Thank you for sharing. Was it a routine or expedited service?

Routine service. Didn't do anything special.

When you go in for your urgent travel service passport appointment, do they check that your current passport is not valid for travel anymore? Basically, I have a trip to Indonesia departing Jul 17. Indonesia requires 6 months of passport validity for entry and my passport expires Jan 12, so it wouldn't be valid for my trip. Not wanting to take chances on getting an appointment on Jul 17 for my travel on Jul 17, I made an appointment for Jul 5 by booking a mileage ticket to YVR on Jul 5 evening that I have no intention of actually flying. The only issue is that my current passport is perfectly fine for my "trip to YVR on Jul 5". Is this something they might check when I arrive at the appointment, or is the travel within 14 days thing just a formality box they have to check?

Most of my in-person urgent travel appointments at US passport agency offices in the country have been done for US passports that were still valid for travel at the time of in-person application. Sometimes they look at the application travel date info or ask when the imminent travel is so they can figure out how fast they have to move the file, but don’t worry about that being a problem.

If you have an appointment, they shouldn’t care whether your current US passport is still valid for travel or not as long as it’s still useful as proof of citizenship/identity for the paid application — assuming you are using it for that proof for passport eligibility.

If at the time of paying and submitting your properly completed application they say they can’t turn it fast enough for you to make the July 5th evening flight and make an issue of it, just note that the airline may be more willing to freely rebook you on standby within 24 hours of originally scheduled travel and early enough next day pick up is better than nothing.

I once had a gate-dragon at LHR threaten to refuse me boarding onto the plane because he noticed with old stamps on my EuroVW passport that I used to have a Green Card. I told him I didn't have one anymore, but he absolutely wanted to see evidence of it. Through sheer luck I happened to have the piece of paper the US embassy produces after a GC has been given up somewhere in my travel folder. Not too sure how it would have turned out otherwise...

Seems like the pre-pandemic processing times aren’t coming back for most of the rest of the year:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/05/polit...ays/index.html

They are dangling the carrot of maybe at the end of the year.

I received my new passport about 4 weeks ago but I still have not received my canceled one. The Dept of State website does say to allow up to 8 weeks, but from seemingly all of the anecdotal reports, it appears most receive their canceled documents within a week or two after receiving the new one.

Has anyone else had to wait > 4 weeks for their canceled passport to be returned?

First time application, routine / regular

04/20 - Submitted in person at USPS
04/25 - Received, In process, locator code 53
07/05 - Shipped
??/?? - Received

My wife received her documentation back in early June, about six weeks after receiving the passport. YMMV

Asking in a more appropriate thread.

We need to get an appointment at a passport agency. When I call the main passport agency 1-877-487-2778 number, the only option I can find that seems appropriate is to talk to an agent between 8-10am (10am-noon on Saturday). I got through today, but was told they can't schedule an appointment now (wonder why) and to call Monday.

Is there a better appointment method?

Npr now has an article about passport processing times combined with affected travel including money lost on lodging / tickets / etc. It’s not easy.

Renewal, book + card, however passport recently expired (< 5 years):

06/30 - Submitted in person in New Jersey (Monmouth County)
07/05 - Showing In Process, locator code 19 (Washington)

??/?? - Shipped
??/?? - Received

In December (end of) we did a child passport in Atlanta; went to locator 62 (Tucson) expedited with express mail, and had it back in 22 days (Dec 28 > Jan 18).

They mentioned things like 400k+ new applications each week, the increased authorization for overtime pay, and this year perhaps exceeding even last year’s all time record number of application? Did they not mention the role of the transition to the newest passport book version. They are going to cart out online applications again and probably try to speed things up that way.

gl gl. I’ll assume you get it by mail around September to November range. Keep us posted.

yes on the first question. I don’t recall the npr article mentioning the newest passport book version nor am i aware that this new version is causing delays. The article mentioned online option towards the end of the year. With general online struggles for uploading photo etc I preferred my method of using their online pdf wizard which enabled me to type stuff online, generate a pdf to print, and then mail the printed version with photo etc. I’m more than aware that not everybody has a printer - however like not owning a second car, it’s not that expensive to generate a pdf and then print it at a FedEx kinkos type store. Still saving tons by not owning a printer plus ink(s).

any indications of when they might bring back online renewals?

Some word about later this year, or so that is the hope. Hope costs nothing until it delivers frustration but not a timely passport.

Any recent data point? Mine was received 5/11, with expedite service. It has been almost 9 weeks. We are traveling in about a month and I am getting really nervous.

Yeah, I was hoping there would be something more than a vague "later this year" update - mine expires this year and expecting to travel in December. I think I will not wait to renew on the hope online resumes sooner than later.....

ugh.

Data point from me:

Renewed my passport and chose expedited

Mailed to Philadelphia - June 2
Received - June 5
Processing - June 13
Approved - July 7
Mailed - July 7
Received - July 11

Website status never changed after it became Approved (I got the mail date from the USPS envelope) and like others I never received an email at any point.

Thank you. Do you mind sharing which locator did you have? The first two digit of the locator # would tell. Mine is 19, which is DC. Thanks in advance.

Sure locator 45 — where is that?

Thanks for sharing. 45 looks like National Service Center.

Same day passport replacement centers
 

Last used my passport in 2019 (expires 2028) and then put it in such a "safe place" that now I can't find it. I've torn my house apart the last two months looking for it. That sucker has disappeared.

International trip booked a long time ago, leaving 7/28, so I need to get an urgent travel appointment for a replacement. I'll be on the phone at 4.45am PDT this Saturday (14 days prior to flight) to see what I can get.

I have all the paperwork and photos ready, just need the appointment. There are no passport centers in Nevada, so I will need to fly out to one. Do all the passport centers have the ability to print off a new passport book the same day or are there certain ones that only do that? If so, which ones specifically?

Not starting to panic .... yet.

based on what I’ve read in this thread I would just use the passport wizard to make the application and then mail it all in with your check and photo. I did my photo at Walgreens - surely any chain drugstore or photo shop service can do it. With your travel already booked I would personally prefer to just mail in the documents. I didn’t even have scheduled travel and I still did expedite service plus expedited postage to return. I would also use priority mail flat fee envelope for mailing everything.

I would just do this during July. It’s several annoying steps that require an hour maximum per step. Photo. Application. Check-writing (15 minutes). Going to a post office and getting a priority mail flat rate envelope (9x12”) or ordering it free on usps. Mailing via priority mail, which means taking it to a mailbox or post office.

I forgot to check your location so don’t know how inconvenient some of these steps would be for you.

I am in the DC suburbs, so none of it is a hardship, and almost all done USPS charges $15 for the photo! I could do it myself but will do Walmart of Walgreens to ensure its correct. :)

Renewed my passport and chose expedited

Mailed application/pix/old passport(express) to Philadelphia (from Oregon) - June 21
Received Passport - July 13
Wow! much faster than expected!
One minor disappointment, unlike prior renewals, the old passport was not returned.

Your old passport will be returned separately in about 3 weeks time.

Mailed from CA to TX - May 27
Processing - June 1
Approved - July 14

Locator Code 18 - Chicago
July 14 USPS Informed Delivery Pre-Shipment location:
PASSPORT SERVICES/DOS HOT SPRINGS
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK ,AR

Locator 19 (DC)
5/6 Applied for minor in local county office Expedite Service
5/11 Application accepted at locator 19
5/12 Check Cashed
7/13 Shipped with Priority Mail Tracking Number
7/14 Approved Status but tracking # is gone
7/17 Delivered

Called to let them know I need the old passport (with valid visa) back, they put a note. Waiting nervously for both old and new passports.

It seems like things have really begun moving faster.
Maybe the backlog or "glut" of summer travel (including college students) has been worked through?

Part of it may be the summer travel season is anything but fresh now, but that’s not really what’s so much at work now. Here is what is at work:

Authorized overtime hours has reached unprecedented levels per week. Passport adjudicator numbers are also up by about 10% and slated for another 10% increase; however, the background checks tend to be the bottle neck for activating new hires in this role. There has also been the brining back of retired ones and some reassigned ones to help.

For a sense of how wrong things have gone with US passports: many a Congressional office has seen more constituent requests for expedited passport help within just the past 18 months than the very same offices had in total during the 5-18 years prior to the pandemic.

I saw the other comment about the old passport separately arriving to you - post if you don’t have it by august 13 or so :-)

Any chance that congressional offices are getting more requests for help simply because the press articles mention this option? I’m pretty sure that past passport application processes didn’t include so many people asking for help. Did we even know that we could seek help?

wow - thank you.

Hiring issues for in-person roles span the globe. ESPECIALLY when background checks are in the mix.

This is why - as FlyerTalk members - we've seen issues at Schiphol... hiring+bg checks.

ETA:
I called Saturday 7am PT. Was the agent's second call :)

Unfortunately, the 14 days exactly from date of travel does NOT include weekends (or federal holidays), so I need to call yet again first thing tomorrow morning. Wish that exclusion was noted somewhere on the website.

Halfway to panicville :(

Just updating because I received my old passport back today in case it’s helpful:

Old passport mailed - July 12
Old passport received - July 17

Overall surprised how quickly and smoothly it went but I sympathize with others with delays or issues.

Thanks for sharing. Process seems going pretty smoothly in Philly. Called everyday about the old passport, not much they can do other than putting in a note.

My passport was not due to expire until the end of March 2024. I was going to wait until November, when we return from a trip, to apply for a new one.

Then, our plans changed; we are now planning a trip to a destination which requires six months validity beyond our planned stay.

• I completed the fillable PDF application online, submitted it, printed it and mailed it by Priority Mail on July 5. I paid for expedited service and faster return shipping.
• The application arrived and was picked up at the Philadelphia Post Office on July 7.
• The application was received by the State Department on July 10.
• My check for the passport fee cleared my bank on July 11.
• Application Status: In Process

Unfortunately, according to the tracking number, it was assigned to the New Orleans Passport Agency.

7 May 2023 Mailed (regular mail for $2.22) 2 passport renewals
12 May 2023 Passport office accepted the applications with no additional services ordered
Passport renewals went to processing center 42 (New Orleans)
14 July 2023 Passports issued
18 July 2023 Received the new passports in the mail

Still waiting for the old passports to arrive in the mail.

I'm OK with the whole process.

My application acceptance date and passport delivery date are both one day earlier than yours, but I paid $120 for expedited service (2 passports). The service is such a joke. The whole system is a big mess.