The worst has happened. No matter where you look, you cannot find your passport. Losing important documents happens to the best of us, and depending on where you are in your travel plans, a lost passport can be a devastating blow. Replacing such an important piece of identification is necessarily difficult, but by keeping calm and following the steps outlined by the state department, you can be traveling sooner than you think.
Is it lost or stolen?
Determining whether your passport is simply misplaced or may have been stolen is an important step. If stolen, your passport may be used in illegal activities such as identity theft and unauthorized travel. In either case, it is important to report as soon as possible. Once reported, it will be invalidated so that it cannot be used or misused.
Fill out the appropriate forms
Depending on where you are and when you need to travel, you may need to take immediate steps to replace your passport. If it is going to be more than two weeks before you travel, you can make an online appointment at a Passport Acceptance Facility such as your local post office or courthouse. If more expedited travel is necessary, you will need to apply in person at your Regional Passport Agency, which may require some travel itself. The form you will need to fill out is DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport, and it will generate either a DS-82 or DS-5504 depending upon eligibility.
Make sure that your passport photos are acceptable
When applying for your new passport, you will need new passport photos that adhere to the strict standards outlined by the state department. Great care will need to be taken in the following areas
– Exposure of the photograph, not over or underexposed
– Positioning of the camera and subject of the photo
– Overall clarity of the photo and lighting of the subject
Given that these guidelines are so strict, a professional passport photo is often the best way to go. If you need to guarantee your passport pictures are acceptable, use Paspic today to avoid any additional delay to your travel plans.