I had a similar experience - super easy and fast! Highly recommend if you qualify!

Very nice! The passport turn times have improved a lot recently even in the summer time.

This month we had to renew my son's passport (aka a brand new one since he's a minor). From the date of our appointment at the post office we received the new one back in 13 days, standard processing. The application didn't even reach the processing office until 4 days after the appointment. We have plenty of time before our next trip, but I was expecting at least a month.

renewed mine online a few years ago as part of their trial efforts for this program. took about 15 tries before it accepted my photo, otherwise was smooth and easy. hopefully they've improved the photo part of the process

Same experience with the trial program a few years ago. Total no brainer and glad to see that they're rolling this out for good.

07ag said:

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renewed mine online a few years ago as part of their trial efforts for this program. took about 15 tries before it accepted my photo, otherwise was smooth and easy. hopefully they've improved the photo part of the process

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Id say it has improved based on my experience. It was surprisingly easy with the photo upload. I had anticipated me having to crop it myself in the system but it automatically did it for me. Simple as that.

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took about 15 tries before it accepted my photo, otherwise was smooth and easy. hopefully they've improved the photo part of the process

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I just renewed mine online about a month ago and I really struggled to get my photo accepted. Turned out my picture wasn't 600 pixels so it kept getting rejected. Fixed it using Paint on my PC and it went right through. Took about two weeks to get my passport.

Last week I renewed my wife's passport. Had to get her an ID.me which was a bit laborious but not a game breaker. Then her application wasn't accepted because it said she did not have a renewable passport. I eventually closed the website and opened it a second time and it worked.

She got an email last night that the passport would ship today.

In spite of the bumps in the process, I'd say it's a great, and quick process.

One recommendation I'd have. You have to insert the date you received your current passport. It tells you to enter it as 07/28/2015 but then shows an example of July 28, 2015. I used the former and it worked.

Is this the link to renew online? It says to enter travel plans. Are you able to renew without any confirmed international travel plans?

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21751641967&gbraid=0AAAAAqbBk5sgDTdTA7YBPlcDbSTbTOo9d&gclid=CjwKCAjwv5zEBhBwEiwAOg2YKAY1kXkoIP-eKjKtksFx96QsS-aTFeW-RHKSeJJNxN5WoN4SeDDGChoCRbkQAvD_BwE

ToddyHill said:

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Last week I renewed my wife's passport. Had to get her an ID.me which was a bit laborious but not a game breaker. Then her application wasn't accepted because it said she did not have a renewable passport. I eventually closed the website and opened it a second time and it worked.

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Interesting, I wonder what is a renewable passport versus not eligible for renewal.

And in your case, it sounds like that wasn't a real error but some sort of web site issue.

Mine expired during covid. I still think I got mine back in 6 weeks.

Petrino1 said:

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Is this the link to renew online? It says to enter travel plans. Are you able to renew without any confirmed international travel plans?

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21751641967&gbraid=0AAAAAqbBk5sgDTdTA7YBPlcDbSTbTOo9d&gclid=CjwKCAjwv5zEBhBwEiwAOg2YKAY1kXkoIP-eKjKtksFx96QsS-aTFeW-RHKSeJJNxN5WoN4SeDDGChoCRbkQAvD_BwE

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You are able to renew without any plans. That step is just a check to make sure you don't need it soon, as once you submit online, your old passport becomes invalid and you can't travel internationally until you get a new one. That step tells you what do if you are in urgent need.

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Interesting, I wonder what is a renewable passport versus not eligible for renewal.

And in your case, it sounds like that wasn't a real error but some sort of web site issue.

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Great question. One can renew a passport online if it is within a year of expiration. There are some other criteria, such as having your current passport in possession (there is a number in the back which one needs to insert, and few other criteria). Ours expire next June 2026. I think you are correct about about the Web site issue. I was using Comet, the new Perplexity browser...and that may have been an issue as well.

It sure took me forever getting approved for Global Entry, but coming through Immigration with it sure is a breeze. I highly recommend.

As a follow-up to my OP, on the same day I renewed my passport online, I had renewed my son's passport at the Post Office. He's 16 so it will last for 10 years, which is nice. The wording is unclear but the PO lady said I needed to have his birth certificate. The form really didn't state that. I've known the lady for years so she accepted the forms and had me come back with a copy of the birth certificate later that day. Only one parent is needed so that was nice, too. So timeline:

Aug 10 - appear, filed at PO
Aug 28 - received passport in mail (one business day after mine, also with regular service)