Ours were equally as fast for a first time applicant:

10/23 - Applied at the local passport acceptance agency
10/30 - Passport status trackable online
11/4 - Passports printed and shipped
11/7 - Passports and official documents we had to send in arrive.

2 weeks for non-expedited
 

good to know it's quick right now. do you have to ask for your old passport back or is it returned by default?

Anyway I try to slice and dice it, the passports generally come back faster under the current President's Admin than they used to under any of the prior 3 Presidents.

They are returned as part of the default. Maybe one day this will change with "security" being the excuse again too, but for now they are returned by default for the average US citizen.

Hi from which state did you apply? Is there a difference in processing times accordid
 

From your description, it is not clear whether you signed up for email notifications or not. Simply providing your email on DS-82 is not enough to receive email updates on your passport renewal status.

Passport application took around 5 weeks for a new born. Experienced significant delays when I entered 0000 in the SSN field as his SSN hadn't arrived by the time I applied. Be aware that they either expect you to sign the form or provide a valid SSN.
Timeline -
10/26 - Applied at a passport acceptance agency
11/1 - Application became trackable in the system
11/7 - received an email notification to respond with the SSN or sign the form
11/12 - Response received
11/15 - processing restarted
11/30 - Passport printed - tracking no. provided
12/1 - 12/3 expected date of delivery.

Still happy to receive it before our intended date of travel - 12/15. Was thinking of going the agency route.

I see a lot of US passport applications submitted and processed with 0000 in the SSN field, and I've noticed no delays because of that. While there are now requests for a supplemental form/letter to be signed and submitted by applicant (or person applying on behalf of a US citizen unable to sign for themselves) to avow that the passport applicant has never received a SSN, that doesn't really delay things either if done at the time of application.

My suggestion is not to apply for a SSN during the time while applying for or awaiting for a US passport for an infant, unless there is an urgent need for the SSN to be had in that window.

No, did not register, and never saw a way to do so.

Routine processing speed
11/20 Applied in person at passport acceptance agency.
11/21–11/26 Could track online one of these days. Not sure which day it was I checked.
11/27 Email arrived stating application was being processed, accompanied by application locator number.
11/28 Payment cheque cleared with my bank.
12/6 Received email stating that my my passport had been printed and was en route. Was told to expect it by 12/12.
12/8 Passport arrives.

Total elapsed time from application submission to passport‐in‐hand: 18 days

My application required changing personal information, which is why I applied at an acceptance agency. Not sure if this delayed processing time or not.

You mean you could NOT track online until the 27th, correct?

Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks to complete while expedited service takes 2 to 3. Considering that it's peak travel season, processing MAY take longer than usual.

Actually, I was able to track online prior to receiving the email saying that I could do so. I checked some day between applying in person and receiving the email saying my application had been received and was now processing. When I checked using my personal details (surname, social security number, etc.) on the status website, it showed that my application was processing. Exactly what it showed once I received the email stating my application had been received. It may be that I checked the day before and that it had already been entered into the system prior to the email batch being sent out, but I'm not certain. All I can say is that I definitely was able to check the status online at some point prior to receiving the first email.

That generally hasn't been the case for applications made in recent weeks. It's generally been way better than 4-6 weeks, and it's been within 2-3 weeks even without paying for expedited service.

I mailed my renewal on Saturday, Nov 17 via USPS Priority mail, non-expedited service, received the new passport Wednesday, Dec 6, just under 3 weeks. Only checked the website one time to confirm that they received my application, then just waited, didn't even expect the email saying my new passport has been printed and has been mailed back.

I mailed my non-expedited renewal via priority mail on Nov. 20 and received my passport today, Dec. 13. So it took 23 days.

Applied for a new passport at 7am on December 10th (Monday) at a post office. It's been 10 days now and I haven't heard anything yet, application status is not found in the system, check hasn't been cashed yet. I used expedited service and 1-2 day return shipping.
Is that normal?

Sent my application through acceptance facility on November 30th, Could track on the 4th still no passport, used expedited service with overnight shipping. Called and just said still processing. I'm supposed to leave on January 1st.

Dec 22 the State Department just shut down. Is the passport office "essential" or will the wait be forever????

I still haven't received my passport but at least I'm able to check the status now: "It is currently being processed."

I am going to submit a request for a Refund of Expedite Passport Fee, we'll see what happens.

I'm VERY impressed with the speed of the service this time around. 13 days for standard processing!

Renewed Passport (52 page), also ordered a Passport Card for the first time:

Dec 9 - Mailed from Florida to Irving TX via USPS First Class, w/Certified, Return Receipt endorsements.
Dec 14 - USPS delivers.
Dec 18 - Check clears my bank
Dec 27 - Received 3 e-mails: 1) Passport Received, 2) Passport application locator number, 3) Printed & ready to ship including the USPS Tracking #
Dec 31 - USPS delivers Passport Book; not sure when the Passport Card arrived (no USPS tracking #) but it was here when I got my mail.

13 days for the State Department. 22 days if you include the USPS times. That's a big ^ from me.

Glad to hear that the shutdown has not affected processing times

Have a trip coming up soon and went for expedited processing of a passport renewal. The timeline:
Dec. 19 - Mailed from Massachusetts to Philadelphia via Priority Mail
Dec. 23 - Delivered
Dec. 28 - Check clears
Jan. 4 - New passport received via Priority Mail

Will update this post as I receive more info. Standard processing, 52 pg book. No passport card. Money order.

1/10 - Mailed out from Kansas City to Irving via First Class w/certified
1/13 - Delivery confirmed
1/15 - Locator number assigned

Good to hear the passport office is apparently still open. Was planning to wait to renew my child's passport (expires May) but maybe better to do it now as hard to predict what will happen if the shutdown continues.

this is the link for the Dept of State Passport Office status during the shutdown:

Passport Services During Lapse in Appropriations

mailed mine today USPS express delivery, big book, expedited service, 2-day return.

I was also surprisingly pleased with the speed of my new passport. I also signed up for on-line updates, after the check cleared. FYI

12/19/18 Mailed out regular mail
12/28 check cleared
1/11/19 new 52 page passport arrived
1/14 old canceled passport arrived.

My daughter's recent experience.

Standard processing time.

December 26, 2018, passport renewal application filled up online, printed and mailed via Priority Mail.

January 18, 2019, new passport received (date of issue - January 15, 2019). She's still waiting for the return of her old passport.

USA passport renewal during partial government shutdown?
 

Passport renewal processing is open. I sent mine in after the shutdown began after Christmas and received my new renewal back just last week. I didn't pay for expedite and I think the turnaround time was excellent.

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...-shutdown.html

THANK YOU for the info!

The best news I have gotten from the government front recently! :D

Indeed, the turnaround is excellent. May be many people like us have been waiting, thereby there is not much backlog in the system. Will proceed accordingly.

Did you use the form filling function online? I assume once the form is filled, it would still be printed then be sent in together with the photo, old passport and of course the payment. We specifically took our passport photos on our last visit to Hong Kong in November as there are ID photo services with much better quality and much cheaper. 6 photos for HKD80. Still debate whether we should get the 52 pages book or not..

I just did the same with a name change and an expired passport for my daughter. We took it to the post office after Christmas and received it within 2 weeks, and our documents (marriage license, etc) received within 3. We did use the form filling function, printed it and brought it with us.

Thanks also for the additional DPs. So you opted to pay the handling fee at the Post Office versus just mailing it in? IIRC, not every post office accept the passport application stuff. At least from the memory in our area only a destined one would take it and there is an additional fee.

Yes, yes and yes. Form filled online, printed and sent in with payment and photo. I got the 52 page book since that is why i needed to renew 3 years early. My old book was full, and extra pages cost the same as a renewal now.