How long is it taking to get your passport?

Question

Please I only want to hear from people who have actually applied recently. Just wondering if I need to apply now.

in United States of America. I heard it's taking 6 months. Is this the case?

Answer 1

Definitely apply now, not sure of when you are going, but it is definitely worth getting now. That way you can avoid paying the expedited charges and if needed change it later.

I've had passports for some time now and I'm lucky not to have to renew for a while either. But, I know a lot of people that have been applying or renewing and having a lot of problems. I had a friend leaving for the Med. cruise on Disney this past weekend, they applied for renewal at the beginning of April, and went to a passport agency Friday to have it issued there, they ended up paying for everything twice, but were luckily able to get them in time. Another person applied in February for passports (first time) and still have not received them, they don't need them yet so really have not pursued it.

On the other hand I have a friend that Applied in April for a new passport and it only took about 4 weeks for them to get it.

The other day when I was at the Post Office, they said you should allow at least 12 weeks and in some cases more. With all the people applying and renewing right now there was a big rush, which caused a lot of problems (I feel) which resulted in more passports getting lost and delayed.

I think whethere you will get your passport quickly or it take a long time is just a matter of the luck of the draw. I would not wait to apply, if it were me personally, I think it is just too risky. If you have the time to wait, I would still apply to avoid having a major headache later.

Answer 2

If you say you need it soon on the appl it doesn't take long. I applied for a new one last year and it took less than 3 wks.

Answer 3

At the most near the time about a month is better, when they received your applications, some amendments, via the department of immigration, checking your family background.. something like that.... I would take a month for most safety's sake.
Good Luck

Answer 4

I got mine mid April. It took 10 1/2 weeks. Apply now then you won't have to worry.

Answer 5

in Malaysia, it will take 3 working days. where r u from?

Answer 6

3-6months

Answer 7

Student Travel

Q. How can I rush passports?
From Kathleen Crislip,
Your Guide to Student Travel.
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You may also want to learn about new current passport rules, where you need a passport and the PASS passport card and other passport substitutes news; you also may want to know about getting an expedited passport fee refunded.
A. Note: look below to learn how to check on your pending passport application status.
Getting a passport after you apply can take anywhere from one day to ten weeks. Getting it in four weeks or less is usually considered a rush. You don't need to pay an expediting service to get it in two weeks or less.

There are two ways to rush passports. With either method below, you will need to fill out a passport application. With method #2 below, you can probably fill out your application at a passport office, but you may want to practice first, and you will need to bring some application materials with you. If you pay for overnight delivery each way and pay an extra $60 for expedited service through the government, not through an company offering expedited passports service, you may get your passport within four weeks of application. If you make an appointment and go into a passport office, you will probably get your passport within two weeks (likely much sooner).

Method #1: How to Rush Passports Yourself
This is how to rush passports if you're not leaving the country within the next two weeks; if leaving within two weeks, see Method # 2.
Prepare your passport application materials, including learning what to do if you have no US birth certificate

Find out how much your passport will cost and add a $60 "rush fee" to that (learn about getting that expedited passport fee refunded as of June, 2007)

Find the passport application address you will need

Contact that passport office to ascertain what payment methods will be accepted

Put your materials, including payment method, in a manila letter sized envelope, address it to the correct office and write "Expedited" on the envelope, and send it. Depending on your schedule, consider paying for overnight service each way:

Take your envelope to the post office or a service center for an overnight delivery service like UPS or FedEx (note that 2:00p.m. is sometimes the cutoff for dropping off material to be delivered overnight, and that some remote locations may not offer you overnight service)

Ask for two-way service

Department of State expedited passports info


Method #2: How to Rush Passports if You're Traveling Within Two Weeks
There is no guarantee that you can get a US passport in less than two weeks. That said, I got one the same day that I drove to my regional passport office and applied.
To get a passport rushed, or within two weeks, you must prove that you are leaving the country and need it fast -- your (paid for) itinerary from your travel agency or your eticket works. And the Department of State notes on its website that you will not be allowed to apply for a passport at your post office or through the mail if you are leaving the country within two weeks -- you must apply in person at an office.

Here's how to rush passports if you're leaving within two weeks:

Prepare your application materials

Find out how much your passport will cost and add a $60 "rush fee" to that

Find the passport agency nearest you -- the phone number is likely to be 1-877-487-2778

You'll be walked through an automated process to make an appointment to go into the passport office -- you cannot make the appoitnment unless you are leaving within two weeks of your phone call

You'll be given the passport office address and a confirmation number with your appointment time

Take your application materials, your itinerary and your form of payment and show up at the passports office a little early -- you'll probably have to go through security, including a metal detector, at the office
If anything is amiss with your preparation -- you don't have an official itinerary proving you need a passport within two weeks, for instance -- be ready for difficulty; avoid it by prepping a little, and bring your appointment confirmation number

What About Passport Expediting Services?
I can't recommend using a passport expediting service to rush passports applications unless you're not capable of going to a passport office or mailing your own materials for whatever reason. Most passport expediting services will simply charge you a fee to do what you can do yourself by following the steps above. The Department of State notes this on its website* (capital letters are theirs):
"THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT A PASSPORT AGENCY. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT PAY ANYONE OR ANY BUSINESS MAKING SUCH A CHARGE."*

How to Check on Your Passport Status
[o]Note: it is taking up to seven days right now (March, 2007) for your expedited passport application to reach the point where it can be tracked online, and up to two weeks for a regular application.
The government provides an easy way to check on your passport application status -- eases your mind as the countdown to travel approaches. Hop to the government web site where, according to the Department of State, you'll need to enter:

Your last name, including suffixes without punctuation except the hyphen (for example: Jones III, Patton Jr, Jackson-Smith, Varela Garcia)

Your date of birth in the following format: MM/DD/YYYY

The last four digits of your Social Security Number

Check the status of your passport application
You can also try calling 1-877-487-2778 between 7 a.m. - 12:00 midnight Monday-Friday.
Learn More About Travel Documents
Learn which travel documents you may need for student travel -- tourism and work visa, id, travel immunizations record and international driver's license -- where and when you'll need them and how to get them.
All about travel documents
Learn specifically about Mexico travel documents, about Mexico and Canada travel and the new passport rules, and about the new PASS card and other possible passport "substitutes,", too.

Enjoy the journey!

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