Travel Tips

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.

There are other alternatives available and they may be found by doing an Internet search. Private service providers offer replacement passport processing within one to two business days. The paperwork required is essentially the same, with the exception of one or two forms that the private company may require for indemnification purposes. These companies do charge an additional fee over what the government charges, but it is a small price to pay for having a new passport when necessary.

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 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.

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.

The completed application and additional forms, as well as the photos and copies of identifying documentation must be packaged together and sent to the processing company. The package should be sent via FedEx or UPS, so it may be tracked to ensure delivery. It is also recommended that the applicant make copies of everything sent, to keep on hand should any questions or problems arise. The entire process of replacing a Lost Pasport is not complicated and using an expedited passports service provider will yield a new pasports in a very short time.

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