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.

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.

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