thanks. I’m flying back via LHR on BA. Hopefully they are up to speed on the new guidance re expired passports.

I’m not exactly sure. But now with this new guidance, they probably aren’t issues emergency passport renewals.

Emergency passport renewals being issued outside of the US are still going to be done. But who will need them is going to be different for the rest of this year than it would have been without this change in US policy.

This change eases up the pressure on US embassies/consulates from passport applicants who could otherwise apply in the US and wait it out in the US for passports being issued and delivered in the US; this change frees up staff at/for embassies/consulates to deal more easily with ACS and other issues instead. But what it mainly is to do is ease up a bit of the demand for new renewal passports for the remainder of this year.

When the airline rep uses the information into TIMATIC, they should sort of get it. But I suspect that this will go over initially more easily at airports that have CBP’s IAP in place — airports like LHR, AMS, CDG — or airports where there are US common carriers with direct flights to the US.

Technically, a US citizen leaving the US to the UK is supposed to be in possession of a valid US passport at the time of flying out of the US too, but enforcement under still applicable US law for that too has never been what it was initially intended to generally be on that.

Before, during and since 2020, I’ve been with US-European dual-citizen travel party members who have flown to the US on their US VWP countries’ passports because their US passports were expired. With relatively recently expired US passports in hand for presentation at US airports of entry, CBP has been accepting these kind of relatively recently expired US passports as proof of US identity and US citizenship at US airports of entry. Of the times I’ve been around myself for this in a private capacity, not even a single reference to secondary — literally just presented at the US airports of entry as a US citizens with the expired US passports and told things like “welcome/welcome back, now go get the passport renewed.” It’s likely to go much the same way on entry now with this new policy. The difference with this new policy is that the airlines serving the US will now be able to more readily allow non-dual-citizens to also more easily return to the US with an expired US passports and thereby ease up some of the pressure on passport application processing and on traffic at the embassies/consulates.

At the margins, this change should tend to provide some improvement for domestic passport applicants’ turn times, but I doubt it will be noticed a whole lot by most domestic applicants.

Hello,
So is it safe (and legal of course) for you to leave the US on a UK passport? I am UK/US citizen but I'm still waiting for my US passport to arrive. With long delays in processing times of US passports, I was wondering if I am able to leave the US with my UK passport. I will have my US passport in hand before returning to the US

Does anyone have experience with a similar situation?

The US currently does not have formal exit controls. Airlines require you to show that you are admissible at your destination. As long as you can enter your country of destination with your UK passport, you will be fine.

Please refer to the following thread in the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum:

UPDATE for Renewal of Minors' passports w/o expedited processing
 

6/3 1711 hrs - Received email notification for both applications: "Application status: approved. You should receive your book and card around June 9."
6/3 1901 hrs - Received email notification for both applications: "DoS has shipped your book and card using Priority Mail. Click confirmation number xxxxx to track. You should receive passport around June 9."

Tracking number indicates passports/books being sent from Little Rock, Arkansas distribution center and should arrive on June 7. If they arrive as scheduled it will have taken 12 weeks from submission of application to delivery.

Passport approved but not shipped
 

Hello everyone,

my expedited passports for my two sons were approved Wednesday June 2nd but still don’t have a tracking number. I need to fly out on Thursday and we’re getting very nervous. I see most people got their tracking a few hours after being approved. Should I be concerned?

So I submitted a renewal by mail for a family member on 4/23/21, and my check hasn't been cashed on 6/4/21. Is anyone else seeing long delays?

I suspect you have not read any of the previous posts in this thread...

Almost everyone else is experiencing significant delays: as much as 6 weeks for application to be received and check cashed; up to an additional 12 weeks after receipt/cashing of check for new passports to be issued/received.

Suggest calling the customer service number on the passport processing status page with your case number. They will then send you an email with the tracking number.

I did that this morning, I had to stay 4h30 on hold but they did give the tracking right there on the phone. Never got the Mailed notification via email. Arrived this afternoon.
Applied exactly 2 weeks ago to the day.

Passport adult renewal (book only), routine processing

4/24 Sent via priority express to the Irving TX address for California residents
4/27 Delivered to/received at Irving TX (express guarantee was by 3 pm 4/26)
5/24 Email, application in process
5/25 Check cleared
6/1 Email, application approved, book being printed, should receive on/around 6/7
6/1 Email, passport shipping, tracking #
6/2 Another Email, application approved, book being printed, should receive on/around 6/9
6/4 Received new book, priority mail
____ old passport received


Indirectly related to passport processing times:
5/11 applied for USPS priority express refund since it was delivered the day after guaranteed 2 day delivery; refund appeared to be automatically approved and a check will be sent
5/24 received check from USPS for priority express refund

Thoughts: I should've used regular priority mail w/tracking, not express, but with USPS refund it was free to send in the end. Pleased/surprised with the fast routine turnaround; expected 10 weeks after email acknowledging application in process.

6/5 1000 hrs -- both passport books received - 2 days earlier than expected! Interesting that it took 5 weeks to get from the post office in DC to DoS processing center in Filthadelphia but only 36 hours to get halfway across the country from Arkansas to DC. I guess USPS really does take to heart the "under-promise/over-deliver" mantra...

NOTE: Be aware that the notification from DoS that passport books and cards "have been shipped" and providing a single tracking number certainly gives the impression that the books/cards are being delivered together. However, in fact, they are shipped separately so you will receive 3 mail items from DoS - passport books, passport cards, and original application documents. In our case, this will be 6 items because of applications for 2 kids.

If they are sending all 6 items via priority mail then I completely understand why our national deficit/debt is so high.....

Is it worth calling the passport help line to try to speed things up? I know most people are on hold for 2-4 hours and I'm wondering if it's worth the wait or if they will just tell me I have to wait until it's processed?
I have tried contacting my senator but no reply yet. I travel on 6/19 and am worried I won't get my passport back in time even though I paid to get it expedited.

Any tips are much appreciated :)

What is the expected timeframe for supporting documents to be returned?

4/30 Applied for the passport and passport book for the first time (expedited)
5/22 Passport received
5/27 Passport book received
as of 6/7 - supporting documents (certificate of naturalization) not retuned yet.

Did you pay to get it expedited? Yours seems to have come quick!!

when calling passport services you can choose to have them call you back instead of waiting on hold....the system works.

On the passport status webpage you can sign-up for email notifications on your application...the system works. well.

You should already have received an application case number. If you have this number, call the passport status line and give them the number - they will be able to give you information. Remind them you paid for expedited service.

If you do not have the case number already, go to the passport status page and check the status - when it provides your status it will also give your case number and will tell you if they have you down for expedited service; takes just a few seconds. If you paid for expedited service but the page indicates they have you as regular service, then you should call your congresscritter's office (senator or representative) and ask them to assist. Having the case number will make their efforts much easier.

Yes I do have my case number and the website reflects that I paid expedited. I was just trying to figure out ways to speed it up (like we all are lol) as I have a trip booked in the next couple of weeks. The call back system for the help line doesn't seem to be working, but I have heard back from my senator's office so fingers crossed that will work!

Thank you :)

Yes, I applied at USPS and paid $60 for expedited service.

The book will come by either Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail depending on whether you paid for expedited delivery or not (with a tracking number.)
The passport card comes regular first class mail in a standard business size window envelope; much like a new credit card (no tracking number.)
The application documents usually come regular first class mail in a smallish manila envelope (no tracking number.)

Another timeline for expedited Passport Book / Card:

5/4 Mailed Priority Mail Express from CA
5/6 Arrived in PA
5/11 Bank shows check cashed
6/4 at 6pm PST received email notification that passport application had been accepted on 5/12
6/4 at 8pm PST email notification that passport application was approved
6/7 Passport book/card shipped from AZ
6/9 Scheduled delivery

One thing to add is I was checking my passport status every few days throughout and got the same "Not found" message until the morning of 6/4 when it showed accepted, and then I got my first email update later that night

I managed to snag an expedite appointment in Honolulu and I'm wondering if the passport is issued same day (considering the requirement of having travel planed within 3 days to get the appointment). How do they count the 3 days, from appointment time or 12am the following day?

Update
 

04/09/21 Mailed my passport renewal via priority
04/13/21 delivered Ivring TX from NV.
05/26/21 Showing in process 10 to 12 weeks.
05/27/21 email my local congressman in N Vegas
06/04/21 Called passport Agency on hold for 3 hours. Gave them my CC info and said I would get a call back in 3 days.
06/07/2021 Congressman office called me back to see if I had received my passport. Told them No. Said she would reach out to passport agency on my behalf, but there was 70 other people always wait for passports in my area.
06/08/21 passport agency reached out to me due to congressman outreach. Paid $77.56 to have my passport expedited and overnight shipping via UPS.
06/09/21 Congressman office called me to inform me that passport was printed and ready to ship.
06/10/21 52 Page passport delivered.

Depends on the office and circumstances, but typically they are issued the same day, usually just a few hours of meeting with them.

The 3 days to get or thing would probably be 3 days from/within day of appointment, I think. It’s not been tied to any kind of firm 12am or 72 hour stuff in my experience.

Most of mine domestically have involved being told to come in the same afternoon or the next day to pick them up. But at times what I was told sort of depended on what time I got the application in and what was the indicated travel date for the applicant. But all of that from my side is for pre-pandemic applications.

March and April are the two busiest months for new passports and also renewals. Alternatively, November through mid-December is the slowest time period. So between peak application season and COVID possibly causing staffing issues, i'm not surprised you were quoted 10-12 weeks. I certainly would not have bothered my congressman.....

Supporting documents finally arrived 6/11

Where and when did you apply?

did you get your appointment scheduled online? I am having quite a time seeing any appointments available anywhere in the country.

did you make your appointment online?

Hey, what ended up happening with you passport? Did you submit a case with you senator and did they end up getting it expedited to you on time>

Does anyone have experience reaching out to their member of congress? I paid expedited shipping and it was "in process" on May 20. I reached out to my house rep. on June 9th, and no change in my passport status. I understand that it's only been three business days but it seems like everyone whose reached out has seen a status update within like two days after submitting paperwork to their member of congress.

Can anyone say how long it may have taken them to get their book after reaching out to their senator/house rep? I might go to another senator to do this since I haven't heard from the one I already reached out to. Thanks!

I am in the same boat. My Passport app was accepted on 5/14 and has been “In Process” for a few weeks. I contacted my Senators office on Thursday 6/10 and they have reached out on my behalf. I have travel plans this Sunday and still “In Process” for expedited service. I feel this is taking longer than others I’ve seen in this post and nervous it won’t be here in time.

On reddit, I saw someone said it took a week after initial outreach from their congressional member for the status to change to approved and shipped out. Maybe honestly try a different congressional member. I used my district house representative, so i might do a new case with my Senator but not sure if this will mess things up.

Looking for any advice. Here's my timeline.

May 17--booked plane tickets to Mexico for travel on June 20. I was just outside the four-week window, so followed the website's guidance and submitted for expedited service by express delivery.
May 19--Sent in expedited passport renewal application with two-day delivery
May 21--Application delivered by post office. This is 30 days from departure date.
May 27--Date status tracker marks as received. Check deposited.
June 7--Started checking website for appointments several times per day. Can't get one.
June 8--Contacted my senator's office for assistance
June 10--Senator's office said that they reached passport office and prioritized my application
June 10-15--Continued checking status every day. Still marked as "In Process." Checked many times per day for application appointments. Called 877-487-2778 many times but always got busy signal when trying to speak to agent
June 15--Finally reached agent after getting through IVR and waiting on hold for 2 hours and 18 minutes. Agent said she can't help get an appointment and has no idea of status other than "In Process" and can't move my application to the front of the line.
June 15--Sent followup e-mail and voicemail to senator's office and am awaiting reply.

Is there anything else I can do? I live near DC. Should I go to the office in person even though they say not to without an appointment?

We are going through the same thing. Our flight leaves in 2 days.
May 17th applied for expedited passport with one day delivery.
I have contacted the Senator's Office, spoke with Passport Agency, emailed them with our flight information, and asked for an appointment in Seattle and nothing. I don't think we will have passports in time but you have a little bit more time left. GOOD LUCK

Update: After reaching back out to my Congressman, they reached back out this morning and requested it be sent to the urgent team. It was approved at 6:45 tonight. I will have it by Friday, two days before my flight.

Just noticed a change on the state.gov website. Until yesterday, it said to get an in-person appointment for travel within four weeks, and for travel more than four weeks away, to use expedited renewal. Now it says to use in-person appointments for travel within 10 weeks, and to use the expedited process for travel between 10 and 18 weeks.