Passport Renewal / Application - Time Taken?

[DC3]

Is there any reason to have the R series?

 

[dylarr]

Is there any reason to have the R series?

To the average user, the main difference is a hard polycarbonate data page similar to NZL passports and should be more durable. Other than that, it won't make a difference to your travel experience compared to the P series.

 

[Tiki]

Just sent my US passport to Sydney for renewal. Lets see if they are faster than Aussie passports. Thankfully I can squeeze another year out of my Aussie passport and things will probably be normal by then.

 

[DC3]

Just sent my US passport to Sydney for renewal. Lets see if they are faster than Aussie passports …

Would that be printed in Washington, DC?

 

[Tiki]

Would that be printed in Washington, DC?

I think they are printed in Sydney.

 

[ddaann]

3 weeks for my renewal. Lodged at a BNE suburban post office and registered post to home.

 

[Virgin Bart]

3 weeks for my renewal. Lodged at a BNE suburban post office and registered post to home.

Priority?

 

[ddaann]

Priority?

Not priority - just regular

 

[coyote25]

Lines aren’t as big in Collins Street Melbourne passport office but they still exit. Probably 50 people lined up outside the Passport Office foyer at 8.40 am. I’d say that was about 1/4 line from 2 weeks ago so slowly getting better.

 

[wendlle]

I've been waiting for my Child's passport for 9 weeks and still nothing.
I've tried to call but constantly get a "we can't answer your call there are too many people call later" but this happens all day long no matter what time I try to call.

I had it done at Australia Post, anyone know if they can look up on their end? Or do I have to go thru the Passport office for information.

I did a renewal for myself around 3 months ago and it took less than 3 weeks.
I know kids ones are different as you have to do the whole process as if it's a new one even though it's just a renewal but 9 weeks seems excesive. I'm not needing it until November but it makes me anxious not having it.

 

[sw88]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.news.com.au/travel/big-change-to-crazy-passport-queues/news-story/1f7adbb36f775e2ee05dd44bbee6e948%3famp

 

[robinsparkles]

Lodged newborns passport in local post office on 21st May. Standard processing.
Still waiting.
Flying 20th August. Should I start trying local MPs office now? For those who have chased via this method, do you write an email or call?

 

[SydneySwan]

Lodged newborns passport in local post office on 21st May.
Still waiting.
Flying 20th August. Should I start trying local MPs office now? For those who have chased via this method, do you write an email or call?

Probably a bit early to contact MP. When you do contact the MP my methodology was to send an email with all details then a day later follow up with a phone call.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Lodged newborns passport in local post office on 21st May.
Still waiting.
Flying 20th August. Should I start trying local MPs office now? For those who have chased via this method, do you write an email or call?

I'm lodging mine in a week or so once I get my certificate for a newborn. Your post concerns me greatly! Did you do priority processing?

 

[robinsparkles]

I'm lodging mine in a week or so once I get my certificate for a newborn. Your post concerns me greatly! Did you do priority processing?

I edited my post to add that it was a standard application. We applied before the hoardes of people queuing started so thought (at the time) that we applied early enough.

 

[AisleSeat]

Lodged my son's renewal on 22 April. 10 weeks so far.

 

[Julesmac]

That'll teach me to skite - MrMac's and my applications posted together. His arrived in 16 days hence why I was showing off. 3 weeks ago that was, mine hasn't turned up yet

 

[repete]

I really do hope the news article linked above comes true and best wishes to those waiting.
We picked up a passport for one of our kids this morning - two days before departure!!
We'd lodged the application with 3 others at the same time in April, which all came a month ago. Was getting a bit stressful - ended up contacting MP, then visiting passport office and giving feedback via DFAT website. One of the last two seemed to work!? All the best folks!

 

[Babesofy]

Contributing to a data point - Adult passport renewal, lodged at post office for standard service on Fri 3rd June. When I lodged, PO staff told me processing time is 8 wks.
I have been checking the online portal periodically to see if 'status' has changed.
On Mon 6th June, status changed to 'Lodged'
26th June, status changed to 'Under assessment' (though the status may have changed earlier, I haven't been checking very often)
Not sure how many more 'statuses' there are?

Passport issued and arrived via reg posted @ 5.5wk. Lodged at a Sydney PO, posted to Sydney address.
Got an SMS on 7/7 (or 5 wks after lodgement) saying passport done and arriving via reg post. Passport arrived on 11/7.
The online portal status changed to 'Passport Issued' on 7/7 after I got the SMS. So the online portal, at least for me, was pretty accurate and up-to-date in providing status of application.

 

[robinsparkles]

Lodged newborns passport in local post office on 21st May. Standard processing.
Still waiting.
Flying 20th August. Should I start trying local MPs office now? For those who have chased via this method, do you write an email or call?

An update, actually was able to get through to the APO on the phone, the bloke advised that bubs passport was still in progress and he will try to escalate it for faster processing given our upcoming travel date. He also changed it to pick up in person instead of posted. He then advised to call back if we hadn't received an update in 2 weeks.