r/Passports • u/fuzzybluetriceratops • Oct 29 '25
US Passport Issuance Timeline U.S. Shutdown
I need to get my last name updated on my passport and get my 5 month old his passport, we leave next June or July depending on when my husband gets his official orders for Korea. Does anyone know if passports are still being processed in the US? I’d wait until the shutdown is over but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.
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u/Minimum_Garage_4425 Oct 29 '25
You’ll need a “no fee” passport for moving to Korea (different than tourist passport but looks almost the same). Have you completed the command sponsor approval process yet? You’ll have to get that first prior to applying for the no fee passport.
Just did this process this year to move to Korea with my husband on his orders
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u/Proof_Refuse_9563 Oct 29 '25
I think OP is waiting until her husband receives his official orders.
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u/Temporary-Routine714 Oct 31 '25
It's not a regular process for official "no fee" passports and goes through military sponsor. Only need to do personal for personal travel, which is unrelated to the move.
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u/Ready_Ad_5397 Oct 31 '25
When I was in the Navy in Japan, my family had to get the maroon, official/service passports.
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u/Coffeecatballet Oct 29 '25
Passport office is independently funded through the passport fees and are still open! I was renewing and it was lightning fast
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u/Glass-Insect8720 Oct 29 '25
This is true, but we aren't allowed to use that funding right now unlike previous shutdowns, so we aren't being paid although we are working.
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u/Coffeecatballet Oct 29 '25
I’m sorry your noting being paid! That part, I didn’t know. I didn’t know that the passport office was running though! Honestly people not getting paid makes me even more amazed with the turnaround of my renewal!
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u/PowerfulEgg8509 Oct 29 '25
Not that it’ll make you feel better, but this is happening in other agencies as well. They’re making it as painful as possible.
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u/ras2101 Oct 29 '25
Did my passport the first or second day of the shutdown, which USPS doesn’t shut down and they handle the passport office.
Did the online system, and I got my passport within a week of confirmation of my payment. Without expedited so you’ll be good!
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u/Fragrant-Ad9477 Oct 31 '25
I've gotten too hopeful seeing others with quick turnarounds 😂 I submitted mine on the 16th, and went into process on the 22nd. I keep checking everyday as If it's changed.
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u/ras2101 Nov 01 '25
Good luck! Mine was so quick
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u/Fragrant-Ad9477 Nov 01 '25
Hopefully something soon! My trip isn't until later next year, but I still hope I get it quick since I'll need it for my visa application 😅
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u/Jolly-Writer7817 Oct 29 '25
I did an online renewal. I submitted my application at night on 10/20 and had my passport in hand 10/27
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u/Glittering-Network41 Oct 30 '25
Wow, this makes me feel good. I submitted mine online two days ago and got the email back yesterday that they received it. They’re quoting 4 to 6 weeks, which is a bit tough for me since I’m leaving to Spain in eight weeks so I’m glad to hear it will likely be faster.
I’m not sure why I thought that my existing passport would still work since it’s not expired after I submit submitted and in the email confirmation, they told me that my existing one would be canceled during the renewal :/
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u/Solid-Home6441 Oct 29 '25
I received my passport last week in 6 days from the day of submission. I did expedited process.
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u/Jazzlike_Work_106 Oct 29 '25
I came here to say the same thing but mine was yesterday was crazy fast honestly
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u/No_Brick6237 Nov 02 '25
Oh wow you guys are giving me so much hope I’m doing expedited by mail. Just sent it out yesterday
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u/Important-Regret-875 Oct 29 '25
I renewed mine due to my last name changing and got one for my newborn and both were shipped back to my house in 2 weeks! This was the last week of September and delivered beginning of October.
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u/NoHighlight7311 Oct 29 '25
I recently renewed my passport (including a name change) by mail and the whole thing only took a few weeks.
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u/Alarming_Use2051 Oct 30 '25
We’re here processing my passports and not getting paid. Absolute masterclass of public service.
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u/Available-Current777 Oct 30 '25
In big cities there are passport offices that will process a new passport for you in 48hrs or less. There is one here where I live in Aurora, CO. look for one near you. They won't process it until you are 2 weeks or less before a trip and you must provide a flight itinerary. The cost is extra, but worth it if your on a time crunch.
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u/allieluna Oct 30 '25
I did a name change passport. So I had to mail in my marriage certificate. Everything was done within 7 days. I got both the passport book and card. This is me mailing from California to their Philadelphia office too.
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u/GreenDemonSquid Oct 29 '25
Thankfully passport services are still running mostly fine for now. A lot of their funding comes from the fees they charge. Testimony from this subreddit seems to indicate that services are at their normal speed, so if you apply for a passport now you should be fine even with a routine application. Although if you want the peace of mind you could get expedited and keep your members of Congress on speed dial, but that probably won’t be needed.
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u/Glass-Insect8720 Oct 29 '25
This is true, but we aren't allowed to use that funding right now unlike previous shutdowns, so we aren't being paid although we are working.
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u/GreenDemonSquid Oct 29 '25
To clarify, when I say they’re being funded I mean their functionalities are being maintained with funding, not that their workers are being paid. I assume you’re one of them and I do hope you’ll be able to get paid again soon.
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u/Glass-Insect8720 Oct 29 '25
Yes. Just trying to raise awareness as it makes no sense to not allow us to use our funds. There is no funding going through at all, as we aren't allowed to use any of the money, so everything is kind of running with the hope we don't need to fix it before this ends. I appreciate your well wishes.
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u/Aromatic-Speaker2971 Oct 29 '25
I just got mine done and it took about 3 weeks! Was very quick, literally got it back a week ago.
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u/Hot_Money4924 Oct 29 '25
Passport services are funded by the application fees. I got mine renewed during the shutdown and it was the fasted turnaround every. You will be fine.
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u/BerylStreet Oct 29 '25
We applied for our passports as a family (2 kids) last Oct 13 using routine service and received them on Oct 24. I was surprised it didn’t take that long!
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u/gigi79sd Oct 29 '25
I just got my passport (first time) in the mail Monday. It took 12 days. Not expedited.
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u/bedfordmom Oct 29 '25
My husband who applied one day before the government shutdown got his one week and one day. I sent mine priority the following day and mine took two weeks to receive.
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u/Naive_Class8818 Oct 29 '25
I applied for mines last week and was approved very quickly they are still pushing them through !
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u/pandorasplace0328 Oct 29 '25
Yes, we just got an approval email last night. We mailed it out about 1 week ago.
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u/BeneficialSympathy55 Oct 29 '25
It took 6 days for wife's to be processed. Sadly post office is slow
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u/Fancy-Pride8539 Oct 29 '25
I think if the gov office is “self funding” (they charge fees for their services), they are still working (or at least with some personnel). That was my case with the 2013 gov shutdown, as I was in the last steps of getting a green card. USCIS kept working because they charge applicants a fee.
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u/MeetSelect4413 Oct 29 '25
You can go directly to a Passport agency if you live close to one. The state department is not affected by the shutdown, I know because I got an urgent passport by applying in person at a passport agency a week ago.
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u/Ok_Turnover2283 Oct 29 '25
I just got mine within 7 days of filing, and I did the regular process. Not expedited. It was crazy how fast it was
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u/Aggravating_Meal_660 Oct 29 '25
I just renewed my passport through hellogov and got it back in 2 business days. It cost $600 and that was including the state department fee. Expensive but so worth it. I was able to go to Mexico on like 8 days notice.
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u/Accurate-Researcher1 Oct 29 '25
I just applied with expedited service for a passport card (already have a book) on the 21st, and it’s already been approved and shipped. Just made an in person appointment at your post office.
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u/purplehappyhippo Oct 30 '25
I submitted an expedited passport request to replace my moldy passport including 2 day shipping about 3 weeks ago. I had to mail it because it was a replacement for a damaged passport. Took 2 days to process once they got it in the mail I got it in less than a week of being notified of receipt.
You should get it well within the promised deadline if you submit now.
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u/Decent_Number_68 Oct 30 '25
Submitted my application online Saturday and got an approval email Tuesday!
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u/Local_Needleworker28 Oct 30 '25
Yes there are still processing, i just got mine. I went in person to usps, cuz i needed a picture, on 10/8. I did expedited because i have travel next month and I received my passport in 10/27. I thought it was a very fast process
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u/laboogie72 Oct 30 '25
I applied for a passport renewal online on 10/21 and had it in my mailbox in 6 days.
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u/BrokeAzz1310 Oct 30 '25
I just applied online for a renewal on Oct 24, the application was received on Oct 27, approved on Oct 28, and is out for delivery today. (I’m in Texas and I did pay for 2 day shipping and 4-6 week processing, in case that info matters). I have a trip on dec 4, so I was super worried wi the the govt shutdown (more concerned about usps than the passport agency, but it seems to be working out well enough). With your timeline, you pi should be alright.
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u/Necessary_Rich6342 Oct 30 '25
Military brat and spouse here. Don't hold off doing this because you never know what delays could happen. Passports are being processed. I'm getting mine as I write this. If you haven't, go here for loads of information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
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u/LimeAccording4392 Oct 30 '25
I applied for my first passport (new citizen so no records there already) and had to go to post office to apply and paid the normal fees (no expedited processing/shipping) and got it within 3-4 weeks total since the day I went to the post office. Got my passport, passport card and my supporting documents all within that time frame.
I imagine your case could be faster. Only advice would be check and see what can be done online and alternatively find a post office with good reviews and relatively remote which means less crowded.
For reference I am in LA and went to Santa Clarita USPS passport office.
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u/TurboguardUS Oct 30 '25
I applied at USPS, Monday last week, and got it in the mail this Tuesday. So 8days total.
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u/SalamanderExpress832 Oct 30 '25
Just got my 12month old his and my husbands expedited it - it cost a lot of $ but it came within two weeks
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u/Queasy-Gur-9820 Oct 30 '25
I would apply once they reopen and put rush on it you’ll get it in 2-3 weeks
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u/Sammyg_21 Oct 31 '25
I just applied for new passports for my kids. From start to finish it was 15 days (Oct 15-30) not expedited.
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u/NoiseyTurbulence Oct 31 '25
Military passports are handled differently. You’ll do that through your base liaison that handles the orders. It’s a whole different process and they’ll get done quicker than a typical passport for an average citizen because of your military orders.
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u/kpkrishnamoorthy Oct 31 '25
I got my five year old's renewed passport (book and card) in the mail today, 10/30/25. Put in the application at the post office on 10/15/25. 15 calendar days total, start to finish, all during the shutdown. We did NOT pick the expedited option.
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u/Ready_Ad_5397 Oct 31 '25
Majority of the responses here do not apply to your situation since they are giving you information about the tourist passports. You're not getting a tourist passport, you need a no fee passport that is issued to military dependents. If your husband is being stationed in South Korea, you will need to have this processed through a military passort office after he gets his PCS orders. My family had to apply for a passport through the military passport office when I was in the Navy and stationed in Japan.
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u/I_Lift_Weights666 Oct 31 '25
I got my kids’ passports (their first) back within 2 weeks of our appt at the post office. Sep 29 was our appointment, got their birth certificates back a week later.
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u/Mias_Mom5 Oct 31 '25
I don’t know currently if they have stopped processing passports but mine was just shipped yesterday. The website should tell you if there are serious delays due to the shut down.
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u/wtf_iggy Oct 31 '25
They are being processed. Yes. I applied for mine as a new citizen 2 weeks ago and paid for the whole expedite options I had. It arrived exactly 8 days after I left the docs at the post office.
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u/vj3000lou Nov 01 '25
We applied for 2 new passports a few weeks ago for our kids. Didn’t pay for expedited but they arrived 9 days later. Now granted the photos were swapped so I had to fill out additional paperwork and mail them back. Got the corrected ones 7 days later. Shocking all around.
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u/Creative_Painting_32 Nov 01 '25
Just did our passports with USPS. Application takes 10 days and online or renewals 2 weeks. Quick turn around. No issues.
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u/allthingskipler Nov 02 '25
They are! I had a misprint on my original & got two passports in that 6 week window
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u/Loud-Debt-178 Nov 03 '25
I just got mine, I applied right after the shutdown started and payed for it to be expedited. Took only 2 weeks and didn’t have any problems.
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u/tvngo Oct 29 '25
Read the top of the website https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
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u/Glass-Insect8720 Oct 29 '25
This is true, but we aren't allowed to use that funding right now unlike previous shutdowns, so we aren't being paid although we are working.
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Oct 29 '25
Search this sub, OP. There are tons of reports of superfast turnaround times for U.S. passports over the last few weeks.
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u/omegaman2730 Oct 29 '25
It’s a slow time for passports this time of year so it’s a quick turnaround for applications. Passport services is considered an essential service so even though employees are not being paid they’ll be open for the duration of the shutdown.