[retiredguy123]

I just renewed my passport using the online application. I submitted the application on July 9 and received the passport on July 18, only 9 days later. I paid $160 for the passport book and passport card. According to the State Department website, the current processing time is 4 to 6 weeks. I had the opportunity to pay an extra $60 plus $23.36 for expedited processing service and expedited mail service. In my case, that would have been a waste of $83.36. In my opinion, the expedited costs are basically worthless.

[Teed_Off]

Agree. Recently mailed in our passports for renewal and received the new passports 3 weeks later without paying an expedited fee.

[Kenswing]

We recently renewed ours also. From online submission to delivery was 12 days. No expedited processing.

[jimhoward]

Processing times are short now, no doubt. But I paid the expedite fee last time anyway. The passport is such an important document, I hate when it is out of my hands. I like getting it expedited and express mailed to me even if its not necessary. Don't care about wasting $100.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

Processing times are short now, no doubt. But I paid the expedite fee last time anyway. The passport is such an important document, I hate when it is out of my hands. I like getting it expedited and express mailed to me even if its not necessary. Don't care about wasting $100.

With the online application, I didn't need to send in the old passport. They sent the new passport by USPS Priority Mail and it was tracked. However, they did say that they would invalidate the old passport during the processing process.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

Processing times are short now, no doubt. But I paid the expedite fee last time anyway. The passport is such an important document, I hate when it is out of my hands. I like getting it expedited and express mailed to me even if its not necessary. Don't care about wasting $100.

My passport was such an UNimportant document, that I never used it, ever. We got them because we thought we'd be going somewhere that required it. And then it turned out that we didn't need it for that trip afterall. We wasted time and money getting something we had no need for. They expired two years ago, and have never been used.

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

My passport was such an UNimportant document, that I never used it, ever. We got them because we thought we'd be going somewhere that required it. And then it turned out that we didn't need it for that trip afterall. We wasted time and money getting something we had no need for. They expired two years ago, and have never been used.

Then it makes sense for you not to get it. We travel internationally two or three times a year. For us it’s a necessity.

[asianthree]

Some years we needed extension pages.

Renewal for my parents took 9 days, came back so quickly I thought I did something wrong

[wikolia]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I just renewed my passport using the online application. I submitted the application on July 9 and received the passport on July 18, only 9 days later. I paid $160 for the passport book and passport card. According to the State Department website, the current processing time is 4 to 6 weeks. I had the opportunity to pay an extra $60 plus $23.36 for expedited processing service and expedited mail service. In my case, that would have been a waste of $83.36. In my opinion, the expedited costs are basically worthless.

Thank you for posting this info. I will be renewing mine next month and was relieved to hear how quick and painless your experience was. I will need to renew Global Entry after my new passport arrives and add a new visa to the passport...all within an 8 week window....
*****UPDATE...applied on 27 Aug received beautiful new passport Sept 8th. 12 days, $130 regular fee, slowed down by Labor Day....******

[jojoturf]

Same here. Renewed online July 1, passport issued July 7! Four business days, given one day (the 3rd) no doubt was a holiday for GOV employees. Shockingly speedy! Paid $153.00, basic price + $23 overnight delivery. Worth every penny!

[mraines]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I just renewed my passport using the online application. I submitted the application on July 9 and received the passport on July 18, only 9 days later. I paid $160 for the passport book and passport card. According to the State Department website, the current processing time is 4 to 6 weeks. I had the opportunity to pay an extra $60 plus $23.36 for expedited processing service and expedited mail service. In my case, that would have been a waste of $83.36. In my opinion, the expedited costs are basically worthless.

Just curious, how do you renew online without sending in your birth certificate. How do they validate that it is you? Isn't that what all the election fuss is about?

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by mraines

Just curious, how do you renew online without sending in your birth certificate. How do they validate that it is you? Isn't that what all the election fuss is about?

Go to this website to see if you are eligible to renew online:

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In my case, I already had a valid passport that was expiring. I only had to answer a few questions and upload a new digital photo. That was it. I could have prepared the photo using my smart phone for free, but I decided to pay $18 at Walgreens. They took the photo and emailed a digital copy to me immediately. Uploading it was very easy.

[Janie123]

Originally Posted by mraines

Just curious, how do you renew online without sending in your birth certificate. How do they validate that it is you? Isn't that what all the election fuss is about?

You send in your old passport and new pictures.

[jojoturf]

Originally Posted by Janie123

You send in your old passport and new pictures.

No longer send expiring passport. Simply upload new photo & answer a few questions. Easy.

[Berwin]

You don't have to send in your old passport when you renew online. The process asks you questions about your current passport. We went to Walgreens for our new photos and they emailed them to us.