Passport Renewal 2025

Replaced my passport (expired in '27) after the election specifically to avoid any issues. Unexpedited service was still only a couple of weeks and the cancelled ones were returned a few days later under a separate cover.

I'm not sure anyone knows for sure but seeing other departments get "buy out" offers and aggressive attempts at staff reductions alone if enough to make me worry about lead times for government services in the future.

I'm still planning on travelling unless things change remarkably. I think in general there is more of an understanding of the politics and individuals are separated from their governments actions to a greater degree. The old "US out of -" and knee jerk anti-Americanism of the 70s and 80s is long gone. Remember people putting Canadian flag patches on their packs?

American politics are watched very closely in Europe and in general friends overseas are reacting with dismay, sympathy and sadness. And also with wariness because it was expressed to me by more than one person "What happens in the US happens here 2-5 years later."

Good luck with your passport and everything else,
=Tod

No telling, passport will probably be fine. Employees had a couple weeks to start processing it before they started getting emails being threatened out of their jobs. I am sure morale is high.

I submitted my renewal application online on Jan. 20. Just got a notification (on Feb. 5) that my new passport has been shipped and will be delivered in a couple of days.

If you renewed online, you can check your status online too. Not sure about mail-in renewals.

I bet you’ll be fine!

Current Processing Times
Routine 4 to 6 weeks
Expedited 2 to 3 weeks

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html/

Also, anyone have concerns about traveling/flying due to the political climate right now?

What country/countries are you thinking of going to that might be a problem?
Check this site -- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/. -- for areas of concern

Submitted mine Jan 11 and scheduled to arrive Feb 10. Husband submitted Jan 19, scheduled to arrive Feb 12. Expired Oct 2025 but going to the UK in April and wanted new requirement in new passport and especially to avoid whatever the new administration was going to do to hamper renewals. They kept us updated every step of the way which was very good and definitely reduced my stress level.

Have you enrolled in updates to find out the status? That should answer your question about where it is in the process. Sometimes local governments send them in batches and not one at a time (YMMV). https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/status.html

Thank you all for your advice, I appreciate it!
Sarah

I sent mine in on March 14th and received it last Saturday March 24th. It was incredibly fast. I had no changes, just a simple renewal and I paid for the expedite service. SO I am happy to say, all is still well with the State Dept. Passport Service.

Steve, did you apply online or through mail?

This is currently a dilemma for me. My passport expires in June of 2026, and I have travel plans in October of 2025. I was intending to do an online renewal this June (has to be within one year of expiration) but when you submit the online application your existing passport is invalidated. With the current dysfunction I am fearful that the new passport could be delayed. October is more than six months before expiration— should I wait until later to renew? I appreciate any thoughts.

rsbrandt99 you don't have to renew online, the regular old fashioned mail in service can be used at any time (even more than one year from expiration date, see info here). Current US State Department processing time frames are 4-6 weeks routine, 2-3 weeks expedited. You have to send your passport in by mail as well, meaning you really can't use it, so in that sense it is a similar situation as online renewal. If I was worried about dysfunction in processing times, I wouldn't wait to get my passport renewal in line, but that's me.

I submitted my passport renewal application online late Sunday evening on March 16. Monday morning I got email confirmation that my application was received and someone would be checking to make sure my photo conformed to the requirements. Then I heard nothing for a while, which I took to mean no problems with my photo. To my surprise, on Friday, March 28, I received an email that my application was approved and my passport book was being printed. A few hours later, another email to inform me that my passport was in the mail, with a tracking number. Tomorrow, it is expected to be delivered by USPS.

Thanks for these personal stories! It sounds like I will be safe with my original plan. (I can’t start immediately because I need it for travel in May, but I’ll get right on it afterward!)