Oct 3 2011
Needing Replacement American Passports Is Not The End Of The World
Sometimes things happen that result in your needing a replacement passport. Perhaps yours was eaten by the dog or it was in the bag that was stolen. Perhaps it fell out of your pocket when you were in the helicopter flying over the active volcano. And now you need a replacement.
When Did You Lose It?
Losing you passport while you are still home is less of a disaster than it might be. But it isn’t likely to happen when you have all the time in the world. If it’s missing you probably won’t notice until your departure date is looming. You will have done most of your shopping for smart-looking, comfortable clothes and sturdy but cute shoes. You will have made reservations and purchased tickets. About the time you actually start packing you will dig out the passports from the place where you kept them since your last trip. It is at this late stage of the to-do list that you realize that one of the passports isn’t there. Logically they would all be missing but in one of those last-minute panic situations the scenario would not be logical. So you start ransacking the house as the clock ticks away the minutes until your departure time.
Fill Out The Proper Forms
Someday you will learn that three years ago, little Rudolph took the cute little book to school for show-and-tell and never brought it back. Since finding it is now a lost cause you will need to hasten down to the closest passport agency or acceptance facility. Fill out the forms D 64 and D 11.
Other Required Documents
One of the docs is an application for a new passport. The other form reports that your old one is missing. You will need to have the same documents with you as the first time you applied. You will need ID, proof of citizenship and a photograph.
Expedited Processing
If time is running out before your departure date, you can, for an additional fee, request expedited processing. It’s a good idea to also pay for overnight delivery service. These little emergencies are inconvenient but need not prevent you from departing on schedule.
If Out Of The Country
The problem is a little more complex if you lose passports in another country. If that happens, you should go to the nearest US consulate or embassy. There you will find an application to fill out. Your identity and citizenship will have to be verified.
Other Concerns
If you have your normal identification documents with you the procedure should be simple. If your documents were lost or stolen along with your passport, identity can be established through interview questions or talks with traveling companions. If you are traveling alone friends or family members can help to identify you by telephone.
Invalidated
Once you have reported your old passport as missing, it is not longer valid. If you should find it, send it to the appropriate section of the State Department in Washington DC. If you want it back to add to your collection you can ask to have it returned to you after it has been cancelled.
It’s a nuisance and an added expense when you lose your little magic book, or discover you’re the proud owner of a damaged American passport. A little luck and planning can help you avoid such problems in the future. Keep the family passports and all other travel-related documents in a secure location. Keep your documents on your person when you are traveling. Purses and backpacks are too easy to snatch. If you do find you need replacement pasports, don’t panic. You aren’t the first.
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