2024 Current Passport Wait Times PSA
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Anonymous
| Just a heads-up although I know most on this board plan way in advance. DD just completed her passport application for a new passport today, post office, photo etc. The current wait time is 13 weeks. I was shocked because when I did mine last year I received mine in 2.5 weeks. Not expedited. It was also a new passport, not renewal. I applied in Feb-March timeframe. |
Anonymous
|
I'm not doubting you, but I am very confused because the state dept website says 6-8 weeks (???)
"Current Processing Times: Processing times have returned to our pre-pandemic norm. As of December 18, 2023, passport applications will be processed within 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service, which costs an additional $60. With this update, we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020. " from https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/passports/passport-processing-updates.html |
Anonymous
I'm guessing that in the 3 weeks since the state dept posted that update things have changed! I was shocked, I had to repeat it back to her to make sure I heard her correctly. yes ma'am, 13 weeks. |
Anonymous
| Yes all the recent data points since the fall have been in the 3-5 week range. They seem to operating at full speed now that the backlog was cleared. |
Anonymous
| This happened to me in the last year. And another kicker was the estimated time started like 2 weeks after I submitted the paperwork, when it was marked "received" so it took even longer by my watch. |
Anonymous
I think the person just told you old info (from the summer backlog). Front line customer service reps frankly can't always be trusted with detailed info, in my experience. The main State page for passports also has the 6-8 week timeframe. And again, most recent reports have been of people getting them even faster. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html |
Anonymous
| I mailed our renewals on 12/6, check was cashed on 12/12, just checked the website and applications were already approved. |
Anonymous
| Two people who I know applied in December - one in early December and the other in later December and later December and each had theirs in two weeks. They paid for expedited mailing but not expedited processing. Adult renewals. |
Anonymous
| OP here with an update. As per my OP, DD applied on 1/8/24. Just checked the status on travel.state.gov. They received her application on Tuesday 1/16, and have just now started the review process. According to them it will be another 8 weeks minimum. So we're looking at possibly Mid-March. |
Anonymous
| My friend's adult daughter applied for a new passport this week. She was told 4-6 weeks. |
Anonymous
| We applied for renewal passports for our kids on Dec 27th and had them back last week. Weird that OP’s experience is so different. |
Anonymous
All the statements from State are trying to be conservative because of the backlog this summer. But it seems clear the actual experience at this point is more like 3-5 weeks. I'll bet OP has the passports in hand by early February. |
Anonymous
| Maybe a new passport takes longer than a renewal. |
Anonymous
All child passports are processed as new passports. |
Anonymous
For kids there is no such thing as a renewal. You have to submit all.the same paperwork as a new application. Some of the data points here saying they recently applied and got theirs back within 3-4 weeks were for kids. |