US Passport Renewal

Not sure where best to post this so I'll put it here. I've completed all travel plans for our trip to Italy/Greece on a cruise this April. Thank God I looked at our US Passports about two weeks ago and saw that they were due to expire this March!

Looked at the US Department of State website for passport renewal info and started to renewal process. Opted to pay the additional $60 each for expedited service. Got new passport photos for both my wife and I and mailed the applications in the same envelope for overnight delivery on January 29th. Delivery was signed for on January 30th and I received an e-mail acknowledgement from "travel.state.gov" on February 1st! You can then go online to check the status.

I received our new passports TODAY Friday February 8th, just nine days after they received our application. Well woth the extra $60 as a major concern was what ifm the Government had another partial shutdown?

Check your passport expiration dates.

Rick--I actually think this should go in the US forum, but will leave it here. People HAD been reporting very quick turnarounds on passport renewals BEFORE the shutdown (and who knows if it's going to happen again or not!!). Without the shutdown question, I personally wouldn't have paid the extra money for expediting but I certainly don't blame you for spending it for a bit more comfort, in light of all the craziness... At least it's done! Enjoy your trip!

We're spending a lot for this trip so an extra $60 is a no brainer. Since the last time I did this was ten years ago, I had no clue as to how long it might take, i.e what IF the applications were not processed when the next shutdown hits and the shutdown lasts a month? That would have put us into late March at the earliest for the April trip.

Yes now I can relax.

I agree, $60 in this case is nothing. The shutdown truly messed up a lot of people's lives. Hopefully it doesn't happen again.

My wife renewed her US Passport DURING the shut down without expedited service and it was 2 weeks, we were amazed. Now when we renew our Irish Passports if you get it back in 4 months, that is a victory.