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:
2023-02-24
Received Date:
2023-02-28
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Arkansas Passport Center
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
First Adult Passport paid extra for Expedite service and Faster shipping.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-03-04
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Expedited and got the one with more pages.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-02-08
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
3 Star – Average
Optional Comments:
Suppose to get email notification as to the status of the renewal Passports and Identification Cards. No email received from the Passport Renewal Office. We got our renewed Passport today, minus our renewed Identification cards.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-01-04
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
Vermont Passport Agency
Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Optional Comments:
I’m guessing the agency on the return address is the one who processed it (?)
I was wise enough NOT to book a trip until I had this back in my hands… 3 months later! No reason it should take this long. Now lemme book a trip!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-03-01
Received Date:
2023-03-08
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-02-02
Received Date:
2023-03-29
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
National Passport Center
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Issued by US Dept of State
This was an online adult passport renewal and I had paid for expedited service.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-02-10
Received Date:
2023-04-04
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Optional Comments:
2/10 – Applied online for renewal on 2/10
2/11 – Added expedited service
2/13 received email that status changed to in-Process
3/31 contacted Senators office for help
4/4 passport received by UPS overnight
Online application is easy but spring application times are bad, really bad. Overall its ok but one need to plan carefully to make sure have enough time for your trip.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Application Date:
2023-01-19
Received Date:
2023-07-01
Application Method:
Online Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Optional Comments:
Applied standard process (not expedited) online 1/19/23 and have been in process since then. It’s almost 11 weeks now. Didn’t expedite it since process time was 6-9 weeks. I have a wedding and honeymoon in May and now I’m freaking out.
We have a very small favour to ask………….
We really hope this information is helpful to you and reduces stress whilst you are waiting for you passport. If you are able to make a small donation for the cost of a coffee it really helps us to maintain the site and continue to make improvements for future passport applicants.
Expedited Service
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-03-17
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
New Orleans Passport Center
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Expedited Adult Passport Renewal with Express Delivery option.
-Sent paper application 03/14/2023;
-Application received 03/16/2023;
-Check cashed and application in Progress 03/17/2023;
– Application Approved 03/31/2023;
-Passport mailed 04/01/2023;
-Passport received 04/03/2023.
Surprised.
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-02-23
Received Date:
2023-03-30
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Optional Comments:
Mailed priority on 2/23. Accepted on 2/27/23. Paid for expedited processing and shipping. Renewal only, no other changes. Was 5-7 weeks expedited at that time. Work trip is 4/21/23. While in process they changed expedited processing times to 7-9 weeks so I wasn’t sure where mine fell. Contacted my senator (just googled his name and passport assistance). Had me fill out a form as I was less than 4 weeks from my planned trip. I explained that I just did not know if I was still in the 5-7 weeks (which would still work in theory) or the 7-9 weeks processing time (which would not work). I was currently 4 weeks and 1 day into my processing time from when they had accepted it. Senators office emailed me 20 minutes after I sent them the form and said they had made an inquiry on my behalf and let me know as soon as they knew anything. Late that night when I checked my passport was approved. Received 2 days later. Did the senators office inquiry actually help? I honestly do not know. I would like to think so but I have also not heard anything else from them. So 32 days total from the time my passport application was accepted until the time the passport was in my hand.
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-03-13
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Philadelphia Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
Passport shipped expedited 3/9
Passport received 3/13
Passport shipped 4/1 (paid expedited shipping)
Passport arrived 4/3
International travel set for 4/20, and was expecting it to arrive one week before my holiday. Got lucky somehow, and passport came exactly 3 weeks. At the time I had shipped my application, the website said 3-5 weeks. But the day it was received 3/13, it went up to 4-6 weeks. The following week it went up to 7-9 weeks for expedited. So I believe I got lucky in regards to time my expedited renewal process. I have a friend who renewed same day as me, and my friend’s is still stuck in “in process”.
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-03-08
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
3 Star – Average
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-01-25
Received Date:
2023-02-15
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Houston Passport Agency
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Expedited Service
Application Date:
2023-03-01
Received Date:
2023-04-06
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Western Passport Center
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Optional Comments:
child expedited renewal with 2 day shipping.
March 1st – applied in person in CA
March 6th – marked as received and “in process” by locator 62 (Tucson, AZ)
March 28th – reached out to senator’s office to see if they could help push across the line (~2 weeks out from travel)
March 29th – reply from senators office to hold tight and to check back when THREE days out from travel but they are confident we will receive in time for trip! Yikes!?!
April 4th – marked as shipped!
Knew I was cutting it close with travel week of 04/10 but am glad it worked out. When I applied this site was saying 20-25 days for expedited. It now says 34+ (and going up by almost a day every day).
Not sure if reaching out to senator helped – at least there was some peace of mind that they were “confident” we would receive in time.
If you don’t know your “locator ##” it is the first 2 digits on your processing reference number. They all correspond to a specific processing center.
Bon voyage!
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-02-02
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Colorado Passport Agency
Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-02-02
Received Date:
2023-04-03
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
Miami Passport Agency
Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Optional Comments:
I completed the application at the clerk’s office for three of my children on 02/02/23. I indicated on the application we had travel plans June 1. I did not expedite it. The check was cashed on 02/12/2023. But the status didn’t indicate it was received until 3/04/2023. I was getting nervous hearing about all the delays so on 3/30/2023 I called to upgrade it to expedited. The next day the status changed to approved. I received it on 4/02/2023. I never got charged the expedited fees. Turned out it was approved on 3/28/2023 according to the passport. *Hint – if you call them, call at 7:59am so you can be in the queue at 8:00am. I was only on hold for 20 minutes before talking to an agent.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport (Under 16)
Application Date:
2023-01-04
Received Date:
2023-04-05
Application Method:
Paper Application
Passport Agency:
I do not know
Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Optional Comments:
USPS appointment on 1/4/2023
Received by Passport office and check cashed on 1/11/2023
Online status changed from in process to shipped on 4/3/2023
Expected delivery date 4/5/2023
I am in no rush for the passport, however, the state department was referencing 6-9 weeks when I submitted it and ended up taking 12 weeks. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to receive it.
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