Jul 17 2010
Steps To Replace A Lost Or Stolen U S Passport
Many times a person has started to get things together for a trip to another country and finds they have a lost or stolen U.S. passport. This is a terrible situation. The tickets have been purchased, the reservations made and it will be impossible to get into the other country without a passport.
The emergency passport can be obtained anywhere from twenty-four hours to eight business days. The prices are higher than the regular passport since the request is put at the front of the line, so to speak. If one wants a twenty-four hour passport the cost is $299 (compared to $100 for a regular passport).
When a person discovers they have lost their passport and need one within a very short time they can go on the Internet and find the site for lost passports. It will give full instructions for making out the pass ports form and give a phone number to contact a passport specialist who will give full instructions as to how to obtain the replacement within the time indicated.
As with getting a regular passport, the form requires place of birth, sex, birthday and other pertinent information. Proof of birth, such as a birth certificate or affidavit, and other identification is also required. Two copies of current pictures must accompany the application.
If a person is overseas and loses their passport or has it stolen they are advised to go the closest US Embassy or Consulate to receive assistance. At the Embassy they will need to fill out a form and provide proof of citizenship such as their drivers license, social security card and any other form of identification. Once the passport is reported lost or stolen it is marked in the records as invalid and cannot be used even if found later.
In addition to the government passport office, there are several private passport expediting companies available on the Internet. They have a person fill out the same form the government has and then go through the steps required to obtain it. For people who have difficulty with the language, this might be the way to go.
One should always make a copy of their passport and keep it in a safe place while traveling, as well as making a copy to leave with a relative. Being able to show this at an Embassy or Consulate when one is in another country and has lost their original passport makes things go much quicker.
When in a foreign country it is easy to become distracted with the many different sights. This is what thieves look for. If you do not wish to have a lost and stolen passports, caution says one should never lay their passport down anywhere and should not carry it in a purse or backpack. If one feels they must carry it, then it should be in a money belt or an inside pocket. It needs to be out of sight at all times to avoid having a lost passport.
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