzy (Post 35209513)

The services are for US citizens. Nobody tells you where to live or travel. If you need a passport and are there you can use the embassy/consulate to :pbtain a new passport.