[Update: See the note at the end of the post.]

This is a surprising story of government efficiency.

Our passports expire late this year. However, some countries, including New Zealand, require passports to be valid for 6 months beyond a travelers entry date to the country, effectively ending their valid use for travel. Since we’re contemplating another visit to Auckland this summer, we decided it was time to renew.

So we were pleased to see that you can now renew a passport online. None of that earlier rigamarole of getting photos, filing out forms, delivering them to a post office and sending them off for processing.

Last Saturday, January 10, we went out into our garage mid-morning while filtered sunlight was streaming in through an upper window, turned on the light in the center of the garage, and found a place to stand against the blank white wall and took several photos to submit with the passport applications.

This proved to be the trickiest part of the whole online application procedure.

I then went through the application for my own renewal. It was straight forward. First, reenter and if necessary update the personal information on the old passport, provide the name and contact information for someone to be notified in case of emergency, upload your photo, and pay the $130 renewal fee. More if you also want to get a passport card for use driving to and from Canada or Mexico.

I had cropped our new passport photos to what I thought was a proper head & shoulder size. Well, my photo was rejected two, perhaps three times, saying it did not meet the guidelines. First, I lightened it just a bit. It was still rejected. Then a cropped it more tightly with my face centered in the photo, excess space on top removed, and just the top of my shoulders showing. On the third try, the system accepted the photo and I was rewarded with a message that the application had been successfully submitted.

You no longer have to return the old passport, but it is rendered immediately invalid when your online application is submitted.

Then we repeated the process with Meda’s renewal, with the same result except that this time I knew what to expect and it only took a single adjustment to successfully upload the photo.

We then both receive email receipts almost immediately.

Processing takes around 4-6 weeks
Processing time starts when your application is received by a passport agency or center. This does not include mailing time.

If there are no issues, you should receive your passport book around February 26, 2026.

On Tuesday, we received notices that our renewal applications were now being processed.

Okay, we prepared to wait.

But on Monday, just two days later, we both received notices an update.

Application Status: In Process

The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book on 01/12/2026. We’re now reviewing your application and supporting documents.

You requested routine service when you applied. Routine service can take 4-6 weeks. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you submit it.

But then came the first of two pleasant surprises!

On Wednesday, January 14, we both received notices from the U.S. Postal Service.

And this morning we got the next surprise when we checked the USPS tracking number.

This turnaround seems pretty remarkable. Our passports are scheduled to be delivered today, not in the 4-6 weeks we were initially warned about.

[Update. Perhaps I spoke too soon. Although my passport is scheduled to arrive today, Meda hasn’t gotten a USPS notice that it has been mailed. She did receive an update saying her application had been approved, the new passport printed, and it was ready for mailing, whiuch arrived at about the same time as my mailing notice. But she didn’t get the same USPS notice, and still hasn’t gotten one. So we’ll see. I hope we’re surprised and will have both renewals in hand by tonight.]

This comment was received from a longtime reader.

I hope someone who can help reads this. If so, email me at ian@ilind.net and I can put you in direct contact.

Dear Ian,

I have been a big fan of yours ever since you were the head of Common Cause, and I have paid close attention to your description of the trials of flying Hawaiian/Alaska Airlines.

Now, in desperation, I’m wondering if you can help us with our current nightmare situation. Any ideas would be warmly welcomed!

My son and his family flew in from Pennsylvania on Saturday night, arriving around 9:00 pm after a brutally long day of travel and two connecting flights. Unfortunately, their luggage didn’t make the last connection.

They flew Alaskan Airlines Flight 289 from Newark to LAX, and Hawaiian Flight 809 from LAX to HNL. The Alaska Airlines to Hawaiian Airlines baggage transfer in LAX didn’t work!

As you have written, the Hawaiian – Alaska merger is NOT working!

Two hours after their arrival in Honolulu, Hawaiian Airlines finally informed 10 passengers from Hawaiian Flight 809 that their luggage had been left in LAX, and that Alaska Airlines was responsible for it. Hawaiian then gave them an outdated number for Alaska Airlines luggage services at LAX. It didn’t work! And their baggage didn’t arrive on Sunday.

It’s Monday afternoon now and they have still not managed to be in communication with Alaska Airlines!!! There are Christmas presents and medications in the luggage, which was actually all carry-on until Alaska Airlines asked them to check it due to the full flight. They politely agreed, and now certainly wish they had not!

We are at a loss as to what to do! It has now been almost 48 hours and there is no hope for progress!!!

This merger is proving to be a total nightmare for those of us who live in Hawaii. And so unfair!

Please let me know if you have any idea how we can resolve this!!! We would at least like some indication that these Airlines care about the horrible impact they are having on those of us who travel to and from Hawaii.

Mahalo