During the rush of travel, the passport is often thrown into a carryon bag after passing through customs. These bags are frequently subject to rough handling and the contents can be jostled. A damaged passport will need to be replaced before additional international travel can occur.
A damaged passbook is an unacceptable form of documentation and should be surrendered to the government. At the time of surrender, the passbook holder will need to apply for a new passbook. The renewal process will not be relevant to these individuals because the passbook renewal instructions provided by the government state that the most recent passbook must be undamaged in order to obtain renewal.
These government guidelines were put in place for security purposes, so it is well worth it for the damaged passport holder to take some time to go through the application process, in the interest of government security. The DS-11 passport application form can be downloaded from the U.S. Department of State Web site or obtained by visiting a Passport Agency or Acceptance Facility. If getting the document online, the individual will need to print out the DS-11 application form and submit it in person. The form may be completed online and then printed or it may be printed or completed by hand in a legible manner.
The DS-11 form should not be signed until the applicant is instructed to do so at the Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency. This application form and additional required documentation must be presented in person at one of these locations. The information may not be submitted by mail under any circumstances. When appearing in person, the applicant will also need to provide his or her Social Security number for verification purposes.
The additional documents required are intended to verify identity and provide evidence of United States citizenship. Identification documents include a city, county, or state-issued certified birth certificate. Individuals who were born abroad may supply a certificate of citizenship, naturalization certificate, or consular report of birth abroad or certification of birth. If none of these is available, different types of secondary identification or an identifying witness may be supplied in accordance with the guidelines on the Department of State Web site.
A photocopy of the identifying documents must also be provided and the government provides guidelines regarding the photocopying process on its Web site. If an identifying witness is used, that person must present a copy of his or her identification. These requirements are all put in place so the government can be sure that the person applying for the passbook is who he or she claims to be.
In addition to this documentation and the application, two identical color passport photos must be supplied. These are also subject to specific government guidelines, so refer to the Department of State Web site for more details. The applicant will also need to submit the current passbook application fee of $75 plus a $25 execution fee. Those who wish to obtain a passport card in addition to the passbook must pay a $95 application fee in addition to the $25 execution fee. The information will be processed by the government within four to six weeks.
Travelers who have a damaged passport should replace the document as soon as possible in order to prevent any security related issues from occurring while traveling. The passport replacement process will require the individual to submit a new application and appear in person at a Passport Agency or Acceptance Facility with this form, damaged passbook, supporting documentation, and photographs. The applicant will have a new passbook within four to six weeks of submitting the paperwork and payment.
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