Easy Methods To Replace Lost Or Stolen U.S. Passports

When traveling overseas, the most important thing for someone to have on them at all times is a passport. In the event of an emergency, this is the thing that identifies someone as a United States citizen and it is impossible to travel without it. One of the most frustrating ordeals to go through when traveling is a lost or stolen U S passports but, in the event that it happens, it is important to know what to do.

Once the holder has determined that the passbook is missing, the incident should be immediately reported to the government. This will prevent the document from being used by thieves to travel between countries. The missing passbook report may be submitted via telephone or paper DS-64 government form. Situations that occur during foreign travel should be reported to the nearest U.S. consulate or U.S. embassy.

Losing a passport book 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.

Those traveling abroad will need to apply for a new passport in person by visiting a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate. The directory of these agencies may be found online so this information should be researched, printed, and included with the travel documents. If this is not done, the traveler will need to get Internet access while away or ask the staff at the hotel for the directory. It is important to get to the appropriate agency as soon as possible to get a U S passport.

Once a passbook is reported as lost or missing, it is immediately invalidated and cannot be used for travel by anyone at all. If a passbook is found after being reported missing, it should be submitted to the Department of State. They will cancel it and, upon request, return it to the holder. It is important to remember that a cancelled passbook cannot be re-validated so be sure to look everywhere 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.

The situation of having a lost or stolen passport is inconvenient, but as long as the holder follows the proper steps, it is not devastating. You see, US passport holders should immediately report the document as missing and then obtain a new passbook. Getting the new document while traveling will be a bit more expensive due to rush processing, but it will allow the individual to continue travel.