The points guy reports that the online portal for passport renewals is available. Sounds like an initial test run for 25K people. My current passport is still good for a few years otherwise I’d try it out. It would be nice to use an app to get a good passport photo! The last time I got physical pictures at Costco the rules included no eyeglasses and no smiling.
If you give it a try please let us know how it goes.
I hope they keep it after the test run - that would be very convenient. I would try it but mine doesn't expire till 2026, and you can't use it unless you have less than a year left.
The State Department is required by an executive presidential order (signed in December, 2021) to make such a system available.
Edit:
https://www.npr.org/2021/12/16/1064793380/passport-renewal-online-president-biden-executive-order
Thank you for posting this! My passport expires next March, and if they haven’t made it through the 25k, I’ll be applying to renew online as soon as I get back from Germany in a few weeks.
Mine expires in March 2023, so I'm eligible. We got bak from France 2 weeks and, I don't have any travel planned. Was planning to submit this fall anyways. So I submitted mine yesterday online with a photo I took on my iPhone. Will report back once I know more!
Beth
Because I didn't qualify to use the online renewal process I had to renew my passport by mail. I filled out the form and mailed all documents on August 8th. I received an email on August 12th stating that my application had been received. My renewed passport was delivered to me on September 12th. I think that is the fastest I have ever got one back!
Lisa - maybe I should've just mailed mine in then! Hah I submitted on 8/11, and just got an email this week that it was being processed. It now says it's printed, so I assume I should get it in the next week. It was convenient though so not have to get pictures printed. And I wasn't in a hurry. Mine will be about 7 weeks if it does come next week.
Summitted my renewal online on Sep 26, got it back today - 18 days turnaround. (did not use express service)
