Stolen Passport? Never Fear Because A Replacement Service Is Near
Some people take their passports with
them whenever they travel, even within the United States. This does not
present a problem until the day when they realize their passport has
been stolen. Identity theft is such a problem these days that a stolen
passport in the hands of the wrong person may yield damaging results
for many years.
The federal government maintains a hotline for reporting stolen
passports. In addition to making this call, the victim will need to
complete a form reporting the situation. There is no
government-provided quick replacement service for stolen passports.
The
person will have to go through the same passport application process as
those who are applying for their first passport. The standard
processing time is eight weeks, and the expedited service takes four
weeks. Many times, this will be far too long for someone to wait,
especially if travel is planned in the near future. There are private
companies that offer processing within 24 to 48 hours if necessary.
These companies require that a few forms be completed in addition
to the standard government passport application and stolen passport
reporting form. The forms and instructions are housed on the company
and government Web sites. The forms may not be submitted online because
they require a handwritten signature, but they may be completed online
then printed.
In addition to the required forms, applicants will need to provide
documentation proving citizenship. Acceptable documents are a certified
birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or certificate of
citizenship. A document proving identity, such as a valid driver’s
license or current government or military ID, will also be required.
For those who do not have one of these, a list of acceptable secondary
identification is provided on the Web sites.
Two identical color passport photos measuring 2x2 inches must also
be provided. The photos must be recent and taken from a full front
view. There are requirements regarding permitted attire so it is best
to refer to these guidelines or have a professional photographer take
the photos, in order to make sure that they will be usable.
The documents, photos, and forms must be sent to the processing
company in one package. The package should be mailed via a carrier that
offers a tracking service. The shipment contains highly confidential
information, so tracking the package to make sure it arrived safely at
the proper destination is recommended.
The cost for processing a replacement passport will vary depending
on the private company selected. The fees tend to be about $300 for
overnight processing, in addition to the standard $120 government
charges. The government and processing company must be paid separately
and several forms of payment are acceptable.
For travelers who find they have a stolen passport, there are several
options for replacement. The most expedient is to use an independent
company that provides expedited passport processing. These companies
provide a convenient service for those in need. The new passport will
be well worth the extra money paid for the rush processing.
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