Not all POs handle passport applications, but if one near you does, they'll have all the info you need.

July 1, 2020

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our workforce and customers, we significantly reduced passport operations in March 2020. We temporarily suspended expedited passport processing and restricted service to cases involving life-or-death emergencies. As global conditions evolve and U.S. states begin to reopen, we are resuming operations in phases. We ask for your patience as we safely work on your application.

As of Wednesday, July 1, a total of 16 passport agencies and centers are in phase one of our three-phase reopening plan. During phase one, we are limiting appointments to customers who must travel internationally in the next 72 hours due to a life-or-death emergency. Go to our Passport Agency and Center page for more information.

You can apply at an acceptance facility or renew by mail now, but unless you have a life-or-death emergency, you will experience delays before receiving your passport and the return of your citizenship documents such as previous passports, and birth and naturalization certificates.

Learn more about our current state of operations and plans to reopen in phases on our COVID-19 Update page and our Frequently Asked Questions page.

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

Last edited Fri Jul 3, 2020, 01:59 AM - Edit history (1)

I received the booklet and two days after that, the card and my original documents. I'm not sure, but I think the submittal has to be done in person so you can swear to the accuracy of it.

Instead of going to the local post office (where there was a month long appointment waiting list) I went to a rural county recorders office, a couple of counties away, where I was able to walk right in.

Subsequent inquiries as to the status of my application were fruitless except for the standard "expect significant delays". If it is an emergency (like a family death) they can expedite that but you need documentation for the reason. I do not think they offer a non-emergency expedited service anymore unless for an actual emergency.

So for me, it was 17 weeks instead of 6-8 weeks and I did get a couple of weeks head start: I think they basically closed down the first week or so of March.

Mine was officially a new application because of the time lapse between it and my very first one.

Hope this is useful and good luck.

Web site says they are opening in phase one at this time.

So they take your original documents? Your DL? And keep those documents for 17 weeks?

In my case, it was a birth certificate they kept. I was getting worried that it might have been laying on top of someone's desk for all the world to see while that someone was now working from home. I read somewhere that those documents are actually secured which prevents processing by someone working from home.

my family members ordered extra copies of birth certificates, short form, for this process. And THAT was a 24 hour turnaround, from the state. Fantastic service by overnight mail.

with appointments. I already have a passport, but I needed a second one since I travel internationally a lot and I am currently applying for a visa for another country (thank god). But the folks at the PO said they doubted that a) they were allowed to do that and b) that I would be approved at the moment because of the backlog/pandemic/etc.

...and the closest office accepting appointments is 400 miles from the major metropolitan area where I live.

Geez.

My daughter just turned 18 and is going away to college. We are trying to get her caught up on what she calls “adulting” including passport renewal.

Many can do renewals online but in her case, she was too young when the original was issued.

Just last week she was able to get it submitted at the post office. There is an extra fee for the PO but it it is far more accessible than passport offices. She had to make an appointment but it was only for 2 days out. They could even take the photos there.

No idea how long it will take to get the documents but that isn’t really a concern for us. No travel is planned but wanted her to have it when something comes up

I found the website to be very clear and helpful with really full instruction pages that branch off depending on your circumstances (ie new passport, expired pp of various ages etc). It then has a link to find a processing place.

college marching band trip to Spain.

Yeah, that's not happening, so we'll have him apply when things are better.

That's going to happen, right? Some day?