Have any of you renewed your passport? Mine just expired and am looking to find out which is the most expedient way.

Not sure. I just applied for my first one about 6 weeks ago. It should arrive in the mail in about a month.

I'm not sure what 'expedient' means in this context. Under what circumstances will renewing your passport give its greatest advantage? Quickest? Least hassle? Least expensive?

The quickest, most convenient way is to use form DS-82 with Expedite marked and send it through guaranteed overnight delivery with another pre-paid overnight envelope. This would cost $127 plus postage.

If you (edit) can wait a bit and don't want to shell out the bones, you can still mail it in for $67 plus postage.

Otherwise, you need to look at other options.

What Sketch said. Expedited is the way to go if you NEED it any time in the near future. I've read reports that the standard route for renewal/ new issue currently is backed up like 3 months.

Expediting your passport is the biggest raping ever. The problem is that most people need their passport fairly quickly so they are forced to pay the extra cash.

They say when you expedite it it only takes about 3 days to process and then ship out but in reality it takes about 2 weeks.

If you don't need it for a while I would just go down to a post office that has passport services and get it renewed but it will take about 10 weeks. Call first because passport services aren't offered everyday at most post offices.

Sounds like you're needing it pretty soon though.

I got raped by the USPS when I went to Europe a couple years ago. I'd never needed a passport and I, of course, waited until 3 weeks until my trip to get one so I got screwed with all the expedited fees.

Three months? Sheesh! When I first got my passport, "expedited" meant that I drove down to the Federal Building, paid extra cash (which I did), and picked up my passport the next day. I don't mind paying extra if I can get it within 2 weeks vs 3 months. I should tell my sister to start working on hers too.

I think they all need to go through the same place in New Orleans, so extra money means they'll let you cut in line.

Not to be a dick because you're already expired, but if anyone else is worrying about your passport, it is much quicker and easier to keep it current rather than letting it expire and having to start from scratch. The things are good for like ten years, so if you have any inkling you'll be travelling again, just keep it updated when you must.

I used this a year ago when I traveled to India, as I had also let my passport expire and needed to get a visa as well: http://www.americanpassport.com/Passport_Renewal.html

Yep, cost plenty, but it was fortunately on someone else's dime, so I didn't flinch.

shit, i need to do this this year. thanks for the early reminder...i've still got about 6 months.