Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the US passport application process.
1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First U.S Adult Passport
Application Date:
2023-01-17
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
3 Star – Average
Optional Comments:
Non-expedited service
Applied in-person 1/17 at local library
Accepted by Passport Agency: 1/23
Called agency 3/6 and paid for USPS Express return postage
Mailed by Passport Agency on 3/9
Received 3/10
52 days from application submission, 46 days from application acceptance at agency
Type of Application:
First U.S Adult Passport
Application Date:
2022-12-27
Received Date:
2023-03-07
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Optional Comments:
Wife applied same day and hers hasn’t come.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-01-20
Received Date:
2023-03-09
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Optional Comments:
Applied online 01/20/23. At the time, processing times were 6-9 weeks for routine service and 3-5 weeks for expedited service. Status never changed from “received.” When we called the passport agency for status, they tell us it’s in process. I called on 03/02/23 as we were within 14 days of travel. They informed me I have to wait until we are within 5 business days to request an in-person appointment with an agency because we applied online. Per the advice of the agent we spoke to on 03/04/23 (4+ hours hold time!) we upgraded to expedited, to receive our passport in time for travel on 03/15/23. Per that agent, our processing time would not reset to current processing times, but would continue from the time our applications were received and would be processed based on those initial waiting times. I called yesterday 03/08/23 as we are now within 5 business days of travel, and the agent tells me there are absolutely NO in-person appointments across the entire country! And our status still shows as “received.” We have not yet received our passports. This has been a very frustrating and stressful experience, not to mention the extended hold times and frequent website issues.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-01-02
Received Date:
2023-03-09
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Optional Comments:
Online renewal has been a nightmare. For 9 weeks, it stayed in “received”. After reading on Reddit others’ experiences, I logged into my Travel.gov account and paid the extra $60 at 9 weeks to try to speed this process up. Two days later I see it finally moved into “processing” then they shipped it the next day. So apparently what I read online has some merit about it not getting processed or moved along until you pay the expedite fee? Still should not have taken nearly 10 weeks but thank goodness I don’t have to do this again for another decade. Do NOT do the online renewal!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-02-10
Received Date:
2023-03-11
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-01-11
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Colorado Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-01-11
Received Date:
2023-03-11
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Los Angeles Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
We have international trip on Mar 24, its perfect timing. We would choose expedite one in the future.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-01-11
Received Date:
2023-03-11
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Expedited Service
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-02-28
Received Date:
2023-03-03
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-01-30
Received Date:
2023-02-08
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Dallas Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-02-10
Received Date:
2023-03-09
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-01-19
Received Date:
2023-03-11
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Los Angeles Passport Agency
Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Optional Comments:
Passport was in process for over 6 weeks. Timeline when my passport was received was 3-5 weeks. Status only updated when I applied for a refund of the expedited fee.
Absolutely terrible process. Got no updates. Help line was useless and rude.
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-02-06
Received Date:
2023-03-09
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
New Orleans Passport Center
Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Optional Comments:
2/6 – sent in application at USPS; Travel date 3/25. Expedited 5-7 weeks, express shipping there and back
2/9 – check cashed, status “Not Available”
2/25 – emailed senator
2/27 – senator emailed back; filled out privacy release form, senator reached out and requested processing to be sped up.
3/3 – status finally changed to “in process” but online it said it was received 3/3.
3/8 am – was told processing was so behind it will most likely be 7+ weeks. I lost hope for making my 3/25 trip.
3/8 pm- received email and call from senator’s office. Passport application was approved and issued on March 8th. Senator also sent tracking info.
3/10 – passport is set to arrive at my house via USPS.
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-02-17
Received Date:
2023-03-09
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Connecticut Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-02-03
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
New Orleans Passport Center
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-01-09
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
3 Star – Average
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-01-23
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Optional Comments:
Mailed expedited paper passport application on 01/17/2023. Website updated to received 01/23/2023. Signed up for email notifications. Never received any email notification throughout any steps in the process. Updated to shipped on 3/7/2023. Website had a tracking number. Tracking number did not work. Later the same day status changed to approved. The tracking number no longer was on the website. I would recommend a screenshot of the shipped page to have the tracking number. No further update on the website until the passport was delivered 03/10/2023.
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-01-04
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-02-15
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Expedited, with express shipping there and to us when ready
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-01-17
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Applied January 17
In Process January 20
Received March 10
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-02-01
Received Date:
2023-03-10
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Vermont Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Completed application at US post office on 1/27/23, was told it should take 6-9 weeks . Received by Passport office on 2/1/23, with a new estimate of 8-11 weeks. Called the National Passport Information Center on 3/6/23 to upgrade from routine to expedited service and 1-2 day delivery. Credit card charged on 3/8/23. Passport shipped on 3/9/23, received on 3/10/23.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-01-03
Received Date:
2023-03-06
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
3 Star – Average
Optional Comments:
Child passport renewal (but he is still under age 16 so it’s considered a new one). Mailed via USPS 1/03/2023. Received at National Passport Center on 01/09/2023 (weird because we are in Oregon and it is in NH). When we submitted the waiting times were 6-9 weeks so we did not expedite. But as we waited longer & longer the waiting estimate went to 8-11 weeks. I was ready to go to Seattle to get an emergency one for a trip at the end of March! Online status changed to Approved on 03/01/2023. Received on 03/07/2023. The online status never updated to say MAILED but it did give an estimate of receiving it on 03/08/2023. Maybe it only says MAILED if you pay for expedited delivery? Anyhow…a few anxious days, but it came before the 9th week was up!
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