my BIL is in the same situation - still awaiting his renewal after 10 weeks! he is trying all the different avenues, though we leave for paris in two weeks.

my question is this: if the passport doesn't arrive in time, would he have any recourse with the airline (American) or passport agency to get back the cost of his ticket? sounds like a long shot to me, but you all might have some ideas.

thanks!
melissa

Luvtotravel - so glad you have your passport!

I checked my passport status and lo and behold it says its been mailed...be still my heart! Must have been updated just this morning, when I look up the tracking w/USPS it's not registering yet.

I applied at a PO on 2/27, expedited everything. My status actually started tracking exactly 1 week later which surprised me. It said that it should be ready on 3/8. I was anticipating a problem with auth birth cert from the info I had been getting from folks. So I ordered not 1 but 2 new auth copies - 1 regular mail & then thought better of it and ordered another 1 express via internet. I wanted to have the record ready for when the "problem with your application" letter arrived. Now the status says its been completed, mailed and should arrive 3/10. Well, it ain't over until I see it but I am encouraged.

I am on the west coast, perhaps the agency is getting caught up a little with the workload? Like I said .... it's not here yet.

Well, I got my passport. Yay! It actually arrived on the 9th. That was barely 10 days. Now I can really start packing. It does have the electronic device on it. Sort of hoped it wouldn't until everyone was more sure they can't be eavesdropped upon. But what are you gonna do? Not travel? No way, I'm going. By the way there appeared to be no problem with the authorized birth certificate I submitted. It had all the appropriate info with a purple ink seal, but it was maybe 25 years (eek) old. The county recorder office indicated it probably wouldn't be accepted since it wasn't embossed. Well, it seemed to work just fine.

Wow! After only 9 days my passport just arrived. I sent it in via expedited service (stamped "EXPEDITE" all over the front) using overnight USPS mail each way on March 5th and it arrived this morning, March 14th. Now that was fast!

Hi--
I sent my application in for a passport renewal at the end of January and I am now being told that I will receive it in or on April 11th which is after my intended travel date of Mar. 31st!
I've repeatedly call them to check on the status and have been put on hold numerous times. I finally got through today to expedite it but I was told to call back 10 days before my departure date to expedite it and even then the rep said that it was not guaranteed to arrive in time.
Should I just start a new application at a local passport office and have it expedited or do you think they can expedite my passport that's already in Philadelphia with a locator number? Help!! I don't know what else to do.

NikMac

For anybody sending your passport off, EXPEDITE EXPEDITE EXPEDITE !!!
I sent mine off, and got it back after 6 days!

For anybody sending your passport off, DON'T PROCRASTINATE, DON'T PROCRASTINATE, DON'T PROCRASTINATE !!!

Why wait till the last minute, or even 3mo before your trip. With your new one you now have 10 years notice until your passport expires so it's not like it's a surprise all of a sudden.

Who's procrastinating? You never know when something comes up and you may have to go out of country. Therefore, not a bad idea to do whatever you can to comfirm that you are in the best position possible. But hey, to each their own.

Nikmac, call your congressman for assistance.

todays Washington Post reported a ten week wait for passports.

I guess I was lucky when I sent in my passport using the expedited service. Thankfully it came in time or I would have missed my trip.

I'm glad that you all got your passports back despite all the worry and hassle.

I've read all your posts and I am now very worried. I did not pay for the "expedited handling" which was a HUGE mistake. I thought I had enough time because I had 8 weeks to RENEW my passport before my departure time.

I've tried to call 1-877-487-2778 all day long today...probably 50 times and I am not able to reach a live person. I want to give them my credit card number and make sure I can get my passports "expedited".

Any suggestions on how I can reach a live person who will help?
Thank you
Karina

Hello.

I sent in my passport to be renewed mid-February. I was able to view it in the system about about one month later. It said I should be receiving it on or about April 18th. The next day it said I should be receiving it on or about April 21st. Later that day they took the expected date out and said within ten weeks from submitting my application. I didn't expedite it at the time because the ten-week time-frame had not yet been implemented. I have not been able to get through to a live person through the toll-free line you are told to call to expedite the application. The system hangs up on you. I have tried both the English and Spanish options. What are other people's recent experiences with this, especially when dealing with passport renewals by mail that were not expedited?

Thanks in advance.

Ross

Hi Ross,
I think I am just as frustrated as you are. My passport renewal is not yet in the system. I was told that they could not take my Visa card and "expedite" the process until it showed in their system. It may take 4 weeks for it to show. It is maddening. I was on hold for more than one hour yesterday and by then it was midnight on the East coast and nobody ever came on line.
I don't know what to do at this point.
Karina

Those of you who expedites, did you write "expedited" on the envelope? I didn't and am freaking out. W are leaving may 1. I paid for expedited service. Now I'm wondering what I should do. I did write on the renewal application that we were leaving April 25th, so maybe that will help some??

spicegirl, I did expedited service, and yes I put "expidite" all over the front of the envelope in big red letters. My passport came in just 9 days (I also used overnight service each way)! My friend (who is travelling with me in June) did the same exact thing and mailed hers off the very same day I did. It's day 20 now, and hers has still not come. I think it's a bit hit or miss. When did you mail yours off? Have you checked its status online yet? I wouldn't freak out just yet--you do have over a month still.

I checked the status...not there. I am thinking about re-applying and just doing the overnight both ways. I am desperate, and have a feeling it won't be here in time. Also, not 100% sure I signed it...

We had a similar delay spring 2006 with my son's passport. After numerous calls, e-mails, and frustration for a 2 week period, I called our Congressman and the assistant helped get our passport within 24 hours!!!!!