www.CostaRicaTicas.com

As it turns out my passport was up next week. Since I needed it for a trip to the DR 3 weeks ago and they don't care when it's up as as long as it covers the time of my trip I waited until I got back to renew it. So I sent in my renewal 2 weeks ago after I got back. I just called and found out they received my application 6 days ago and they told me everything seems all right but it's going to take 4-6 weeks from that date to receive it. I assumed the process would be faster than this even though I did not put expedite on it. Since my next trip to CR is the last week of Feb. that's cutting it pretty close. I'm wondering if anyone has had an experience like this, and does usually follow this time pattern, and is there anything I can do if it gets too close for comfort?

The 4-6 weeks is pretty accurate most time. It will be close, but it's impossible for anybody to give you a definitive answer because it all depends on their workload. A couple years ago, when the government decided that people needed passports to travel to Canada and the Bahamas (I think, don't remember), there was a rush for passports and the 4-6 weeks was more like 8-12 weeks.

There is nothing you can do to speed things up now since they have your passport.

Hope you have better luck than me, I was told 3 weeks and it took 6 months...Calling didn't help any, and neither the request sent by "supervisors" inquiring what was taking so long. Being a renewal I wouldn't think it would take that long.

I wouldn't worry to much Lomo. I applied for a new passport after Thanksgiving and had it in hand 3 weeks later.

I sent in my renewal the week before christmas and got it last week. It took only 2 weeks a few days.

Pura Vida. Lasverdes

I just received mine. In fact I sent in my renewal at about the same time as you and received it in about the same time. No problems.

I'm assuming you turned in your old passport for renewal so this may not apply here? I was flying in and out of the US every two weeks and couldn't wait to send mine in for renewal. On the US gov. website it will give a list of the cities with passport renewal offices and a phone number you can use to set an appointment. You will need your itinerary showing a approaching trip and all items necessary for the passport. I flew into Houston, took a cab to the passport office and turned in all material and 4 hours later had my new passport. Of course you will need an early enough appointment to get your passport same day. Flew home that afternoon. Hope this helps..