Posts Tagged ‘lost passport’

When a passport is lost, the passport holder’s first thought is where it was last seen. The desk and suitcases are quickly searched but nothing can be found. If travel is planned in the near future, time becomes of the essence and this adds to the traveler’s stress. If the lost passport is not located, it must be replaced quickly while in the midst of finalizing the travel plans.

A lost passport can be replaced via the normal method of going to the Post Office and going through their procedures. The only issue with that is that their normal time frame for replacement is about 8 weeks for the standard service and 4 weeks for the expedited one. This does not bode well for the traveler that needs to leave immediately or even sooner.

There are many services available online that can easily return a passport back within as little as 24 to 48 hours after the paperwork has been submitted. These services require the same basic paperwork and identification that the Post Office does but can expedite the processing much quicker. This of course, is all done with an additional fee from that of the actual processing costs.

The passport replacement paperwork is very similar to the initial application for a passport. The provider and government Web sites contain links to each of the required documents that must be completed. The sites also contain step-by-step instructions on how to complete each document. They also list acceptable forms of required identification documents. All of this information should be read carefully, as missing any details will result in a delay in processing the application.

The applicant will need to provide his or her official birth certificate. The document must have been issued by the city, county, or state of birth and must contain an official seal. It will expedite the process if applicants already have this document in their possession. Otherwise, it will need to be requested from the appropriate government office, and there is often processing time required for this service.

The other identifying document that the applicant will need to photocopy and submit is his or her driver’s license. The government and processing service require that the driver’s license issue date be at least six months prior to the date of passport application. If an applicant has a more recent issue date, he or she may provide alternative forms of documentation.. These are listed on the government and provider Web sites, as are the details regarding additional identification that must be included with the passport application.

Some of the other information that must be provided includes a travel itinerary or plane ticket. Two identical color photographs must be supplied with the paperwork. These photos must meet certain requirements because they will be used in the passport itself. Again, it is important to check the list of required documents in order to review the specifications for these photos.

Once everything is gathered, photocopied, and completed as necessary, it should be sent out as one package via a traceable mailing method like FedEx or UPS. To speed receipt, the package may be sent via next day air service. This will enable the quickest processing period for replacement of a Lost United States Passport. A new pass ports will be mailed to applicants whose stress-free vacations may then begin.