US passport renewal London - timeline?

Not sure if this is the right place but...

My US passport (and only passport) expires middle of November this year and I was thinking of preempting the issue by getting it renewed NOW before I need it in May for travels, or this summer, or this fall. As in, now is the best time for the rest of the year (assuming work doesn't want to send me somewhere like ROI or Brussels, but I don't think so)

Does anyone know roughly how long this takes? Website says about a month - is this accurate? Has there been any impact on the system from recent events back in the US?

Thankfully my EEA permit was mailed separate so I at least have that to wave at someone if they need something official, but I won't have a clear block of time after May 1 to sit and wait around a month or more for this.

Their timings are accurate, and the Embassy is actually quite quick about the whole thing. I had to renew mine in November (my window was between a holiday in late October and business travel in early December), so right before the theoretical xmas rush, and the new passport was in my hands in just over two weeks. I sort of couldn't believe how quickly it all went through.

NB: You have to use their designated courier, and you'll have to pay the courier fee separately, in addition to the passport-renewal fee. Someone will phone you to book after you submit the information online.

Cool - that's very helpful to know. I had heard some stories in the news and elsewhere about things being held up due to politics but maybe thats more in the appointees and the rest of the work force just keeps chugging along!


Ugh - never seems like a good time to do this.

Go for it, it'll be fine!

Absolute worst case scenario, you'd have to apply for an emergency passport for your travel in May.  And I'd be SHOCKED if it came to that.  You have lots of time.