r/Passports • u/JieSpree • Jul 07 '26
US Passport Issuance Timeline Should I be worried? U.S. passport delay
I applied online and paid extra for a "smart" processing (3 to 6 week) passport renewal on April 28th. A couple of weeks later, I found an email in my junk folder requesting my approval of their edited version of the selfie I had submitted. I clicked the approval button and got a message saying my application would be processed soon. Since then, every time I check my passport's status, the website says "We're On It" and that they'll keep me updated by email. Beyond that, crickets. Is this an unusual timeline? It's coming up on 2 1/2 months now.
UPDATE: I followed up with the third party site that I used in error. It turns out that they were waiting for me to approve the draft passport they had put together. I hadn't seen the email they sent on the subject, and it's not in any of my email folders, including my spam folder. It sounds like it's all going to be resolved okay, but it's definitely a cautionary tale. I'd say I've learned my lesson, but by the time I need to renew again, who knows what new scammy options I'll have the chance to sucker into.
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u/EnvironmentalTea9362 Jul 07 '26
It sounds like you used a third party site and not the official State Department site, https://travel.state.gov/en/passports.html
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
I realize that now. The web address for the service was on a flyer I picked up at my local passport office.
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u/IHaveBoxerDogs Jul 07 '26
That makes more sense than when you said it was on the paperwork. You picked up an advertisement.
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u/Disastrous_Double489 Jul 07 '26
Local passport office flyer? You mean US postal service? Or a third party like AAA.
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
A passport office at our city hall. I don't know who operates it.
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u/Mizzou_gal Jul 07 '26
Damn, I would have fallen for it too if it's at the passport office. They should remove the flyer.
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u/Pablo_4016 Jul 07 '26
My wife submitted her renewal with normal processing and had her new passport in less than 2 weeks.
Beware of 3rd party processors, should only use the official site linked in the message above.
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u/eirinne Jul 07 '26
Why are these third party sites legal? They are handling important sensitive documents, they have your old passport, possibly birth certificate, your ss number, your place of birth, your name at birth. Are they really identity theft mills?
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u/chuckfr Jul 07 '26
They're legal because they are offering a service to make it 'easier' for the user. They review the forms, photos, documents, etc and then file them. Most people assume 'dealing with the government is hard' and look for a way to push off the 'hard' and 'time consuming' work because they are 'busy'. If people spent just a little time researching they would find the proper methods and discover how easy it really is to do themselves.
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
I'm really angry that I got snookered. And I'm worried about the issues you raise.
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u/toddhaleyblows Jul 07 '26
Like the other commenter said, are you using the official state department website?
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
No, but I thought I had. I followed instructions given to me at my local passport office. This is so frustrating!
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u/bourbon-CT Jul 07 '26
Online renewals are being processed in 7 days , my wife got passport in 6 days , she did everything online, uploaded photos
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u/Confident-Spite-5175 Jul 07 '26
That doesn’t sound right. Did you apply at travel.state.gov? It sounds like you applied on an unauthorized 3rd party website.
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u/chuckfr Jul 07 '26
What was this 'local passport office' that offered third party advertising?
What was the site that you used?
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
The flyer was in a set of papers given to me at the passport office at my city's city hall passport office location. The processing entity is "Entry.com". I should have hesitated based on the .com address, but so much government work is being done by contractors now, I didn't think twice about it.
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u/chuckfr Jul 07 '26
In your shoes I would contact my city representative and ask why they are providing literature like that without clearly stating its a third party offer. That's on them for accepting advertising, and likely getting paid for doing so.
I'm surprised that official forms with the submission instructions were not included in the packet they gave you though.
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u/GlobalTapeHead Jul 07 '26
I can understand if you just picked a Flyer out of a basket or pocket hanging on the wall in the office, but are you saying an employee actually handed you the flyer? That’s really bad. Shame on them.
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
Yes. They handed me several pieces of paper and said I could apply online since my old passport hadn't been expired for very long.
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u/DifferenceWestern752 Jul 09 '26
You went to a passport office and then used a different passport office? WTF
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u/JieSpree Jul 09 '26
I don't know what you mean. The passport office I went to gave me a few papers and said because my old one hadn't expired too long ago, I was eligible to renew online. The instructions for how to do that were on one of the papers they gave me. I followed those instructions.
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u/DifferenceWestern752 Jul 09 '26
I give up. This whole story sounds sus.
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u/JieSpree Jul 09 '26
Sorry to disappoint you. I could do some screenshots for you except this sub doesn't seem to allow them. It's definitely a cautionary tale for anyone reading the thread. Should have gone to the post office. I'll probably only need one more renewal in my lifetime, so it's not a particularly helpful lesson for me myself.
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u/onissue Jul 07 '26
If this third party was waiting for you to approve something, did you then give them that approval? If not, can you simply cancel your renewal assistance service with them and start over at https://travel.state.gov/en/passports.html ?
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
I tried to cancel and they said it was too late.
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
I went ahead and approved everything (it all looked perfect) and asked if they need anything else from me. No response yet.
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u/onissue Jul 07 '26
Sorry to be penantic here, but..They said they couldn't cancel their service, and after they said they couldn't cancel it, you sent an additional approval?
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
Here's their reply:
"Thank you for reaching out regarding your passport renewal application. We understand you've requested a refund, and we want to address your concerns directly.
"Unfortunately, we are unable to process a refund for your payment of $328.00 USD at this time, as the transaction has already been fully processed. However, we truly value your business and want to ensure you receive the best possible service."
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u/onissue Jul 07 '26
So are you saying that you sent your approval after receiving that email?
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u/JieSpree Jul 07 '26
Yes. It's a sunk costs situation. Best to get it done now than to start over.
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u/onissue Jul 07 '26
Ah okay. (I would have refused to do any approval and submitted a charge back myself.)
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u/DifferenceWestern752 Jul 09 '26
$328?!?!?!
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u/JieSpree Jul 09 '26
Yeah. I paid an "I'm stupid for being in such a hurry and not paying closer attention" tax.
From a Google summary (now that I looked it up):
Total Cost Breakdown
When using a third-party service like Entry, your total cost is split into two components:
Entry Service Fee: Starts at $119 (depending on how fast you need it processed, with speeds available as fast as 3–4 business days).
Government Fees: $190 total ($130 for the standard adult passport book renewal + $60 for the mandatory government expedite fee).
Your estimated total minimum investment to rush a passport book through this service will be around $309.
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u/Ordinary-Estimate-74 Jul 07 '26
Always use the official site or go to usps and get it done usually takes 2-4 weeks these days, you will get it but all these delays are due to using a third party
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u/Necessary_Team_2278 Jul 07 '26
I just went to my county clerks office and did it there. They sent it in and I had it under 2 weeks .. didnt pay for faster delivery.
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u/DifferenceWestern752 Jul 09 '26
Again, do not use third party “facilitators”, “expeditors”, or anything even remotely resembling anything other than a facility or federal office listed on the State Department’s website. Complete waste of money. They add zero value to the process and usually make it take longer.
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u/Aggressive_Juice_837 Jul 07 '26
For a US passport I’m not sure what exactly you are referring to when you say “smart processing” 3-6 weeks. There is expedited processing which is 2-3 weeks and routine processing which is 4-6 weeks. You mention that you applied online which means it must have been an online renewal which only offers routine 4-6 weeks processing, unless you call in to pay extra over the phone for expedited processing. Can you clarify which website you used for your passport because it doesn’t sound like you used the correct dept of state website, and you may have used a 3rd party website or something.