travlsolo2

Should I be worried? Original trip was for departure August 30; I had to move it up to August 12. Passport renewal forms sent July 1; check was cashed July 5. What are the chances the passport won't arrive in time? Is there any way to check? Not sure if I should be worried?
Any thoughts? Thank you.

Andrew

I would be worried if I were you - because I tend to worry about stuff like this. But because I am not you, I can be objective and say you'll probably be fine and should get it in time. This probably a busy time of the year, so I would have expedited it myself. I did my renewal over the winter (presumably a slow time) and had it back in less than two weeks. Hard to believe it will take more than a month even at a busy time, but with the US government, who knows?

Not sure if you can check. I guess I'd have a backup plan in mind in case it doesn't arrive in time. (Maybe your backup plan is "we don't go?").

Good luck!

RioD

Yes, you can check the status of an application.
You just go online the official website.
Depending on the status, you may need to pay the additional fee to expedite.

lauren_s_kahn

The best time to get a passport is when you do not need it. A word to the wise.

travlsolo2

Thanks for the responses. I went online to try to check status; there was a note about the site experiencing technical difficulties, so I called the phone number. After 20 minutes on hold, I spoke with a person who helped me (I guess). All he could tell me was that it was in progress and total time is usually 4-6 weeks. So I opted for a request to expedite it, for $74.85. So now I feel a little better. Whew!

Yes, I know, I should have paid more attention to the expiration date.

DebitNM

4-6 weeks is there standard reply. I am waiting for mine too. I leave Sept 8, so have more time than you. Every time I check the status its says "in process"

travlsolo2

Update: Passport has not arrived (it was 7 weeks today). Was supposed to leave tomorrow. However, luckily, I had to cancel my trip anyway. Not happy about either situation, but what're you gonna do..... I WILL be calling and asking why passport wasn't expedited, after I paid for it.

bettyk

Heard someone on TV yesterday saying it is taking a minimum of 7 wks for passports. I'm sending mine in this week for renewal but no overseas trips planned. My passport expires in February 2016.

Your tax dollars at work!

DebitNM

Mine got here last week. 6.5 weeks. I paid for overnight delivery and it took 3 days. Then I got email saying it was processed and would be delivered next day -- great, but I already had it 3 days before.

janisj

travlsolo: That is crappy -- on both counts. Hope you can re-schedule. You should get a refund of the expedite fee for sure . . . But the Feds likely don't refund when you don't get what you pay for. 7 weeks is outrageous for normal processing and totally unacceptable for expedited.

cruiseluv

Sorry that you had to cancel your trip. Regarding the expedited fee paid after the fact, not sure why they took your money since my understanding is that you have to make the choice at the time you submit your renewal. Difficult to see once its in process how they take it out of the "assembly line" to expedite it. In any event, since it wasnt expedited you should request your money back. How did you pay for it, with a credit card over the phone?

welltraveledbrit

OP Sorry you had all this hassle and you had to cancel your trip.

6-7 weeks seems incredible to me. This is exactly why I'm glad to have more than one passport .

travlsolo2

I called and got nothing other than the standard "in process". Not even a comment about the 7 weeks. I haven't been charged for the expediting. That's the only good part. Hoping to reschedule for June.

Oh, and an fyi on fees paid for Comfort+ on Delta....if I had cancelled more than 48 hours out, I would have been refunded the fees....that's what I was told. My ticket stays in my account, to be used for another trip 12 months from date of purchase, minus the $300 change fee.

Anyway....get your renewal applications in early!

ellenem

It may be the busy summer travel season. In April, I received my expedited renewal passport in less than two weeks.

socialworker

Hmm, we did NOT expedite and we had our new passports in ~2 weeks, but that was early in the year, not in travel season. Very glad I did not know of any problems back then b/c DH and i disagreed. I wanted to expedite and he said it was a waste of money….

tom_mn

FYI: There are no tax dollars used to process passports as it's entirely a fee driven govt activity.

DebitNM

P.S.A. --

While reading another thread on Fodors, I realized I had nearly made a pretty bad goof-up.

I didn't even think about the renewed passport having a NEW number along with NEW issue and expiration dates!

My GE accent needed to be updated with those 3 pieces of info as well as updating my personal info for several upcoming overseas flights!
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We resume our regular broadcasting schedule.

DebitNM

S/B "me GE account" not accent.

Christina

I always make sure I send mine in at least 3 months before I need it. Last time I had to do this (last year), it wasn't any particularly busy time of year and it still took me about 7 weeks, normal processing. It was Spring. So maybe part of it is where you live and your regional agency. But one just has to be sure to plan in advance.

pariswat

Hello
I get my passport within 2 weeks.
I thought that these guys were taking their time.