Why is picking up in person problematic?I applied for renewal in July and got my card in about 3.5 months, If you meet the RO requirements with a good margin, I think you will get it by mid Dec 2021 or beginning or Jan 2022. You will have an issue if for some reason they decide to send it to the local office to pick it up in-person. In that case, you may not get it before April 2022, and you will have to make other arrangements.