There Are A Variety Of Options For Pasport Replacement
Ben Pate
People may need to replace a passport for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons people need to replace a passport are that the passport has been lost, it has been stolen, damaged, or the passport has expired. The method of passport replacement is unique to the specific reason for pasport replacement (http://www.uspassportnow.com/services/LostStolenPassport).
Anyone that has ever lost a passport knows that getting a new one is an immediate priority. Because of the sensitivity of the document, it is imperative that the State Department get notified right away that the document has been lost. After that has been taken care, the rest of the steps can be followed to obtain a replacement passport.
Once the document has been officially reported, it is time to head to the local passport office and get the forms to get a new passport. The process for a lost passport is similar to getting a new one, but there is an additional form to be filled out. When all of the paperwork has been filed and the correct documents handed in and approved, the new passport should arrive in less than eight weeks.
If someone is on a trip out of the country and they lose their passport, a whole new set of rules apply. They must immediately go to an embassy or consulate office and let them know what happened. These offices are very experienced in this and will expedite a passport replacement so the traveler can continue with their plans. Don't panic, the new american passport (http://www.uspassportnow.com/services/NewPassport) process is quick and simple.
When a passport has merely expired, the process is pretty simple. Get online and get the forms directly from the State Department website. Fill everything out and include the documents as instructed and mail them off. It is recommended to use overnight service because of security reasons. This will provide the shipper with tracking information and proof of delivery.
Applicants must follow a similar process to replace a damaged passport. They must fill out a damaged passport replacement form and then mail the damaged passport, copies of ID's, and the replacement form to the passport-processing agency. The U.S. government requires that all damaged and expired passports be returned. This is necessary to prevent counterfeit passports. It is possible to have the stamp book portion of old passports returned after the sensitive information has been removed.
Should a traveler be abroad when the passport is damaged, everything will be fine as long as the numbers on the passport can be read. However, it might be a good idea to stop by the embassy to make sure everything is indeed okay. This is actually a great example of why it may be best to get both a passport and passport card. While the passport card is not official for overseas travel (they are only meant for border trips to places such as Canada and Mexico), it will still provide some type of backup for a damaged passport book.
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