I'm glad I didn't pay for expedited service. Door to door, USPS, took 23 days. They said expect 4-6 weeks at the moment. Perhaps they overestimate, but I still thought it was fast. And that includes mailing back and forth across the country.

What didn't work so well was the tracking feature. The email telling me my passport was finished and on its way back to me came the day AFTER I got my passport in the mail. And I had just looked up the status of the passport online the previous morning.

Anyway, done! Thought I'd post the response time in case anyone's wondering.

Thanks so much. I needed this 'nudge' as my DHs passport needs to be renewed now! We are in and out of the country numerous times and right now is our best window of opportunity to do it!!

Thanks for making me look at DHs passport!

If you live in the city of a passport renewal(Chicago,Washington,New York,etc.) it is so much easier to just go in person and do it in one day. I usually book an appointment before 10am and have it in my hand by 3pm.

Just renewed mine (from Seattle by USPS). Interestingly mine took exactly 23 days too! Well I've only got the passport book so far, still waiting for return of my old passport and passport card (the 3 items are supposed to come in separate mailings).

FWIW, about 4 years ago I renewed my (USA) passport. But USPS delivered it to the wrong address!!! That address "sat" on it for a month before turning it in to the Post Office. If there is anyway to have yours returned by return receipt/signed, do it.

regards - tom

cary999, what a nightmare.

suze, my old passport arrived today.

Sent in the renewal (expedited) on Saturday evening. We'll see how long it takes. DH said to do expedited, although we may have had enough time for regular service. Don't want to be caught without a passport (old OR new) for flight to Europe in late-November.

thanks, i'll check my mailbox tonight! i really want my old passport back to complete my collection!!

There was no place on the on-line form to request the return of the old passport. Will they return it?? Is this standard? I have all my other old ones, but maybe rules have changed in the last 8 years.

They've always returned it. This was the first time they've sent it separately.

Thanks! Good to know they still return the old ones.

Yes, they automatically return it. I thought the same thing for a minute that maybe something had changed & I wanted that old one back ;-)
There is a note when you get the new passport saying you'll get your 'original documents' or something like that back in a separate envelope. Mine came yesterday as correctly predicted by cristycruz. They punch the cover as usual.

I also got a Passport Card this time for $30 extra. Not sure how useful it will be but I figured an additional form of ID to carry, and it's pretty cute (if I understand correctly it's only good for Canada and Mexico by land and sea?).

Just sent my passport in for renewal yesterday. I am hoping for a quick return even though I didn't expedite. Handing over my passport is such an unnerving thing to do.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt...card_3926.html

<i>The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.</i>

I have a Global Entry card which is valid for basically the same thing so didn't bother getting a passport card. What I'm not totally clear on is whether either card is valid for entry into these other countries. Anecdotally, my parents just got back from an Alaska cruise that embarked/disembarked in Seattle and stopped in Victoria and they used their GE cards. They had their passports with them but never had to produce them. I personally would probably never travel with just the card because I would be wondering what if something happens and I need to fly back so it's more of an extra form of ID to me.

I also noticed there's now a check box on the application for the 52 page passport and you no longer need to attach a separate letter.

I'm planning only to use the passport card as ID (just to have something on my person & maybe for changing money in Mexico) so I don't have to carry my drivers license or my actual passport around town.

"Handing over my passport is such an unnerving thing to do."

I sooooo agree!

Re: the 52 page version. DH and I will both be getting this one. I've had to add pages to mine (will expire in 2014) and it is quickly filling up again! DH was told, although his passport that I've just returned, is not completely full, that he needs to get extra pages the next time (so I did mark that box).

I got a 'passport' card for about $3, made in Bangkok, from the first 2 pages of my passport. It has been used as an extra ID when travelling in Thailand, but also when I checked in at OHare for a domestic flight! I carry it with me, but seldom take it out and use it.

Just got mine back! It took exactly 2 weeks. I'm so glad I didn't pay for expedited service. So glad to have my passport. I hate being without it!

do you think it will still take only 2 weeks now? I just decided to take a trip in Decemer and I have exactly 4 weeks. Does anyone also get the passport card? Thanks!

It doesn't matter what anyone here THINKS - it only matter what will happen to your application.

Here's a copy of the response I made to your same question on the Caribbean Forum:

No one can give you any guarantees but lately the renewal has been pretty quick with an average turnaround time of 2 to 3 weeks. At this late date (you have less than a month) I'd pay extra for expedited service and get your passport back in a much shorter time - why take the risk and have to cancel your vacation because you didn't get your passport back "in time"? You know what they say about Murphy's Law - if something can go wrong, it will.

It's YOUR VACATION, you'll have to decide if saving a few dollars is "worth the risk". If it were me, I'd pay extra and have one less worry.