Submitted my DS-82 expedited renewal April 8. Delivered to Charleston April 9, In Process April 13. Travel date May 11.
Two weeks passed with no movement. Called NPIC April 27 and requested a two-week travel notice. Not encouraging.
April 28 I reached out to my U.S. Senator’s office for constituent assistance.
Their office called back the next day with news I wasn’t expecting. My passport card was never submitted with my original DS-82. I didn’t even know I had one. It had been sitting in my parents’ safe for ten years.
His office coordinated directly with the State Department and got me an in-person appointment at the Detroit Passport Agency for May 5.
I drove up the night before, stayed downtown, showed up at 10:45am with everything I could think of. At the window they wanted to mail it or have me return the next day. I pushed back calmly, explained my situation, and they agreed to same-day pickup at 3pm.
A few notes on the Detroit agency for anyone heading there. Parking lots are right outside and easy to find. Staff was wonderful. I may have hit a slow day but there were only about 10-20 people in the waiting room. Worth noting that same-day printing seemed to be reserved for travelers within 2-3 days of departure. I had to advocate for myself to get it.
Waiting for it to get printed now. I wanted to write this because this subreddit helped calm my nerves during a really stressful few weeks. All in all I still would’ve been on a very tight timeline even if I had originally submitted the card. Thanks everyone.