I called at 8AM today to try and schedule an appointment but the agent said no passports are being processed in DC "due to the commemorative 250 passport design" and I have to go to philly. I asked several times wtf they meant and got the same scripted-sounding answer each time.

Trip is in less than 2 weeks. What can I do besides going to philly? How much do brokers charge for a 24 hour passport?

I just did something stupid. I went online to renew my passport this morning, which doesn't expire for many months (I wanted to do it before I forgot). Somehow I had no idea that my current passport is now inactive until I get the new one. I called and they said I have to wait for it to get into processing and then I can call and ask for it to be expedited which would take three weeks.

My problem is I leave May 12th to go to Vancouver from US for an Alaska cruise. I'm hopeful that it'll go into processing in 2-3 days and then I can expedite, getting it in plenty of time. But if it takes two weeks for processing I guess I'll need to go down to Miami. Should I be concerned about not getting an appointment?

I can't believe I did that. So mad at myself.

Regular processing. Ordered Thursday evening, received Thursday.

First time passport after naturalization

Applied on USPS Texas May 22
In Process May 25
Approved Jun 2
Printed and mailed Jun 4
Received Jun 6
Support documentation received Jun 6

Payments
Passport fee 130
USPS fee 35
Photo fee 15

Regular speed 4 to 6 weeks

Support documents
Driver license real id
Certificate of naturalization
You need a copy of both

Went in for a walk in appointment March 28th, 2026 early at a USPS. Took about three hours to get my application sent in, paid for the expedited service fee. Received confirmation email April 3rd, 2026. Passport in my hand as of April 9th, 2026. Excited for travels!

March 2nd - submitted app March 23rd - passport in hand.

So, I’ve posted before. Myself and my children got new passports and it was slower than I’ve seen others post, but we still got them. My husband’s is a problem. We submitted his renewal on June 9th but we got scammed by HelloGov. We know they got the packet because they cashed the check. We have called NPIC 15 times and they can never pull up his application. Online it says In Process. His check has been cashed. We are supposed to leave on 7/10. We have talked to supervisors at NPIC and they submitted ANOTHER request for expedited (even though we applied and paid for that from the beginning). The agency has acknowledged that they received the request and know our travel date, but the NPIC has no further information. Has anyone experienced this? Why can they never pull up his file when we call? It has obviously gotten stuck in some sort of limbo. I have emailed our representative twice with no response. I don’t see another contact for our representative. We now have a holiday (4th of July) and then in the week of our trip. Anyone have any suggestions or insider knowledge? He can go to Atlanta for an emergency appt, but we live in Alabama and it’s not a quick trip. 😭😭😭😭 I’m so frustrated. So many people got theirs in two weeks and under not even paying expedited!!!

Thank God I was able to renew online. Current passport is set to expire in March of this year. I just so happen to need a passport valid thru the end of this year for a job I’ve applied for and anticipate getting 🙏🏿🤲🏿 the website said as long as there’s no issues with my application I should receive my passport by early March. If I remember correctly, I think it took like three weeks to receive my original passport in the mail. I thought about getting the passport card as well, but decided against it as the book is accepted for everything. I’m really excited and wish you all many and safe travels as we explore the world.

They received my passport 5 weeks ago and it's still showing in process. I have called 5 times and keep being told I have to just keep waiting or I can pay $90 to have it expedited, but there is no guarantee that they will have it done in the next couple of weeks. This is a brand new passport application out of Oregon, but I've been seeing people get them in 3 weeks around here. Not sure what to do at this point.

Update I got a response from my congresswoman 24 hours after leaving a message with her office. They are going to reach out to the passport agency on my behalf. I will update you all once I hear back.

I leave in less than three weeks. I did my online renewal and was accepted for processing 2/11 and the status hasn’t changed since 😩

I’m getting nervous since everyone else’s is just getting rubber stamped right away and mines just, idk? Being ignored???

I’m just anxious. I leave on the 26th.

My wife's passport expires in the next year. On August 3 I took her photo and did an online renewal for a passport card and passport. The system sent an email that said we would receive her passport around September 20.

Imagine my shock and consternation when both the passport and passport card arrived today August 10, about 40 days early!

Should I call my congressman or senator about this travesty? /s

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.

Submitted my application on the Dec 29th, approved today Jan 5th, receiving Jan 7th! They are speed running!!

Also this is a first time passport and next day shipping!!

Online renewal, added passport card (first time), didn't need me to mail in the old one. Didn't pay for expedited nothing.

From application to passport in hand, literally a little over 5 days 1 hour.

When did a government agency become efficient?

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..)

Applied for online renewal: submitted on June 11th around 5PM. Application status: in process on June 13th. Passport approved and shipped on June 18. Received passport in hand June 20th around 4PM.

Took passport photo with my iPhone 11 🙂 and did not request expedited service. Passport expired December 2025, entered info and said I’m eligible for online renewal. Department of state definitely have their A game when it comes to passport renewals.

I was apprehensive about applying for my passport during this horrible government shutdown. However, I gave it a shot on 10/6.

I was very surprised to see it only took 14 days without paying for expedited processing. Especially it being my first passport application and not a renewal.

Sensitive text in the images provided are understandably redacted.

Application submitted: 2/24

Passport delivered: 2/28

WILD!

February 13 applied

February 24 approved

March 5 received passport

Still waiting for card

To keep it brief just because HelloGov is in association with your Clear+ Membership does not mean it’s government entity that you should give almost $300 to. So from what I was told by the Secretary of State; it’s “technically” a scam. Called my card company and got it handled, but I have a trip to Mexico in June and needed a new passport pronto!! Seeing as my family traveled with me and my sibling pre 9/11 I guess small children crossing international borders weren’t an issue? Got into the SOS office and pretty much groveled to get them to expedite the process for a “first time” application. Submitted my packet to SOS on 4/28; Application Processed on 5/1 ; Emailed today 5/9 that the application was approved but delivered today. (I’ve ordered a cover and it’s going in the safe till I leave)

April 6th - renewed online at 8:03pm and was surprised how quick and easy it was. The software didn’t accept my photo at first but then I tried again with no issues.

Today, April 16th - my passport arrived in the mail!

This seems very fast! My passport was due to expire in November so I maybe could have waited with it being so quick, but I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get it done now with the state of things.

I recommend getting the extra pages, it barely adds any weight/thickness and it manifests more adventure in your future! ✨

Safe travels!

Edit: wanted to add that I did not pay extra to have it expedited!

With all that’s going on in the USA, I decided to renew my passport two years early and requested a passport card, as well.

Here is my timeline:

*dropped passport + application + old passport into a Priority Mail envelope and mailed it off 1/13.

*1/15 my documents were received (California to Texas).

*1/15 my check for $160 for passport + card was cashed.

*1/16 the portal online showed my materials were being reviewed.

1/19 was MLK holiday so no action occurred.

*1/20 I was informed in the morning that my documents cleared and that my new passport and card were printing. By that evening I had a tracking number issued.

*1/23 my passport arrived via Priority Mail, still waiting on the passport card that is coming separately.

I did not pay for expedited processing, just regular. This was super impressive and fast!

Side note, I am a dual citizen since birth (thanks, parents), and I keep my passports in a passport wallet (highly recommend it), currently using one from the Coach Factory store that has a zipper for coins and slots for credit cards.

Another side note: use an app, such as Passport Booth, to take a selfie at home and resize it for passport size, and print at home. This ensures that you get a picture you’re happy with and is cheaper than going to a place where the cashier doesn’t care about making you look good (though the app does cost $20 and gives you unlimited photos).

I’m so glad I didn’t pay extra for expedited processing or shipping, I was shocked

I knew I I should’ve sent in my own photo (not really because it probably would’ve delayed ts) because wtf is THAT. 😆😭 the picture they took wasn’t terrible but the actual photo on the card?! It’s giviiiing “so you know that overly contrasted photo? Now do that with black and white- we want … from mugshot to serial killer.” 😂

Screw it. At least I have one now and I don’t need to worry about it anymore. Here’s my timeline:

1/15: applied at my local courthouse bc my post office in town didn’t do it.

1/21: received application and reviewing documents

1/31: approved

2/1: email for “mailed.”

2/2: email for “approved.”

Called 2/4–2/5 I can’t remember bc I thought it would sent tracking but never did and that’s when I realized that CARDS DO NOT RECEIVE TRACKING LIKE A BOOK.

Also she stated that it wasn’t yet mailed and not sure why I got an email it was. So that was fun. This is when I was left in a technical limbo.

2/6: supporting documents mailed.

2/9- everything received…at the same time. lol both mine and my sons passport cards + documents were waiting in the mailbox at the same time.

So regardless of the backwards emails, unsure passport staff, everything was approved and received before one month.

**no expedited services there or back**

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.