I just did my renewal online.

Submitted online 12/6/24
Payment marked "received" 12/9/24
Passport delivered 12/16/24

NYC

Looks like there may be a government shutdown - maybe we squeaked under the wire.

This is interesting. I'm curious why the notification process behaves differently for different applicants. Ostensibly, the DoS uses the same software for processing and notification. My only guess is that notifications are triggered with one or more optional check-boxes that need to be clicked and some DoS employees just don't bother. If that's the case, this is poor process/UI design. If an applicant chooses to be notified, as I did, they should receive all status updates automatically (and promptly). Otherwise, the system should just send minimal notifications or none at all.

(I'm NOT complaining. This has been a wonderful experience for me. :))

I apparently used up all my pages in less than 3yrs so applied for a big book. (Thanks to lazy placement of Schengen stamps). I had travel in about a month but picked Routine Service.

12/18/2024: Mailed using First Class Mail (I'm in a suburb of Philadelphia)
12/21/2024: Delivered
12/24/2024: Check Cashed
12/25/2024: Notification received 12/24 (78 Locator, El Paso, TX)
12/31/2024: Notification that application was approved
12/31/2024: Notification that passport has shipped (tracking number provided)
01/02/2024: Notification that passport is printing and USPS shows shipped (Priority Mail From Little Rock).
01/02/2024: Notification that supporting documents shipped (First Class mail)
01/06/2024: New and Old Passport Received from El Paso in separate envelopes

From mailing to receipt was 19 calendar days. But from delivery to shipping was only 8 business days. Pretty good for routine service. And I still have 2 weeks til I travel

Wondering with all the stuff going on with federal agencies now, how fast will processing be? Anyone with recent approvals? Sent in a minor's in mid January. They did acknowledge receiving it but have not processed it yet.

Since you submitted the minor's passport application in mid-January, your data point (DP) is likely to be among the first. Please let us know. :tu:

Data point: Minor requiring new application. Went to USPS in 33707 on 12/24 and was told the application was incomplete because we were missing our marriage cert.
Set a new appointment in 95008, USPS said we didn't need marriage certificate and that person was wrong :rolleyes: since we look like the parents. YMMV I suppose.

Regular Processing: $100+35
Passport Intake: 1/22
Accepted: 1/27 (Location Code 57 SF)
Approved: 2/10
Mailed: 2/11 (From PASSPORT SERVICES/DOS HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas)
Delivered: 2/13

NGP with issue date of 2/8

In processing: 14 days
Total time: 22 days

Other child in 2026, 5 years is too short.

I renewed early because I was running out of blank pages, and since it wasn't within a year of expiration I could not use the online system. I chose routine service.

1/27 application sent in the morning via priority mail to the Philadelphia center
1/30 passport tracking showed it as received, 45xx locator (Portsmouth, NH)
2/24 approval email notification
2/25 shipped notification with a USPS tracking number
2/25 a second approval email identical to the first
3/1 new passport card received (regular mail); also the tracking number finally becomes active in the USPS system
3/8 old docs received (regular mail)
3/12 after a hilarious tracking history involving the new passport book bouncing back and forth between the distribution center at IAD and a post office 20 miles away from me 4 times, I asked them to hold it so I could pick it up in person (see OMNI thread for details :D)

I'm an American and currently outside the US. I will be flying back to the US soon. I'm going to NYC. I am planning to stay in the US for 2-3 weeks before flying back outside the US. The thing is my passport is going to expire in a few months so I have to renew my passport before I leave the US. The last time I did a passport renewal was 10 years ago. I recall going to a passport photo store and getting photos taken. Then I recall few days later going to a building and pretty sure it was in Manhattan in NYC to renew my passport. I know that I paid more to get my passport faster. I believe I booked an appointment either online or giving them a call and then going there. I recall waiting a long time outside I believe to get into the building and another time waiting a long time in a room with a lot of other people waiting for the passport afterwards. Does that sound right?


So I did an urgent passport appointment correct? So an urgent passport and expedited is not the same right? Expedited just means they still will send it to you by mail but just faster? The thing is I recall me bringing a copy of my upcoming booked flight and it was less than 2 weeks as proof and bringing it to that office. I don't remember exactly if I received the new passport the same day that I brought my documents or I had to go back a day or few days later but I think it might have been the same day? I believe the old passport got sent by regular mail to my address days later but I don't remember. Can anyone tell me what happens here?


Based on this, can someone give me advice on the best way to get an appointment fast and making an appointment? Say I'm going to be back in NYC on March 17. Say I'm planning to leave NYC on April 3. As of right now, is there anything I can do while outside the US such as give them a call to make an appointment? Or wait till I'm back in NYC first? I still have to get passport photos taken. Where is the best place to take passport photos? I recall the place I went to was a like a photo shop for passport photos. I believe Walgreens has passport photos as well so which is preferred? Either of them give you the option to choose from several photos right? The thing is when I call for an appointment, does anyone know how soon one can get an appointment? Like if I call them when I get back or say right now, could I ask for an appointment on say March 24 about a week after I get back? Or is it possible that there is no urgent appointments available till much later? Do some people call and can get an appointment the next day? So if they have a flight the following day. I have to assume they could make an appointment for someone the next day if their flight is the following day? So should I give them a call soon then before I get back to the US or that isn't recommended? So whether I book a flight for April 3 now or when I get back isn't an issue right? I can always do that once I have an appointment booked and then bring that document to them?


Based on this information, what is the best way for me to get a passport fast? Can someone give me advice on when I should call and around what dates I should have my appointment if they give me the option of choosing the date? Say I'm back in NYC on March 17 and plan to leave on April 3. So the earliest my appointment could be would be March 20? But most likely I won't be able to get an appointment that soon? So try get an appointment say on March 24 and afterwards is fine but just make sure it's before April right? The other thing I thought I read was you want a very early appointment before a certain time because if you do, you get your new passport the same day. Is that true or false? So if you get a later appointment for that day, you have to come back a day or few days later? I would want to avoid that.


Can someone tell me the total cost of this? So this urgent passport costs more than expedited right? And how much more? I recall something about $60 more but is that expedited vs regular mail? For me to get the new passport fast, I have to do urgent appointments as opposed to expedited right? Expedited would be risky right as it could take a lot longer? But I don't have to go to the office if I do that right? Would expedited work if I get passport photos the next day and then send in the application the next day or that probably is making it close? When do I get back my old passport if I do the urgent appointment? What form of payment do they accept at the office for urgent passport? I believe if you do a regular passport renewal by mail, it's money order right? But at the office, I assume you can pay with cash or debit or credit card? Or you need money order for that? I want to make sure that I get my passport at least a few days before I leave. Is it even possible to get my old passport back before I leave or that is not possible?

check to see if you’re eligible for online renewal. that should be the fastest way to do it

jerry90210 , for future reference, it is possible to renew your U.S. passport in person at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in Mexico City under certain circumstances. Won't help you this time, but keep it in mind if you're in Mexico ten years from now.

https://mx.usembassy.gov/passports/#navigator

Are you legally resident where you live? Will your passport be valid the day you return there? If so I would just go back home, make an appointment at your local Embassy or consulate, and just do it there, and you'll get it in Max 3 weeks, maybe much less.


If you insist on doing it in NY: Here is the DoS page that will instruct you.

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra.../new-york.html

For first-time applicants, how long after you have received your passport, have they sent back your original supporting documents?

A couple of days to a week at most.

I posted my details a few posts above. So I"m back in NYC right now. I am planning to be here for around 2 weeks or so or a tiny bit more at the most. It's now almost the weekend. So my only option should be to book an urgent appointment right? I did not even take any passport photo yet. So if even if I do that tomorrow and say I send it in expedited via USPS postal office, I would get it back in 2 weeks most likely or at the best 10 days?


I read a post a while back in this thread from someone who is from NYC and they posted below. I have to assume this was regular and not expedited since they didn't mention expedited? That seems very fast? The thing if you do it online, how exactly did this person send their new passport photo? Did they upload it after taking a picture of it from their phone? They had to take a photo of themselves as a passport photo place right? Then they took a photo of if with their phone? Is that how it works? I read online you could take a photo of yourself with your iPhone and do it but it is risky right because if they don't accept the picture, now you risk it taking even longer as they would reject it? So never do it on your phone right and always do it at a passport photo place? If your photo gets rejected, how many days would they let you know where you have to do it again? So if taking own photo with iphone, you could get rejected multiples times right if photo isn't accepted? I got to assume you won't be paying an additional fee each time you get rejected and resubmit again right? Their post below.


I just did my renewal online.

Submitted online 12/6/24
Payment marked "received" 12/9/24
Passport delivered 12/16/24



If I do expedited and use USPS for this, it would be very close to when I am leaving right? The thing is I did not book my ticket yet but will do so very soon. The other thing is after I book my ticket, I might change it a few days later though or maybe soon as I could make changes without any fees. So it's March 21 right now. Say I want to book a flight for April 5 so 2 weeks from now. I have to wait till tomorrow March 22 to book an early appointment right since departure has to be 14 days or less? Or can I do this now? Say I book the urgent appointment tomorrow. Does anyone know what appointment schedules will they most likely show up for me? I believe they will give you several day and time slots to choose from right? Does anyone know if it would be possible the earliest day might be early next week or is that very unlikely? I heard they make preference to people who have flights very soon like a few days. The other thing is always choose an early time slot right because that way you get it back same day in the afternoon as oppose to having to come back few days later or them shipping it to you? Is this true? So make sure your appointment is no later than what time? Like 8:30am?


The thing is could I go on the website and just make up some dates to play around with it just to see what is available or the website doesn't allow you to do this? Like say I enter my flight departure to be say March 27 just to check what the appointment date and time available would be. I can do that right just to check it out? The other thing I want to ask is this. I don't recall where I read this posted by someone but that person said doing this would be unethical. That person said you could actually book an earlier flight than you expect to leave on. So say you will leave on April 5 but say you book a flight for March 27. Well that way you could book an urgent appointment earlier since it's less than 14 days. The thing would be it gives you more priority so your urgent appointment could be much sooner than normal. Does anyone know if that is true or not? This person is obviously implying that after you do this and then get your passport, you can then change your flight date to a later date. The thing is would you have trouble doing this though? The thing is many people change flight dates due to their plans so someone doing an urgent passport and booking a correct departure date of when they will fly out and then get their passport... well they might have something where they have to change their flight or cancel their flight. I am going to book my flight for the day I'm leaving on so I will have to wait till tomorrow I believe to book an urgent appointment but does what that person suggested work though?