Puzzled why you sent it to PA and not TX since you are in Washington state.

Looks like TX is only for: "I want routine service and I live in California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, or Texas."
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ort/renew.html

Sorry. For some reason I thought TX was all western states. Thanks for the correction!

New passport application (to replace my long expired previous passport)

1/31/24: went to my appointment at my local post office. was told it could take up to 3 months.
3/1/24: got my new passport

ETA: routine service. No expedited mail in either direction.

Was it an expedited service with express mail both directions?

Updated my post. Standard service. Did not request expedited mail in either direction.

I was surprised how fast it was.

That was fast indeed!

Locator 35 - New Passport Timeline (12 days with Standard Processing and Shipping!)
 

Incredibly fast turnaround on a passport for my child: 12 days with standard processing and shipping!

• 2/24/2024 - Submitted passport application in person at USPS in MA
• 2/29/2024 - Check cashed
• 3/4/2024 - Passport issued
• 3/6/2024 - Passport mailed Priority Mail from Tucson, AZ per the tracking data. State Department website says shipped via First Class Mail on 3/7/2024 from location #35 (Charleston, SC).
• 3/7/2024 - Passport arrives via Priority Mail in Massachusetts. Return address on the envelope was Charleston, SC, but tracking shows it came from Tucson.

12 days beats even the expedited processing/shipping times, I can't believe that was the normal time!

Expedited locator 35 Renewal, extended size book, with the addition of a new passport card:

2/26/2024 - Mailed via Priority Mail
2/28/2024 - Received in Philadelphia
3/1/2024 - In Progress in Charleston
3/4/2024 - Check cashed
no updates in the interim, although there was a brief systems outage on 3/11 so it's possible an update got missed
3/11/2024 - Passport mailed
3/12/2024 - Arrival via Express Mail

Not a bad turnaround, but definitely a day or two slower than what other people have been experiencing, particularly for 'expedited' service. Still worlds better than the situation last year, and I can't complain because they are still well under the promised 2-3 week turnaround.

Yeah, it seems like both standard and expedited is slowing down again. But definitely not as “peak” bad.

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

17 days total for expedited service and delivery, 6-23 April 2024 :tu:
​

• Mailed via Priority Mail: 6 April 2024
• Delivered in Philadelphia: 11 April 2024
• New passport issued: 16 April 2024
• Received new passport: 23 April 2024

This is a good one to compare expedited vs regular: I mailed mine priority to Philadelphia for regular processing: delivered April 5 (Friday), received April 8, and still in process as of 5 minutes ago.

So my passport book was received today; this one is a good one for comparison to Expat because we both submitted to Philadelphia but he requested Expedited while I did not. My total timeline was April 3 - May 10 or 38 days (5 weeks) total door to door - or about twice the time of expedited processing.
.
- Mailed via Priority Mail: 3 Apr 2024
- Delivered in Philadelphia: 5 April 2024
- "Status: In Process" and "Received on 8 April" and "allow 4-8 weeks for routine service" via website: 9 April 2024
Requested email notifications - 9 April 2024
- Email Notification "Application Status: In Process. Your application was received on 8 April": 7 May 2024 1930hrs
- Email Notification "Application Status: Approved": 8 May 2025 0200hrs
- Email Notification "Application Status: Shipped": 8 May 2024 1800hrs
- Email Notification "Application Status: Approved": 8 May 2024 2200hrs
- USPS Tracking email/text update: Received at Tucson, AZ Mail Facility: 8 May 2024 1725hrs
- USPS Tracking email/text update: Delivered Fairfax, VA, 10 May 2024, 0930hrs

My total timeline was April 3 - May 10 or 38 days (5 weeks) total door to door (although still awaiting passport card and supporting docs).

Email notifications leaves a bit to be desired as the notifications came weeks behind actual events and a little bit of out of order. Monitoring of the website is still best.

But pretty good service overall and still on par with pre-COVID.

12 May ETA: On looking closely at my passport and the Priority Mail envelope I noticed two curious things: 1) The passport information page says the Date of Issue was 7 May, the day BEFORE the website and email notifications stated it was only approved and being prepared of 8 May; and 2) the email notification and USPS tracking info stated the passport was shipped from Tucson, AZ but the return address on the mailing label states Portsmouth, NH. I guess they have a template for the mailing label - probably for billing/accounting purposes.

18 May ETA: Expired Passport (supporting documents) mailed on May 15, delivered on May 18. Although application was sent to Phildelphia, the enevelope for the expired passport has a return address of Sterling, VA, and the postmark on the envelope is from New Hampshire. Passport card mailed from New Hampshire also on May 8, delivered May 12.

Mailed May 6 from CA
Standard processing
Received update on May 16 that it was approved and would take 6-8 weeks
Received on May 23.

Curious. Mailed passport May 23 or so. Status shows "in process" since May 29th. But the payment check hasn't been cashed yet. Normally they cash it even before the status updates. Any idea what that might be?
P.S. Wonder if I forgot to sign the check :/ If I did - nothing to do but wait till they contact me, I guess?

If there are any issues, be prepared to wait as long as the usual processing times are. And then they will send you a letter which with current USPS times can take up to 10 days to arrive.

That's not good. Might have to end up going to the passport center.
How does it work if I have an application in progress and suddenly have to use a local passport center to get the passport sooner?

You can try contacting them:

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...passports.html

Called today. Call center picked up immediately but had no information and could not help. "If there is a problem, they will contact you".

I have an appointment for a passport renewal in Houston next week

1) will I receive the passport while I wait?
2) will my old passport be returned immediately ( I need the visas )

1.Once approved, they will discuss with you the options for delivery based on your circumstances. But no, you will not get it while you are standing at the counter in the office. Depending on several factors, but mostly on the time of your appointment, you can usually pick it up in a few hours - so try to get as early an appointment as possible. If your appt is late in their day you might have to pick it up the next morning.
2. Yes, supporting materials should/will be returned at the same time as the new passport.

Ensure you have all needed documentation and photos. More info here: Apply at the Houston Passport Agency (state.gov)

Locator 45... wait times now? June 2024
 

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with the wait times for a new passport application. We submitted my daughter's application on 5/28, in process as of 6/3.

Check the last couple of pages of this thread. You're within the normal time frame, although you haven't specified if you did standard or expedited, or if it was mailed or submitted in person at the post office.

Expedited processing an expedited shipping back to me. Sorry about that ;)