I applied for my passport 2 weeks and three days ago for travel for the 2nd of November. That was exactly 5 weeks, 25 business days before I was ready to leave. I hope I get it soon. For those of you who have received your first passport in the last few years, could you tell me how long it took. I've talked to a couple people and they'd gotten theirs back in 2-3 weeks.

I just applied for my first passport too. The rep at the post office assured me that 5 weeks was the absolute maximum time frame. He said right now they are averaging about 2-3 weeks at the most as its a slow time of year so I wouldn't worry. There is a 900 number you can call to check on it- I don't have it but you could do a search on "passports" and the correct site should come up. Good luck!

In '98 I went to London and Paris on a Virgin/Atlantic off-season deal with my sister. We booked it with only four weeks to prepair. She had her passport and I didn't. I went down to and handed in all of the paperwork and in the spot were it asked when you were going to leave the gov. person who took the paperwork put a date that was two weeks earlier than I was leaving. I think I got it two weeks after putting the paperwork in. Isn't there a number you can call to check on the progress of it? I know longer have it, but I remember calling one. I don't know if that helped or not. Good luck.

Go to http://travel.state.gov/ppt_time.html Good-Luck Regards, Walter <BR>

Catherine--my children obtained new passports this spring (due to their age it wasn't just a renewal) and it took less than 5 weeks, probably 2-3.

We applied and received our passports within 3 weeks this past summer.

I did talk to someone yesterday who said it had been finished processing on Thursday. It hasn't arrived today but I expect it will be here in a couple days. <BR>thanks for your input.

Don't forget... <BR> <BR>For anyone out there curious about "fast" passports, you can get one in 24 hours if need be. At least, around L.A. you can. <BR> <BR>All you have to do is prove you are leaving soon (sorry, I forget the exact time period), and pay an extra fee. <BR> <BR>My husband's passport had not been renewed when we decided to go on a "cheap deal" trip. We probably had enough time but didn't want to risk it. <BR> <BR>I typed a letter indicating he was leaving on an emergency business trip and he took it to the passport office. Paid the fees, filled out the papers and the next day he went back and got it. <BR> <BR>Don't skip those great deal flights because you don't think you can get a passport in time. Anything is possible. <BR> <BR <BR>