Easy Methods To Replace Lost U.S. Passports
The passport is the most precious travel document and losing it can be
very frustrating. These days, travelers cannot leave the U.S. without
having a passbook in hand. Since thieves look at this document as
something very valuable, it is important to keep it secured during
travel. Many people will not hesitate to pick up a misplaced passbook
and sell it to someone. Having a lost U S
passports also inconveniences the passbook holder because the
document will need to be replaced.
If a passbook goes missing, the most important thing is to report it
immediately. If someone tries to use a passbook that is not his or her
own, it could cause a serious security breech at an airport. If the
document is lost in the United States, it can be reported by phone or by
filling out a DS-64 form and mailing it to the Department of State. If
someone happens to be out of the country when he or she loses the
passbook, he or she should immediately report it to the closest U.S.
embassy or consulate.
Losing a passbook while overseas is a significantly more complicated
situation than losing it at home. One way to expedite the process is by
traveling with copies of the document and keeping them in various
locations such as a backpack, wallet, and suitcase. It is also advisable
to get travel insurance that covers the cost of quickly replacing a
lost passbook.
The individual will need to show up in person in order to replace the passport applications when
traveling overseas. A directory of U.S. consulates and embassies that
will handle this situation can be found on the Internet. Since Web
access may not be easy to obtain during foreign travel, the individual
should ask the hotel staff for the information. To be the most
proactive, passbook holders should do their research, print this
information prior to leaving for the trip, and pack it with the other
travel documents.
The passbook will be invalidated as soon as it is reported missing,
making it unable to be used for further travel. If the holder finds the
passbook, he or she should immediately submit it to the Department of
State. This office will handle the cancellation of the passbook and
return the canceled document to the holder. A canceled passbook may not
be reactivated, so to eliminate the time and expense required to get a
new one, the person should be sure that the passbook is lost before
reporting it.
A new passbook must be obtained in person with the Passport Agency or
Acceptance Facility. The holder will need to re-apply as if this were
the first time the passport was being obtained. The report of lost or
stolen passport will also need to be supplied to the government. The
applicant will receive a new passport within four to six weeks of
submitting the application and supporting documentation.
Passports that are lost shortly before travel must be immediately
replaced in order for the travel to take place as scheduled. In this
situation, a four to six week turnaround time may not be feasible for
the passbook holder. Expedited processing is available from the
government for $60.00 and this will provide a new passport within three
weeks. For some, this may still be too long, so they will opt to use a
private company for passport services. These companies charge a large
fee for processing, but they can provide a new passbook within as little
as 24 hours.
A lost passport can be a stressful and scary situation but it
does not have to be the end of the world. The important thing is to stay
calm and report it to the proper authorities immediately. The
Department of State or US Embassy will have the resources to get
travelers their new passports and back on the road as quickly as possible.
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