r2i forum

I got my renewed passport in less than 6 weeks. This was with Houston Consulate.

SFO Indian consulate takes 15 days.

If in SFO (www.cgisf.com ), you can get it even faster if you show the proof of the need for the urgency. They are very kind, fast and on time in general. Try your luck. I got my PIO card in 4 business days.

It took me close to 2 months to get mine mine renewed @ Washington DC consulate (regular processing). I renewed it by mail. However - There is no online status check available and the customer service phones are not promptly answered (You will talk to someone - but maybe after 20 - 30 attempts of talking to an already full answering machine). I do know friends who got it back in exactly 21 days by post though.

I went to the NY office on Friday to get passport renewed. There was a long line. The addendant let me in after 2 hours wait as I had my toddler along. They took all docs..and I got it in mail yesterday. 4 business days..fast. I heard horror stories before but I had good exp. I prefer to visit the office and then get it mailed. did the same for PIO card. Dont know if that helps.

I am waiting on my third Indian passport. I renewed my passport 10 years ago from the Houston Embassy and it is time again to renew it. This time I had to send it to DC as I have moved from where I previously resided. I mailed in my passport with an appointment date of Oct 29th. It has been more than 4 weeks since then and I have not received it yet. Hoping I will get it at least before Christmas time.

Folks, once your passport is renewed, does the passport number change?

Also, I'm in process of my 7th year H1 extension, and my passport is within 3 months of expiration. Should I get my passport renewed first, or is it ok to go ahead with the visa extension, and get my passport renewed during the time the application is being processed?

sid,
you will get a new passport number when you renew..
For H1B renewal , you passport needs to have at least six months validity remaining.