I withdrew from my 401K both last year and this year..>>
Last year , I could do the whole thing over the internet; then got paper check; which took time to clear, but I got the check in about a week.
This year, I actually had to have forms faxxed to me; then I filled them out, signed and notorized them; and faxxed them back; used ACH to have cash direct wire deposit into my checking account, so it was immediately available; once they had received my notorized, faxxed, application. got use of my money in less than a week, but they said it might take more time for them to validate everything in some cases.
gl