Will U.S. passport backlog affect renewal?

I don't know if this is the right place for this question, but here goes:

I am planning to get a new passport with my married name this summer. I would have gotten it sooner (we got married in Sept.), but various work trips prevented me from doing so before now. I will be traveling to France under my maiden name from July 25-29. As soon as I return, I will send off the application for a new passport in my married name. According the U.S. Embassy web site, this process should only take 15 working days, which is good since we are going on a family trip to Crete on September 4, and I already purchased the ticket in my married name. My question is, given the recent backlog in processing passports, do you think I will have a problem getting my new passport within those 15 working days? The embassy web site does not have anything posted regarding this backlog or any delays in the service, and since it is a renewal I assume I will be okay. However, I never like to assume and just wondered if anyone has heard anything to the contrary. Thanks!

Didn't the government back down on the Western hemisphere passport requirement because of the backlog? I thought I read that.

I renewed mine two months ago, and a friend did the same a month earlier. At the time, they were warning of scary backlogs, so I paid extra for the expedited service. She didn't.  We both had our passports within two weeks.

I think the best thing would just be to submit it as soon as you're back from your July trip. If it seems like you've still not gotten it back, they have a number you can call in case you still don't have it and are traveling soon. Seems like the backlog is really only for new passports (goodness knows it took FOREVER to get mine! a full 10 weeks to the day!), but yours would be a pretty straight forward marriage name change, so I don't think it would be that complicated as the whole process of background checks and whatever crazy stuff they do to approve you for a passport. I'm not an expert though!

Thanks a lot. This helps ease my worries! Worst case scenario is that I coul apply for an emergency passport, but hopefully it won't come to that.

I hope the backlog doesn't affect passports here. Mine is down in London right now for changing my name to my married name. My application arrived last Monday. I'll let you know how I'm getting on.
In the US is another matter my mom changed to her married name in Feb and it took two months and my step-mom just got hers back (name change also) on Saturday. She sent it in four and a half months ago. 
My step-mom was really freaking out because she and my dad will arrive here in a few days.

Just got mine yesterday  It took exactly two weeks and one day! And I got one of those new (the govt will spy on me, know my every move) biometric ones. The visa pages are a lot nicer looking though - iconic American scenery. My Scottish coworkers found my new passport quite amusing.

I think the best thing would just be to submit it as soon as you're back from your July trip. If it seems like you've still not gotten it back, they have a number you can call in case you still don't have it and are traveling soon. Seems like the backlog is really only for new passports (goodness knows it took FOREVER to get mine! a full 10 weeks to the day!), but yours would be a pretty straight forward marriage name change, so I don't think it would be that complicated as the whole process of background checks and whatever crazy stuff they do to approve you for a passport. I'm not an expert though!

Just wanted to add my two cents. I sent in my passport (which I had gotten renewed last year so getting it changed from my maiden name to my married last name was free as long as I sent it in within a year of my renewal date) in early May. It is July and I wrote on my application I had a trip to Europe this month--I still have NOT received my passport back yet. I went on the website and tried to see if I could trace it, I can't! I strongly recommend you pay to have it expedited. At this point, I will be happy just to get my updated passport any time this year, that is if it hasn't been lost in the mail.  :\\\'(

Is the reported backlog for passports from the US or the UK?  The reason I ask is that as an American living in a foreign country our passports are processed seperately from those that come from the US. Just a note to say that all American passports are processed in the USA.  It is recognized that as foreigners we need our passports and therefore the turn-around time is much quicker and unless there are exceptional circumstances the 15 days quoted by the embassy is usually accurate. 

Is the reported backlog for passports from the US or the UK?  The reason I ask is that as an American living in a foreign country our passports are processed seperately from those that come from the US. Just a note to say that all American passports are processed in the USA.  It is recognized that as foreigners we need our passports and therefore the turn-around time is much quicker and unless there are exceptional circumstances the 15 days quoted by the embassy is usually accurate. 

It's my understanding from the news that the backlog purely relates to US-based citizens applying for US passports within the US.  We renewed my sons' passports in April through the Embassy and it took 2 weeks to the day.

Here's an article about the US passport delays: 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070716/ap_tr_ge/travel_passport_in_a_hurry;_ylt=AvkDf0TqkvDCb5cOFH38IOnMWM0F

Really seems to be the luck of the draw, though -- my parents applied for passports within the US (one renewal, one new passport) last month and had them in 10 days or so without paying for expedited service.

It's my understanding from the news that the backlog purely relates to US-based citizens applying for US passports within the US. 

That's my understanding as well.  I spoke w/the consulate in Edinburgh about my daughter's passport and was told that there is a special overseas processing section, so applications from abroad were not being affected.  (touch wood)