I recall how about 11 years ago, my daughter's passport expired while we were still in Germany. We went to the consulate in Frankfurt and had a new one in about an hour. The elderly couple ahead of us in line had a problem in that her purse with all identification and passport were stolen. The consular official just had the husband swear that she was who she claimed to be and issued a new passport on the spot. It was a kinder time then. How things have changed!

I sent in my passport renewal on December 22, and received my passport on Jan 28th, about 5 weeks.

No expediting fees, and no RFID on the new passport.