Just wanted to share my experience about how I got my passport renewed in 12 days. My passport was due to expire in February, 2008, but I heard so many horror stories, I decided to get a jump on it.

1. On July 23rd, I went to the state department passport web site, filled out the online form, printed it out, and signed it.
2. I wrote a check for the expedited fee--$120.
3. I filled out two Fedex airbills, one going and one coming from the Passport Office--2-day service. I put my old passport, new ugly photos, return airbill, and a folded Fedex envelope, into my Fedex envelope.
4. In HUGE letters I wrote "EXPEDITED" on the outside of the Fedex envelope per advice from somebody on Slowtrav then dropped it off at the Fedex depot. (Why does not being in possession of one's passport feel as if a limb has been cut off?)
5. Voila! Two hundred or so bucks later--expedited fee, photos, Fedex in two directions, I have a new passport. Now if only I could've used my photo from 10 years ago . . . I'd be a happy traveler.

I agree with your statement about how being without one's passport is like missing a limb.

This is my passport renewal story.

Mine was set to expire this past June and I didn't have any immediate travel plans (other than being fond of dashing over the US/Canadian border on a whim).

I mailed my renewal on May 7, did not request expedited service, and my new passport arrived yesterday via Priority Mail. The issuance date is July 26. My check was cashed May 18th. Almost exactly three months from the request submission, which is how long their web site said it would take when I logged in to check on its whereabouts.

Amazing piece of artwork, NOT the photo which is all right, but all of the scenery on the various pages.

I also renewed my passport with expedited service and fed-ex 2 day roundtrip. I recieved my passport in 14 days. I think the key to cutting the time is the fed-ex roundtrip. The address for overnighting passports is different than the snail mail address which is a PO Box. Happy travels!!

That's great! I hope that by the time we need to renew our passports (which will expire March 2010) the government has its act together.

I will be a nervous wreck without my passport since we travel twice a year 10-13 weeks at a time. We have about three months between international travel.

I think the passport situation is better now. I think first time passports take the longest. As I Posted before, my wife got her non expidited passport in 18 days including mailing time both ways,(priority mail) RR

my daughter's passport had expired. She applied for a new one at the end of July and received it in about 3 1/2 weeks, actually yesterday.
She had to make an appointment at our local post office (I don't know if appointments are necessary everywhere, we live in a rural area), had a picture ready to send, filled out the form, sent the money along (not expedited), and that was it.