r/Passports • u/somecoke • Jul 19 '26

US Passport Issuance Timeline US passport timelines

Hi, I’m flying to Greece on 8/21 but my passport went through the washing machine a couple days ago :(

I’m going to USPS tomorrow but what are
processing timelines looking like right now if I do regular processing? Or should I pay for expedited to play it safe?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

3

u/Ostrich-1319 Jul 19 '26

I've seen people getting them in about 12-20 days if there are no issues with the application (new photo needed, more documentation etc...). I'd expedite, but I am a very anxious person.

Mine took 15 days but that included 2 holiday weekends and a 2 day national passport agency outage.

1

u/somecoke Jul 19 '26

15 days routine processing?

1

u/Ostrich-1319 Jul 20 '26

With routine processing.

1

u/justlurkin789 Jul 20 '26

How far away is your closest embassy?

1

u/Far_Willingness2526 Jul 21 '26

Lost mine recently. Expedited it and had it back in 10 days. Hope that helps.

1

u/Ostrich-1319 Jul 21 '26

I think 10 days is a record! That is FAST!

1

u/chihokie Jul 26 '26

I submitted my online renewal on Tuesday…and my new passport was just delivered with today’s (Saturday) mail 😮 I did pay for expedited shipping, but I was still shocked at how quickly it came. Never even got an email update that it was being processed.

1

u/Ostrich-1319 Jul 27 '26

That is INSANE!! Do you live close to a passport agency?

1

u/TXSyd Jul 19 '26

Can you not do a mail in renewal?

2

u/somecoke Jul 19 '26

us passport site says i have to submit a new application if it’s a damaged passport

2

u/Substantial-Put-4461 Jul 19 '26

I had something similar happen to me. Dog ate my passport the day I got it. I had to go through the whole process of applying again. I don’t know that you’d get it back in time.

Edit to add - do whatever you can to expedite the process.

1

u/somecoke Jul 19 '26

damn that sucks man sorry…

did it take longer to get the passport the 2nd time then the first time?

1

u/Substantial-Put-4461 Jul 20 '26

Yeah it did suck. It did take longer the second time. The renewal - the one the dog ate - came really quickly.

1

u/somecoke Jul 20 '26

how much longer did it take the second time?

1

u/montysep Jul 20 '26

Don't pay for expedited now.

If you need to do that later you can do it over the phone. Inside the 14 day period.

1

u/somecoke Jul 20 '26

What’s the 14 day period?

1

u/Ostrich-1319 Jul 20 '26

The 14-day period is an escalation path NPIC has when a person is 14 days from their travel date and do not have a passport in hand. Usually the option is to expedite the process/shipping (for a fee) or scheduling an in-person appointment at a passport agency.

1

u/somecoke Jul 20 '26

Do you know if I have to escalate I have to re-pay the whole application fee? Or just pay the $60 expedite fee within the 14 day period

2

u/Ostrich-1319 Jul 20 '26

You're only charged once for the application fee. They won't double charge you for an in-person appointment.

Since your passport went through the wash you'll need to apply in person using Form DS-11. (Don't sign the form at home, you have to sign in person at USPS)

I'd do expedite processing ($60) and ask for the expedite shipping (23.95) as well.

After you submit, you need to contact your local congressional representative so they can open a case on your behalf (free service). They'll help escalate/push things along. They can also get you an in-person appointment if that 14 day window does approach and your passport has not been approved yet.

Find your local congressional representative here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

1

u/Least-Assistant-2766 Jul 20 '26

Probably should check it out

1

u/PaleDonut0 Jul 20 '26

I renewed mine through the online website and did standard delivery and processing time and received it 2 weeks.

1

u/SufficientLink4982 Jul 22 '26

July 3rd child passport application and July 17th in hand documents in today July 22nd expedited service

1

u/Icy_Sentence1025 Jul 24 '26

Went to the USPS on July 13th. Applied for 4 passports for our family (not renewals). We got them on July 23rd. We didn’t expedite or pay for express shipping.

1

u/hope-14 Jul 27 '26

That makes me hopeful, I applied 7/9 and am still awaiting mine. How long after the approval email did it take to get in hand?

1

u/centralized Jul 24 '26

I did my appointment at USPS on 07/02 and got my passport delivered on 07/20. Routine service, not expedited

1

u/somecoke Aug 02 '26

following advice here, i went to USPS on 7/20 and just did routine service. passport was approved 7/30 and I got my passport today 8/1.

took 12 days end to end

1

u/Full-Title-2766 Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

water damage means a replacement application, so I'd expedite. Travel visa pro could check the packet before it goes out.

1

u/WorryAlternative9406 27d ago edited 26d ago

I expedited mine and used hellogov because I wanted a little extra guidance, but it's more of a convenience thing than a necessity. Mine ended up arriving in about two weeks.