I let my passport expire. I decided to renew it online. The online renewal was easy and right now (April) the renewal time was fast.

Saturday - April 11
1) Walgreens - for the photo. The guy took his time making sure the photo fit the specs (everything is online now). I know he took at least 15 minutes but probably closer to 30 minutes to take the photos (and retake) to make sure the photo was acceptable. He sent me the photos via email for quick upload for the renewal process - but also gave me printed photos to take to the courthouse if I were going that route.

Adding - it was also the best passport photo I've ever had.

2) I completed the online application on Saturday, April 11th.
The passport fee for the book was $130 and I chose USPS Express Delivery for $22.05.
Note - this was not expedited service in any way, just faster mailing.

3) the application was received on 4/13...

April 25 email
4) As noted in an email on April 25.
The email said the application was received on 4/13 and they were reviewing my application and supporting documents.

"You requested routine service when you applied. Routine service can take 4-6 weeks. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you submit it."

Four to six weeks would be late May or after but based on others' experiences I expected it to be faster than that.

April 28th email (3 days later)
5) SHIPPED - notification that the passport book was shipped on 4/27. This is where the express shipping would go into effect. It was mailed from AZ.

The tracking number indicated it should arrive today (30th), then tomorrow. When I checked tonight the tracking info indicated it was delivered to my mailbox this afternoon. It was there!

April 30th = delivery

Total time - from Saturday the 11th for photo and online renewal to delivery today (via USPS Express Mail) on April 30th = less than 3 weeks.

Sharing in case this is helpful to anyone.

My wife and I renewed our passports (which still had a few months on them) month or so ago. Photos at CVS, paid $4.00 extra for the digital. Photos pretty average. Digital a ridiculous full length shot. Wife got our $4.00 (each) back. Mailed in the application, Received new passports in three weeks, regular mail..

My renewal process was only a few weeks. My passport photo is horrible. I tried taking a selfie but couldn’t get the correct proportions with the oval fit. My husbnd had to take the photo. To get a plain background i sat in front of our white refrigerator and a little bit of photoshopping was necessary.
i needed to renew necause I am taking a trip and who knows what kind of documentation will be needed in the future to vote. I already paid to get a copy of our marriage license. But I dutiful show my real photo ID to ballot clerks who have known me for umpty ump years.

Glad you are able to get your passports easily now. I remember some of the horror stories on here about the wait times for US passports in the past.

Our Dutch passports are due for renewal at the end of this year. We go to the town hall, and have our photo taken there. A week later we collect our new passports. So civilised and much less stressful then renewing the British one was. Much cheaper too.
If it weren't for the ETA I probably wouldn't have renewed the British one tbh.
I've never liked my photo for official documents. I doubt the one in December will be any better.

Reminders: some countries require 6 months of passport validity from the date of entry. Some require 3 months of validity from the planned date of departure.

Use Visit Japan Web site to expedite your entry into Japan.

A very good reminder.

Which gave me a bit of a chuckle this morning. I was updating mailing address, Amex card numbers, etc. for Clear, TSA Precheck and Global Entry - when I realized my passport didn't expire until this January. Last May I decided I wasn't going anywhere across the pond for a while - but in reality I could have used it through July.

I'm a bit confused because I received an email about renewing my TSA Precheck (which doesn't expire until November according to the email) but I confirmed that it is included with Global Entry and that doesn't expire for 3 more years. TSA PC can also be bundled with my Clear (with the fee covered). Anyway, I just made sure the right Amex was added to my Clear account (that covers the TSA charge) which is scheduled to auto renew at the end of the month - and I'll check again next month.

TSA Precheck is irrelevant, bundled with Clear or not, because you have Global Entry. Just put your GE KTN in your airline profiles in the Known Traveler Number box and then you will see TSA Precheck on your boarding passes. Maybe you know this and have it set.

I use my Global Entry card as my Real ID at the TSA checkpoint. I think I used it at the SSA office, but maybe they just wanted to see my unReal DL. Upgrading my DL was too much hassle and cost money, so no go.

My state has had REAL IDs for years. Maybe 10, maybe not quite 10.
My KTN is in my airline profile and so that's already covered. If an airport has CLEAR, I use that. I'm old school enough to print out a boarding pass at the kiosk when I get to the airport - just in case my cell phone battery dies.

I have only used my GE at the kiosk when returning from a flight. Have not thought about -
"I use my Global Entry card as my Real ID at the TSA checkpoint."

Most of the time I don't need anything physical because of the face recognition camera. Almost every time I flew, there would be at least one person at the TSA check point refusing to use the face recognition.

I'm a Delta million miler so very rarely need anything other than my boarding pass. I'm still curious who is going to trigger my TSA Pre-check renewal. I'll renew it manually (with a card that covers the fee) because I don't want to be in an airport somewhere with a long line. That's how I got CLEAR. The line was so long I stepped out of it, walked to the opposite side of the ATL to register for CLEAR. I'd been thinking about it for a while before. I hate long lines. I hate traffic. Both are my downfalls.

>> Just put your GE KTN in your airline profiles ...
s/b: Just put your GE PASSID in your airline profiles ...

If you have done that, replaced your pre-check KTN with your GE PASSID or have just used your PASSID all along then you are good to go.

>> I'm still curious who is going to trigger my TSA Pre-check renewal.
You. Your GE renewal includes TSA pre-check.

If you didn't have GE then you can renew pre-check and get reimbursed for that fee by Clear:
CLEAR vs. TSA PreCheck®: What Are the Differences? | CLEAR

CLEAR+ & TSA PreCheck® together—the fastest way to your gate

Get TSA PreCheck® for free* when you join CLEAR+. With CLEAR+, skip the standard airport security line, and with TSA PreCheck®, no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets. Using CLEAR+ and TSA PreCheck® together offers the fastest way through the airport.

*Upon completion of your TSA PreCheck® and CLEAR+ applications, CLEAR will issue you a refund of $79.95 (the full cost of TSA PreCheck®)

Both Clear and one of my Amex cards will cover it. I'm just curious to see if one of them does it automatically. I have until November (when my TSA expires) to watch and see what happens. I'll manually renew - if it's not an automatic process.

When does your Global Entry expire?