Passports are important travel documents issued by the United States that should be safeguarded at all times. Should you experience a stolen passport, you have to take immediate action. A number of steps should be taken in following legal procedure to replace the travel document as fast as possible.
Step 1
The first step to take if you have been a victim of theft is to report the travel booklet as stolen. In the United States, one would visit the State Department, Embassy or Consulate for reporting the item as missing. This is especially true for individuals who are traveling abroad and have has their legal document illegally taken from them.
DS-64
The DS-64 form is usually required to be completed and must be done as soon as possible. The specific form is necessary in recording your statement, which will document that it has been lost as a result of theft. The alternative to filling out the necessary documentation is to contact the Passport Services of the United States that will invalidate the document.
Invalid
If the legal document has gone missing and is invalidated, it cannot be re-validated. Those who have become a victim of theft and are in another country should visit the nearest U. S. Consulate or Embassy as soon as possible. Remember that one must first notify the State Department of your loss by completing the DS-64 form and mailing it to the designated address.
Accuracy
Always proof read the forms to ensure that all items have been correctly answered which is important for processing the particular application. Often a police report is required to be submitted with the particular documentation that states the situation in which the specific item was taken from you. Once all details have been documented, the forms may be posted to the Passport Services of the United States Department.
Loss of a Valid Passport
If your legal document was valid at the time that it went missing, the DS-11 and DS-64 forms will have to be completed and submitted together. This is because one will have to apply for a new legal document, which is the reason that the DS-11 form is needed to be completed and delivered to relevant authorities. A number of specific documents are necessary when applying to replace the important travel document.
Identification
One will need to present a certified birth certificate issued in the United States or Certificate of Naturalization. An identification driver license or government issued identification card is necessary as well as 2 photographs that are passport size. A fee is charged when applying for a new legal document and additional charges apply to expedited passports.
Once the item is reported as a stolen passport, it will be invalidated and the document can no longer be used for travel purposes. The application process for obtaining a new legal document requires that you appear in person. The procedure for a stolen passport requires that individuals complete designated forms for reporting the incident and then applying for a new document to replace it. Whether it’s stolen or damaged you can request an expedited damaged passport if you need it quickly.
