Getting a US passport renewed promptly

The US State Department says that an “expedited” passport renewal by mail has a processing time of 7-9 weeks.  I recently had the good fortune to get a renewal done by mail in less than a month.   My renewal papers got delivered to the State Department on August 16, 2023, and I had my new passport in hand on September 15, 2023.   Here are things that probably helped. 

There are several things that the holder of a US passport can do to improve the chances of getting a renewal by mail done promptly:

• • Have the good fortune to not be subject to any delay factors:
    • you are in the US;
    • you want the new passport sent to you in the US;
    • you have your old passport and passport card in your possession;
    • you can send them in with your renewal application;
    • the passport and passport card are not damaged other than ordinary wear and tear;
    • you have never reported either the passport or the passport card lost or stolen;
    • the passport and passport card were issued within the past 15 years;
    • they were issued when you were 16 years of age or older;
    • they were issued in your current name;
    • the old passport was not limited to less than the normal ten-year period of validity for an adult passport.
  • Use a passport photo prepared by someone who has substantial experience with passport photos.  Do not try to take your own passport photo.
  • Use the Form Filler tool to generate a computer-readable Form DS-82.  This contains all of your renewal information such as your old passport number, date of birth, and the number of your old passport card.  The form has a 2D bar code containing all of your renewal information.  Double and triple-check all of the information that you are entering on the Form DS-82 for correctness.
  • Pay the extra $60 for “expedited” processing.
  • Pay the extra $19.53 for prompt return shipping of the new passport to you (by overnight postal delivery).
  • When sealing up the overnight courier envelope, check it carefully to make sure everything is in the envelope that needs to be in the envelope:
    • old passport;
    • old passport card;
    • new passport photo;
    • computer-readable Form DS-82;  and
    • check for the correct amount of money.
  • Address the courier package to the special post office box for “expedited” processing.
  • Send the renewal package to the State Department by Priority Mail Express (overnight postal delivery).

I suppose some readers do not have a passport card.  In that case, ignore the mentions of “passport card” above.