Am not sure this is the right Forum but wanted to report that I renewed my Passport which was dated to expire in October of 2024. Having heard of long delays, I sent my Passport in November 28 by regular mail and paid the $60 expedited passport renewal fee. Received new Passport today. Might be a good time to get your passport now if you need one before the probable increase in applications before the summer holiday season.

Thanks for the reminder -- I just got back from overseas and mine expires in June -- I'll send in for renewal just after New Years (right after my next hair appointment so the photo doesn't look like crap )

Comparing the US timeline to EU.... I know someone who went to a consulate for an EU country here in the US recently to apply for a passport. The new EU country passport arrived by USPS 3 days later...

I just renewed my US passport online. My new passport arrived snail mail in less than 2 weeks from the time I submitted the application. Standard application fee - no expedite needed.

J62, you and mjs apparently timed it well to get it done in 2-3 weeks, considering:
In 2024, the State Department issued 24.5 million passports, which is nearly 500,000 more than 2023. This is the third consecutive year that the State Department has broken annual passport processing records.

(those numbers include about 3.6 million passport cards each year)

>> Comparing the US timeline to EU ...
Your comparison would be between going to a consulate in person and a routine mailing to a passport center.

That EU passport got processed by the next day and then two days in the mail

Instead of two weeks you could have had it in 3 days. Just fly to Zurich or Zagreb and go directly from the airport to the US consulate, apply, go back the next day to pick it up and fly home the next day

By "apply" I assume you mean it is a renewal.

At least I assume a US consulate can replace a lost/stolen passport quickly. Renewing a pp at a consulate should be easy if you go in with your currently valid pp in hand. I do mean "passport" in hand. I would not be surprised if the renewal could take longer if they were handling a lot of emergency replacements.

I suppose a person would need to renew at a consulate if planning to extend a visa or to visit a third country - cases which require that your passport expiration date is months after the expiration of your visa.

While a consulate and a national passport center can both issue passports, they are different businesses. Sorta like going to AAA office instead of the DMV office to do some DMV business.

My third Global Entry renewal submitted online was approved in one or two days with a new GE card arriving in maybe a week. No interview was required starting with my second renewal. I use the card as my Real-ID.

That renewal was 2 or 3 weeks ago. Figured they could get it approved by the end of March. Then I learned:

Previously, there was an automatic six-month extension if Global Entry members had applied for renewal but hadn't yet been approved by their expiration date. That grace period has been extended to 24 months because of the volume of applications. The extension of Global Entry benefits may give people more peace of mind that they can still travel without the hassle of waiting in long lines getting back into the U.S.

Good (lucky) timing indeed. Since I just returned from a trip and my old US passport expires next year, I knew I had a few month window with no foreign travel so I jumped on it. Good until 2034. By that time who knows - we may all just use biometric IDs...or implanted chips..

The EU passport I referred to was actually a 1st time/new passport application for a US citizen who got dual citizenship. It makes sense that a consulate could issue a passport faster as that's a key part of their job. The 3d turn around was a surprise.

I mailed my US passport for renewal the Monday before Thanksgiving. Although I paid for Priority Express the receipt said that the earliest delivery was Friday!! The tracking system didn't work, but the following Monday I saw that the check had been cashed. My new passport arrived in two and a half weeks, but the old one hasn't shown up yet.

My UK passport has expired, but I need someone in the UK not related to me by blood or marriage to verify my photo. Having lived in the US since 1975 I don't know anyone who meets the criteria. Which means I will have to renew in person the next time I'm there. Particularly annoying since I will now need an ETA.

Silly that you should need an ETA -- but at least it should be quick. I applied for mine early this month and was authorized immediately. Like immediately -- less than two minutes. Experience Applying for UK ETA