Passport renewal
 

Has anyone received a new passport recently? Mine expired in 2021 and when we decided to travel overseas this May I immediately renewed it online in late January. When it was received I was told by email that regular turnaround was 6-8 weeks. It’s now been 7 weeks and when I go online all it’s continues to say is that passport application was received but no forward progress. Someone posted on our old neighborhood email list that they have had to get their local congresswoman involved to speed up the process. They’ve been waiting since Dec 9. Also said that getting in touch with anyone at passport offices is impossible.

Is there an online site for expediting processing, macdogmom? Sorry, no first-hand help.

I've heard that turnaround is now 11 weeks. Since you've already waited 7, you should be fine for May. That wouldn't make me too nervous. Yet.

I have a trip planned for next week. My friend for whatever reason said book it and after said, she had to renew her passport. According to her, it was sent in December. I didn’t think much about it until a few weeks ago. My friend forgot to sign her form as it was mailed with the check being cashed in January. She did not receive a notice of the problem until early February and immediately resent the information as directed. As of today, no passport. I had her call her congressperson last week. The person who answered said 2 weeks is still plenty of time.

I understand my friend is to blame as I think forgetting to sign is on her but I don’t know what to do about the trip. I may just be going by myself if her congressman doesn’t get this resolved within our timeframe. So fingers crossed as I don’t know if calling our Senator will give more help or not.

My advice to you is to keep checking and call your congressperson within 15 days of your trip if you still haven’t received it.

We’re not leaving until May, so I may give it another month before I start bugging anyone. I did my renewal online (took my own very bad picture) and paid online so no actual signature. I did read that the online process is something new and they only allowed it for a short time frame this winter. I’m excited about going back to London and Paris but a part of me after many years of plane travel says whatever. We finally got on a plane this winter after 3 1/2 years. Had a lovely wedding on the big island for my son and his wonderful fiancée. And then we all promptly got Covid. Everyone vaccinated and everyone fine after a week or so but…Don’t know if it was the airplane, airports, eating indoors or small sick children but it’s still circulating and I’d like to avoid it. Hoping May is a better time for traveling.

Just went down a rabbit hole on Google about people having problems renewing online and saying don’t use that option. It was started in September and has been put on pause indefinitely. Most wanted passports very quickly so I’m hoping my 3 1/2 month turnaround works. They said trying to call can be up to 9 hour wait times! Ugh.

I also applied online early February. I think right before they closed it again and I saw that they are having problems with the online system updating. So I don't know if you can use it as an accurate gauge. I am also planning a trip to Europe for mid May and am not worried quite yet.

Website seems to crash a lot and when I get through it says my passport info has been “received” with no change since Jan 26. I’m a bit worried. But hope springs eternal. I would like to change it to expedited but so far will not let me do that.

Due to the pandemic, there has been a backlog of passport applications, causing longer processing times than usual. The State Department website states that routine processing can take up to 18 weeks, while expedited processing can take up to 12 weeks. These processing times do not include mailing time, so it's important to factor in additional time for that as well.

If you need your passport urgently, you may be eligible for an expedited appointment at a regional passport agency. However, these appointments are limited and require proof of immediate international travel. You can find more information about regional passport agencies on the State Department website.

As for getting in touch with the passport office, the State Department has a customer service hotline that you can call for assistance with passport questions or concerns. Additionally, you can use the online passport status tracker on the State Department website to check the status of your application. If you need to make changes or updates to your application, you can also contact the National Passport Information Center for assistance.

I hope this information helps, and I wish you the best of luck with your passport application.

Passport status: What you should know about application delays before you travel - ABC7 Chicago

"..."I almost was not able to secure my passport," she said.
For her March 12 departure, Leonard applied for her passport online on January 22 with expedited service."It said, 'three to five weeks at the time,'" recalled Leonard.
But then the processing time changed."If you applied 'expedited' after February 6, it looks like the timeline was updated 'five to seven weeks,'" said Leonard...."

My friend still has not received hers. She still can't get through at any of the customer service numbers. Her congressman doesn't seem to be helping as a she called a week later and had to start all over.

I don't think my friend will be going anywhere soon. I even reached out to my State Dept contact for further advice. I was told good luck and given a post where processing times can be up to 6 months and don't bank on getting an in person urgent appointment. I think this is crazy and unreasonable. Everyone then pays extra for it to be expedited but then that wait gets longer.

I think in this case you just have to push, harass and try and not make any mistakes. Good luck.

I’m really starting to worry about my May 10 trip to London and Paris. Catch 22 is that they don’t want to hear from you until you’re 14 days out and then who knows if the passport can be obtained that quickly.

I did mine in September (was still current but just barely). It took that 6-8 weeks like they predicted. I did not do anything special.

So it was received on Jan 26 and then finally got a message from state department that he was being reviewed this Monday (8 weeks later) and then TODAY i got a message saying it was being mailed. So relieved. I did go in and change it to expedited last week so if I get it in the next 2 weeks it will have taken around 10 weeks.

Received my son's passport in the mail yesterday. We had submitted the renewal through an office in City Hall in the city where we live on February 3rd, which means the turn around was just under 7 weeks with standard processing.

Yes, I got mine in the mail! So happy. Basically took 8 weeks and paying extra for expedited service.

I can't help myself but wonder... does paying extra for expedited service makes any difference? 😁

Don't really know but after I paid the extra money the renewal application finally changed from “received” to “in process”. Now I’m trying to link my global entry card to my new passport and they’re not letting me do that simple thing on line. Wish they just kept same passport number when you renew like they do for your driver’s license,

My passport also finally says shipped. I checked Monday or Tuesday and it said processing and then I got the shipping email today. I applied online and did just regular service but I think I paid for expedited shipping but I'm not sure. Anyway, I don't travel until mid may so it looks like everything will be fine.

Yeah my came really fast in the mail. I was having trouble linking new passport with my global entry but finally got a message saying to wait 2 or 3 weeks for them to update new passport info and then I will be able to link the passport and global entry number online.