Travel Tips

Posts Tagged ‘lost passports’

Many times a person has started to get things together for a trip to another country and finds they have a lost or stolen us passport. This is a terrible situation. The tickets have been purchased, the reservations made and it will be impossible to get into the other country without a passport.

The emergency passport can be obtained anywhere from twenty-four hours to eight business days. The prices are higher than the regular passport since the request is put at the front of the line, so to speak. If one wants a twenty-four hour passport the cost is $299 (compared to $100 for a regular passport).

A person needs to go on the Internet and follow the instructions. After filling out the form, they need to contact a passport specialist, by phone, who will guide them on the next steps to take. A person is able to indicate how quickly they need to have the passport in hand and a fast service will see that they have it by that date.

One must be able to show proof of US Citizenship with a birth certificate and proof of identity. If the trip is already planned, one will be asked to identify the country to visit, why and the date of travel. The usual sex, age, place of birth and social security number are required.

If a person is overseas and loses their passport or has it stolen they are advised to go the closest US Embassy or Consulate to receive assistance. At the Embassy they will need to fill out a form and provide proof of citizenship such as their driver’s license, social security card and any other form of identification. Once the passport is reported lost or stolen it is marked in the records as invalid and cannot be used even if found later.

In addition to the government passport office, there are several private passport expediting companies available on the Internet. They have a person fill out the same form the government has and then go through the steps required to obtain it. For people who have difficulty with the language, this might be the way to go.

One should always make a copy of their passport and keep it in a safe place while traveling, as well as making a copy to leave with a relative. Being able to show this at an Embassy or Consulate when one is in another country and has lost their original passport makes things go much quicker.

People visiting foreign countries often become so engrossed in the sights that they become careless and end up having a lost passports. Thieves, experts in obtaining items such as these, are always on the lookout for this type of tourist. If it is necessary to carry one’s passport application forms, it should never be in a purse or backpack. Having it secure in a money belt or inside pocket is the wisest thing to do and will help one avoid having a lost passport.

Anyone who has the tendency to lose things knows that losing a passport usually happens at the worst possible time. The bags are packed, the travel clothes are ready for the drive to the airport, and then the realization sets in that the lost passport is nowhere to be found. The stress begins to mount and in the blink of the eye, a peaceful upcoming vacation turns into a situation that causes a meltdown.

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.

Further searching on the Web will reveal that there are private companies that provide passport replacement services. These companies will process a passport application and return a new passport within 24 to 48 hours. They charge an additional fee in excess of what the government charges. However, in the situation of a vacation just days away, this fee is well worth paying. The new passport will be in hand the next day, and the panic of the day before is soon forgotten.

The provider Web sites contain detailed instructions regarding all additional identifying documentation that must be provided. The applicant should print out these instructions and use them as a checklist in order to gather and photocopy the necessary documents. The passport application, which may also be found on the provider sites, should then be completed.

The next step will be to ensure that all the proper papers are handy to prove the individual’s identity. The first and foremost on all of the lists is a copy of the individual’s birth certificate. This copy needs to be one from the city, county or state that they were born in. A certified copy that does not bear an official seal from one of these entities is not acceptable.

A driver’s license is the next piece of identification that will be needed and this must be at least 6 months old or more. If this is not available to the individual, for whatever reason, there are secondary forms of identification that may be used. These consist of a wide range of things, but the common thread is that one must contain a picture and one a signature, even if they are separate documents. It is also possible that other forms of proof will be required such as a utility bill or even a high school diploma.

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 all the necessary forms and identification has been gathered and copied, it will need to be sent to the provider via an overnight courier method such as FedEx. This will help to ensure speedy service in replacing a Lost U.S. Passport quickly. These USA Passports services may all be found by going on the Internet and conducting a detailed search.

Your best friend is getting married in the Bahamas. You’ve managed to locate your lost USA passport and your bags are all packed and ready to go. The only thing is, you’ve never flown before. You’ve seen the horror stories about plane food and being strip searched at security. Just the thought of being miles in the air makes you want to throw up. Well, there is absolutely nothing to be worried about. Here are a few tips that should ease your mind.

The first and most important thing you can do is to just relax. Get yourself in a frame of mind where you can think rationally. Flying is extremely safe; driving your car is more dangerous than flying. Flying seems so scary only because all you hear about are dramatic stories covering crazy plane crashes.

- A bee sting is more likely to kill you than a plane crash.
- If you spend everyday on a plane, it will take almost 20,000 years before you would get in a crash.
 - Training a pilot takes the same amount of time and money as training a doctor does.
- Planes have a back-up system for everything, as well as three autopilots and two to three computers.
- For every hour a plane spends flying, it’s on the ground for 12 undergoing thorough maintenance.
- Airplanes fly only in designated flyways that are ten miles wide. No other airplane can fly through it.

These are legitimate facts. The truth is, all the fear can be attributed to the media’s coverage of plane crashes. However, now you have more stuff to do to prepare for your flight. First off, decide whether you want to check your bag or carry it on board. A small weekend bag is easy to carry on, but if you’re planning a long vacation, consider checking it. The TSA advises that you get to the airport at least two hours before your flight time in order to allow time for check-in, security, getting your boarding pass, and everything else.

Once you arrive at the airport, you are going to want to check in and get a boarding pass. In the terminal, look for a desk that has the airline you will be flying. Different airlines have different procedures for getting your bags checked, so just ask an employee and they can help you out. This is the same place you will be checking your bags, so make sure to have them ready.

Next is security. Make sure you have your boarding pass, ID, and passport out. Wait in the line, and when you get to the x-ray machine, take off your shoes, take your laptop out of its bag, and put your purse or backpack on the conveyor belt. You will be prompted into a metal detector, and once you pass through that, you’re finished.

With passports firmly in hand, you are now equipped with some reassuring facts and a quick overview of what to do for your flight. There is no reason to be scared about flying. The safety codes are very strict, and, despite the oppressive atmosphere, airports and flying can actually be sort of fun. So replace that lost or stolen U.S. passports, grab your new bikini, your bag, and get ready to take off.

Anyone who has the tendency to lose things knows that losing a passport usually happens at the worst possible time. The bags are packed, the travel clothes are ready for the drive to the airport, and then the realization sets in that the lost passport is nowhere to be found. The stress begins to mount and in the blink of the eye, a peaceful upcoming vacation turns into a situation that causes a meltdown.

However, a quick search on the Internet will reveal that the passport can be replaced. A sigh of relief until the realization sets in that processing via the U.S. Department of State or Post Office will take a minimum of four, and possibly up to eight, weeks. The stress begins to mount again because this is not a feasible timeframe in this situation.

Further searching on the Web will reveal that there are private companies that provide passport replacement services. These companies will process a passport application and return a new passport within 24 to 48 hours. They charge an additional fee in excess of what the government charges. However, in the situation of a vacation just days away, this fee is well worth paying. The new passport will be in hand the next day, and the panic of the day before is soon forgotten.

One of the quickest ways to help move this process along is to have all the necessary paperwork in order and copies made before contacting one of these services. Each lost passport that is being applied for requires that governmental forms DS-11 and DS-64 be filled out. These can easily be found online on either the service’s website or the government’s passport page.

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.

A driver’s license is the next piece of identification that will be needed and this must be at least 6 months old or more. If this is not available to the individual, for whatever reason, there are secondary forms of identification that may be used. These consist of a wide range of things, but the common thread is that one must contain a picture and one a signature, even if they are separate documents. It is also possible that other forms of proof will be required such as a utility bill or even a high school diploma.

Other items will need to be provided in order to complete the process. These will include things like proof of departure, such as a plane ticket, printed travel itinerary, or a letter from an employer showing the need for immediate travel. There will also be a need to have new photos taken and these will need to meet the guidelines for passport pictures being 2” by 2” in size along with being identical.

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 USA Passport. A new passports will be mailed to applicants whose stress-free vacations may then begin.

So you’re really excited to go to your friend’s wedding in the Bahamas. You found your lost USA Passport, and you’ve packed your bags. You’re already to go but… you’ve never flown before. You hear that airports are nightmares and that planes are as sanitary as a public restroom. You’ve never flown before and just the thought of it makes you nervous. Here a couple pointers for first time fliers.

First, relax. You can’t think or be rational if you are shaken up like a snow globe. Flying is very safe, even more so than driving a car. The reason so many people are scared of flying is simply the dramatic coverage that a rarely occurring crash receives. Here are some pretty amazing facts that will hopefully change your mind about flying.

 - You are more likely to die from a bee sting than from an airplane crash.
 - If you flew on a plan every single day, it would be 19,000 years before you would experience a crash.
- A doctor and a pilot spend the same amount of time in training.
 - Everything on a plan has a back-up system, along with three autopilots and three computers.
 - For every hour in the air, an airplane spends 12 hours on the ground getting maintenance.
- Airplanes fly only in designated flyways that are ten miles wide. No other airplane can fly through it.

These are legitimate facts. The truth is, all the fear can be attributed to the media’s coverage of plane crashes. However, now you have more stuff to do to prepare for your flight. First off, decide whether you want to check your bag or carry it on board. A small weekend bag is easy to carry on, but if you’re planning a long vacation, consider checking it. The TSA advises that you get to the airport at least two hours before your flight time in order to allow time for check-in, security, getting your boarding pass, and everything else.

Try to arrange for a friend to drop you off at the airport. This saves you the hassle of parking. Upon entering the terminal, look for the front desk of your airline. There should be tons of them in a row. This is the location where you will check in, receive your boarding pass, and then check your luggage.

Next up you have to go through security. Make sure you have your ID, your boarding pass, and your passport out. You will be lead to an x-ray machine, and this is where you will lay your shoes, your purse, and don’t forget to take your laptop out of its bag. You will be prompted towards a metal detector. Once you pass through this, you have successfully survived security.

So now that you have an idea of how safe flying actually is and what you actually need to do, you can prepare for your trip (bring your US passport), and who knows, maybe even a little fun! Don’t forget to replace your lost or stolen U.S. passport, grab your three ounce or under toiletries, and some bubblegum for take-off and landing, and get ready to fly.