By "long expired" do you mean it expired more than five years ago? Or more properly, was it issued more than 15 years ago?

Holy cow, my wife's timeline for her renewal with routine service:

3/11: Application sent with priority mail.
3/13: USPS says it's delivered.
3/15: Status website has application "In Process"; check cashed.
3/26: Informed delivery has a package coming from DOS in Hot Springs, AR.
3/28: Expected delivery.

That puts routine service at 17 days door-to-door - including coast-to-coast shipping. Color me impressed, especially after that train wreck my application went through last year with the online renewal system.

I would highly encourage anyone with a passport expiring within the next year or so to get it renewed now. They clearly have the staff and capacity to turn applications around quickly.

Glad you got such speedy service. But given that there are posts before you with people sending passports in February and have not received a replacement, not sure we can jump to the conclusion that that everyone is going to get super fast service.

Certainly true. Although I would say that everyone's application is different and at least as I understand the system, a host of circumstances could lengthen processing time. Things like someone else with the same name showing up on the IRS' list of seriously delinquent taxpayers would be one example. From the online system's data last year, we know they pull Lexis Nexis data on applicants and perhaps there are flags in those files that trigger further review. It wouldn't surprise me if certain applications get set aside for investigation or disambiguation and that might be a factor in processing time.

As it stands, there are enough data points here and elsewhere in the last few months that at least make me think if your application is straightforward, you stand a very strong chance of getting it turned around quickly. It is nothing like the 14 weeks it took for my application a year ago. Then again, I have a fairly common name, so perhaps I fell into one of the buckets above.

Now waiting eagerly. Second passport renewal application (I had a second passport previously already, expiring end of this year). Had to submit supporting documents in application.
Still a fast turnaround, with expedited and 1-2 day shipping (fastest everything that they offer)

3/18 Sent by Priority Mail Express from NYC
3/20 Picked up in Philadelphia
3/22 Check Cashed
3/27 See in informed delivery shipment from DOS in Tucson AZ waiting to ship

Website however to track has never shown in process, just not available.

Hopefully comes soon! Definitely has beaten the 2-3 weeks that they list on the website if ships quickly and no delays. Will report back

2/14/24 Sent from VT priority
2/20/24 accepted at Passport office
3/28/24 approved
3/29/24 in mailbox (priority mail)
used passport status tool to keep progress on it. No email notification of application progress sent although requested.

Checking the website just a few minutes earlier I was surprised to read the following: "Application Status: Supporting Documents Mailed
We sent your supporting documents via First Class Mail on 03/25/2024 to the mailing address you provided on your application."
Needless to say, not a single status update email was received despite requesting them.
In the much-neglected mailbox, the passport sat in an envelope mailed from HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, AR, along with a supporting documents envelope, postmarked March 27th.

According to the USPS tracking tool, the new passport was delivered on March 23rd. Date of issue is March 20th.

The end.

Another data point. I used the slowest possible method -- untracked mail, not expedited.

6 March 2024 - Mailed from Seattle area to Philadelphia
18 March 2024 - check cleared
22 March 2024 - "in process" on the website
29 March 2024 - "approved"
2 April 2024 - passport received; "supporting documents mailed"

Applying from Toronto via US Consulate. regular Delivery

Mailed application March 12
Received at consulate March 18
Passport showing as shipped via status checker March 27.
Received at Canadian address today April 5

Total time, 24 days. Not bad for regular service in a foreign country!

Renewal from the CNMI, USA (in the Western Pacific)
 

My adult son renewed his passport by mail.

Wed., 27 Feb: Sent via USPS on Saipan.
Wed., 13 Mar: ACH debit from TX.
Fri., 5 Apr: USPS Informed Delivery notice and tracking number, shipment from Tucson, AZ Distribution Center.
Mon., 8 Apr: Passport received in P.O. Box.
​​​​​​​

After we returned from Venice we mailed our passports the next day:

March 22 paid for expedited service, flat rate envelope for both.
March 27 check cashed
April 1 passports issued
April 4 passports arrived separately in flat rate envelopes!
13 days turnaround time!!!😌

Routine passport processing took about a month door-to-door for me:
March 7 shipped Ground Advantage
March 10 showed arrived in tracking
March 13 check cleared
April 3 passport book/card issued
April 5 passport book arrived
April 9 old passport arrived
April 13 passport card arrived

Overall a pretty good turnaround for routine processing.

I'll add a data point:

April 6th: Sent my application for expedited renewal via priority mail
4/9 USPS Tracking shows delivered in Philly
4/10 Passport status site shows my application was received and under review
4/17 Status is "approved"
4/19 New passport received via priority mail. Passport status still shows as "approved". So just under 2 weeks from when I mailed the application.

I requested email updates of renewal status but never received any.

I think I beat you on slowest possible method, since I didn't list any upcoming travel either. Adult renewal:

7 March 2024 - Mailed to Philadelphia via first class mail (just 2 stamps!)
13 March 2024 - check cleared
14 March 2024 - "in process" on the website, locator 45
18 April 2024 - "approved"
19 April 2024- Passport mailed from Tucson via USPS Priority Mail
22 April 2024 - passport received

So 6.5 weeks total including time in transit to Philly, very reasonable to me.

Update on GE
 

An update: I had to renew my Global Entry, which expired end of September 2024.
On line renewal 4/11/2024, paid $100 CC
Received email "status has changed" 4/20/2024. Logged into website: Global Entry approved and now expires September 2029!

Still waiting for our old passports to arrive...we keep them for sentimental reasons