Turnaround time for a new passport

[beach baby]

Can anyone tell me their recent experience in obtaining a passport? How quickly did you receive it after you submitted the application? I have a cruise mid November and am wondering if I should expedite it. Thank you!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can anyone tell me their recent experience in obtaining a passport? How quickly did you receive it after you submitted the application? I have a cruise mid November and am wondering if I should expedite it. Thank you!

Return time is typically 4-6 weeks.

 

[beach baby]

Thank you. I know that 4-6 weeks is typical, but what was your recent experience? If it's been 4 weeks I'll be safe, if it's been 6 weeks, then I'm taking a risk. Was it longer than 6 weeks? Was it shorter than 4 weeks? I'm trying to assess the risk factor of not expediting it or even sending for it at all and use my bc again. Any one have recent experiences?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you. I know that 4-6 weeks is typical, but what was your recent experience? If it's been 4 weeks I'll be safe, if it's been 6 weeks, then I'm taking a risk. Was it longer than 6 weeks? Was it shorter than 4 weeks? I'm trying to assess the risk factor of not expediting it or even sending for it at all and use my bc again. Any one have recent experiences?

Not real recent, but when our kids got their passports it took a week. When on the passport site recently, I saw a notice that they were experiencing a lot of applications currently and things are running a "little slower" currently. Don't know if that notice is still there now.

 

[bumbershoot]

We applied for DS's passport last week. Our trip is 10/23 and the 6 week mark (they were saying 4-6 weeks for our area) was the 26th. I'm pretty annoyed about expediting, but we're actually flying to Vancouver this time and DS can't fly on the BC like he can cross if we're driving. Expediting (just the $60 fee) gives a 2-3 week (after they get it) timeframe. If you need it even faster, do it overnight both ways (increases the costs).

 

[CesD]

Mine took the full 6 weeks. Honestly, the expedite fee is worth it because what would you do if you didn't get it in time?

 

[MUN]

Mine took 3 weeks.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My DD's took 3 weeks last December. I was surprised it came so quickly.

 

[Henlady]

My passport renewal sent in mid July 2015, took 4 weeks exactly

 

[icesk8abc]

We sent our daughter's application on August 20 and received her passport yesterday.

 

[cheermom2four]

Mine I applied for this past May and it took a full 8 weeks but only took 6 weeks for my kids. My hubby got his in record time of 4 weeks.

 

[GioCruise]

Can anyone tell me their recent experience in obtaining a passport? How quickly did you receive it after you submitted the application? I have a cruise mid November and am wondering if I should expedite it. Thank you!

Just did my husbands because it would not be a vacation if we didn't have some drama and he didn't realize it expired in July!!! Yup we cruise on 9/26.... So luckily we caught this 3 weeks ago we got an appointment within 3 days and it took a week expedited....my blood pressure still hasn't come down completely! I would do expedited because while 4-6 is typical it can take up to 10-12weeks if they get back logged and there is just no telling when and why or how....save yourself the stress and just get it expedited and make sure you also include the extra for fedex or priority mail....good luck!

 

[stlm]

DD's passport took 10 days, they told us it would be 4-6 weeks September 1st

 

[beach baby]

Wow, so many different experiences! Thank you all for the help. I've decided to expedite it.

 

[CesD]

Wow, so many different experiences! Thank you all for the help. I've decided to expedite it.

I didn't fully realize that some cases took more than the 6 weeks. I always thought the 6th week mark included some backlog cushion for them... Better to be safe since there is such a range.. I did save $ by having my photo taken at Costco. Much cheaper than the post office. At least you also have some cushion time in case thw passport comes back with your name misspelled or some other setback. Good luck.

 

[TXDCLfan]

Can anyone tell me their recent experience in obtaining a passport? How quickly did you receive it after you submitted the application? I have a cruise mid November and am wondering if I should expedite it. Thank you!

We just renewed ours by mail and it was a 4 1/2 week turn around.

 

[wanderlust7]

Piggy backing on this thread with a related question. It's our kids' first passports and we need to go in person. Does the passport acceptance facility (post office) just look at the birth certificates and return them or do they take them to be mailed back with the passports? If they just return them right away I wouldn't be so worried about getting it back in time (since we can just use the bc's to get on the cruise), but if they have to be mailed back then I would worry. Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Piggy backing on this thread with a related question. It's our kids' first passports and we need to go in person. Does the passport acceptance facility (post office) just look at the birth certificates and return them or do they take them to be mailed back with the passports? If they just return them right away I wouldn't be so worried about getting it back in time (since we can just use the bc's to get on the cruise), but if they have to be mailed back then I would worry. Thanks!

The passport acceptance office will keep the birth certificates. They only look over what you're submitting to see that everything is there. They don't make the determination there.

 

[over50visits]

Piggy backing on this thread with a related question. It's our kids' first passports and we need to go in person. Does the passport acceptance facility (post office) just look at the birth certificates and return them or do they take them to be mailed back with the passports? If they just return them right away I wouldn't be so worried about getting it back in time (since we can just use the bc's to get on the cruise), but if they have to be mailed back then I would worry. Thanks!

In our experience, the post office included them in the package they forwarded to the passport processing center, who returned them with our passports. If I were in your place I would probably get another set of birth certificates, as much as a "peace of mind" thing as anything.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

In our experience, the post office included them in the package they forwarded to the passport processing center, who returned them with our passports. If I were in your place I would probably get another set of birth certificates, as much as a "peace of mind" thing as anything.

Yes, the post office takes the birth certificates and forwards them with the passport application for processing. But they mail the birth certificates back separately from the passport. We got my DD's passport in the mail first and then the birth certificate a couple days later.