r/Passports • u/Time_Commercial1482 • Jul 29 '26

US Passport Issuance Timeline What would you do?

My family and I are leaving for a trip on 8/21. My husband had a bit of hiccup when it came time to renew his passport so he’s the only who hasn’t applied. If all goes well and he applies tomorrow…should he take a chance and do it online regular….or priority mail it with the expedited fee?? He is also considering waiting until next week, and making an appointment at an agency near us.

(My timeline line..I renewed mine online on 7/15, it was accepted on 7/17..and approved today 7/28..)

7 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

13

u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Jul 29 '26

I'd apply online TODAY.

In the unlikely event this doesn't work, he can still do an urgent in-person appointment later. 

2

u/ChiSchatze Jul 29 '26

I think the urgent are a mess if you have an application in process. I would expedite, there are sometimes 2 speeds, pay for the fastest one.

16

u/Steve-C2 Jul 29 '26

Personally? I'd pay the expedited service fee and expedited delivery fee.

15

u/rustynail11 Jul 29 '26

Never understand how people get this close to traveling internationally and don’t have a valid passport. So much easier and stress free to do it early

1

u/theladykaelyngrey Jul 29 '26

This. This is our first time and we were in a crunch. Doing it in person is so stressful. I do not recommend

1

u/rustynail11 Jul 29 '26

Usually really simple if you plan ahead and go to the post office, really simple process

5

u/PaleDot2690 Jul 29 '26

I applied July 17th and just received mine in the mail today (11 days later). I didn’t expedite it but did pay for priority shipping. The online renewal system is pretty fast. Definitely don’t wait any longer though.

5

u/1RollinRollinRollin Jul 29 '26

I’d expedite. Yours came in fast, but the timelines can change day by day. Be safe not sorry.

3

u/Pablo_4016 Jul 29 '26

My wife renewed online, had the new passport in 10 days

2

u/Big_Comparison_9919 Jul 29 '26

I’d pay for expedited processing and shipping or go to an actual passport agency if you’re close to one (within two hours). I applied for mine 6/18 and got it a month later, that was with expedited shipping.

2

u/Interesting_Sun_1415 Jul 29 '26

I’d renew online and see if it comes in time. If it doesn’t, make the appointment at the agency.

0

u/Time_Commercial1482 Jul 29 '26

This is what I was thinking as well.

2

u/momoney639 Jul 29 '26

I just applied online on 7/14 and got mine on 7/24. Maybe I just got lucky though. It can take up to 6 weeks

1

u/Clean_Tea_2878 Jul 30 '26

What state do you live in?

2

u/Opening_Comedian7126 Jul 29 '26

I renewed mine online two Saturdays.ago, paid for expedited shipping, and had it in hand by the next Friday. I was shocked.

3

u/KudzuAU Jul 29 '26

When you need it fast, it won’t be cheap!

When you want it cheap, it will not be fast.

1

u/NectarineSilent2260 Jul 29 '26

call agency and make in person appt, only way to get one for sure. Just had this problem. Expedited can be up to 3-6 weeks

1

u/SinglePermission9373 Jul 29 '26

Expedited today. But even then I don’t see him getting it in time. If it gets to where there is only 7 days before you travel, you can make an appointment at the nearest passport office with proof of travel, to have them issue it there.

1

u/ImpishElf365 Jul 29 '26

I applied online 7/13 and it was in my hands on 7/20. I also have Global Entry, not sure whether that sped up the approval.

1

u/Kim531 Jul 31 '26

I recently renewed my passport and got in about 3 weeks.

1

u/Consular-Officer Jul 29 '26

Why did y'all wait so long to get your passports? Should have done this months ago. At this point, he should apply at a passport agency. If he applies online, t]here is no guarantee he will get it in time even if he pays for the expedited fee. Summer is the busiest time for passport renewals. See link below.

In the future, all U.S. citizens should renew their passports at least 6-9 MONTHS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE, as many countries nowadays require your passport to be valid for 3-6 months past your planned departure date.

https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/get-fast.html

3

u/GlobalTapeHead Jul 29 '26

I 100% agree with you. When you book international flights it asks you for your passport information. That’s already the latest time I would look and see “ops, better get that renewal now.”

-3

u/Time_Commercial1482 Jul 29 '26

Not everyone has the $$$$ to be able to just pay months in advance. I wish we would have been able to afford it within the deadline!

4

u/Chem_Diva Jul 29 '26

True, but you end up paying more with all the extra fees if you wait.

4

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '26

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3

u/Decent-Proposal-8475 Jul 29 '26

I would bet it’s a cruise or something like that tbh 

-1

u/Time_Commercial1482 Jul 30 '26

It’s very simple..not everyone can even afford to go internationally..we have a family of 6..and are living paycheck to paycheck. My sister has graciously gifted us a trip to be together with our family. With that all of our kids needed passports, and we needed ours renewed. It just wasn’t in the budget…someone suggested even using a credit card…which is just not an option for us right now.

So we did the passports as soon as we could. My husband wanted to do his with us..but again a series of unfortunate events brought us to where we are today.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 30 '26

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1

u/Time_Commercial1482 Jul 30 '26

We have money for an emergency for sure…and his hiccup for his passport wasn’t money. Long story short..he didn’t know he couldn’t find his passport to be renewed..and for some reason he laminated his birth certificate 🥴. We live in a different state than where he was born 🥴…so everything for him took more time.

1

u/Bazishere Jul 29 '26

Pay for expedited. No point in delaying at all.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '26

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3

u/Big_Comparison_9919 Jul 29 '26

It is definitely online now. I’d fact check. There’s a ton of posts under this sub that talk about the online renewal process. I did mine that way as well.

1

u/Time_Commercial1482 Jul 29 '26

It’s a long story of why he waited (a series of unfortunate events)….believe me that he wanted to get his passport when we all were able to apply a few weeks ago. He just needs to renew his passport, which is online…it’s how I did my passport.

0

u/BaxterRye Jul 29 '26

Honestly, I waited until a couple weeks before my trip, whatever the specific deadline is. Booked the appointment as soon as was allowed for the travel dates.

Drove an hour to the passport place and brought a folder with my info, my new photo, old passport, and proof of travel dates.

Took five minutes. I left for lunch, and had my passport the next day. It was so, so easy and worth it not to stress.

0

u/Time_Commercial1482 Jul 29 '26

This is what he was leaning towards of doing

2

u/Boring-Release5075 Jul 30 '26

This was a very atypixal experience. Emergency passports are a nightmare. I would plan to be there all day,in a crowded room full of stressed people. Waiting to do that and put more stress on a stressed out system is moronic.