A stolen passport can feel like an invasion of privacy. A passport contains a wealth of personal information and losing it can feel like the loss of identity. Not to mention that without a passport no travel abroad may take place until it has been replaced. Someone who has his or her passport stolen while on vacation faces the added worry of wondering if re-entrance into the home country will be permitted. This situation could end up costing the traveler much more money and time than was ever intended when departing on vacation.

Stolen passports may be reported to the federal government via telephone and the passport holder will need to complete a form stating how and when the passport was stolen. In order to replace the passport, the individual will need to complete an application for a new passport book. The processing time for these applications can take up to eight weeks. In many situations, this is not feasible, so the alternative of using an independent service to get a new passport within one to two business days will be the best option.

The majority of these have forms that will need to be filled out and these will be available via a link on the provider’s website. The governmental forms are standard DS-11 and DS-64 passport applications, so one will need access to a printer that most hotels will provide. There will also be an order form that the provider requires be printed out and sent in along with all of the other paperwork.

The applicant will need to provide documentation proving identification and citizenship. These include a birth certificate and driver’s license. If the traveler does not have the birth certificate on hand, it will need to be sent to them via an overnight courier. If the identifying document is not readily available, several forms of secondary identification will be acceptable. All acceptable documents are clearly listed on the government and processing service Web sites.

The person will also need to provide two new passport photos. These photos must adhere to certain guidelines in order to be used in a passport, so if traveling it may be best to have a passport photographer take the photos. These photographers know exactly what to do and locating one can be done via Internet or phone book search.

The documents, photos, and forms must be sent to the processing company in one package. The package should be mailed via a carrier that offers a tracking service. The shipment contains highly confidential information, so tracking the package to make sure it arrived safely at the proper destination is recommended.

These private companies charge additional fees for processing passport applications but it is a small price to pay in order to get back home. The fees range from approximately $150 for three-day processing to $300 for next-day processing. These charges are in addition to the government fees for passport processing. Several forms of payment are accepted, so the traveler should not have a problem making payment as long as the funds are available.

For travelers who find they have a Stolen Pass Port, there are several options for replacement. The most expedient is to use an independent company that provides expedited passport processing. These companies provide a convenient service for those in need. The new passport application will be well worth the extra money paid for the rush processing.

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