recent passport applications / renewals?

[erosenst]

I just renewed mine (from an expired passport) and it came back in 3 weeks. Our daughter's, which we applied for a week earlier, is still not back yet (5 weeks).

I'm surprised at the wait, however - we just walked into the closest post office with a passport facility. In and out in under 10 minutes.

 

[minorthr]

We just did a post office appt for our son this weekend for a renewal even though kids basically reapply. They said 4-6 weeks.

 

[lanejudy]

Is there a reason why I would need to get both the book and card?

No. For most DCL cruises, the passport book allows you to fly home in an emergency but otherwise isn't required. The card does nothing that (cruise-wise) that can't be done with a birth certificate plus driver's license. If you are getting a passport for the purpose of cruising, get the book.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[fantasmicfantastic]

I just received my wife's and my passports in three weeks from the time of application.

 

[jahber]

They always do expect this and put out press releases about it etc. always.

Ha! I know! They always do, don't they? But *apparently* the changes in passport laws in 2006 mean that there are a whole lot of passports due for renewal this year. Many, many more than usual. But like I said, I'm cheap and wouldn't pay for expedited unless it were an international cruise. Then I would consider it. I bet in the next few months there are going to be a whole lot of people getting ready for summer travel and realizing their passports are about to expire.

 

[SSRFred]

We had a renewal appointment for one child on 1/8/16 and the passport arrived on 1/29/16. We had a renewal appointment for our younger child on 1/12/16 and the passport arrived on 1/27/16. We did not pay to expedite. The post office employee said regular service would take about 3 weeks.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Ha! I know! They always do, don't they? But *apparently* the changes in passport laws in 2006 mean that there are a whole lot of passports due for renewal this year. Many, many more than usual. But like I said, I'm cheap and wouldn't pay for expedited unless it were an international cruise. Then I would consider it. I bet in the next few months there are going to be a whole lot of people getting ready for summer travel and realizing their passports are about to expire.

Yep. The change requiring passports to travel to Canada and Mexico occurred either late 2006 or early 2007. The numbers I've seen are that 2006 had around 12 million requests for passports and 2007 had 18 million, a 50% increase. That could potentially backlog the system.

 

[kerry1379]

Is it possible to check another post office? Not sure if there is a rule in regard to using a post office within a certain distance of your home or not. But we have two post offices very close to us. When we needed passports, one was booked out for 6 months. The other was accepting appointments in 2 weeks.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is it possible to check another post office? Not sure if there is a rule in regard to using a post office within a certain distance of your home or not. But we have two post offices very close to us. When we needed passports, one was booked out for 6 months. The other was accepting appointments in 2 weeks.

You can go to any passport acceptance facility to submit your application. I've read where some people have actually gone to a passport office in a major city en route to their cruise and gotten the passport issued.

In our town our city clerk's office is an acceptance facility (besides the post office).

 

[Capt_BJ]

You can go to any passport acceptance facility to submit your application

CORRECT ... it is not just post office and passport office

there are other places but depends on where you live

OP should look here: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

This site will allow you to find the nearest location to apply for a passport. It is provided by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Passport Services/Customer Service, which designates many post offices, clerks of court, public libraries and other state, county, township, and municipal government offices to accept passport applications on its behalf.

 

[Alexle2007]

Can you renew online??

Children's passports are not treated as renewals. They are treated as new passports. I had to correct the guy at the library (they were new to the process) since he was going to have me complete a renewal form.

 

[The Green's]

Just re-newed ours on Jan 9th and received them back today.

 

[trishypoo]

We had to get first time passports for our kids and they arrived in 2 weeks from application day!