Stolen Passport

The federal government maintains a hotline for reporting stolen passports. In addition to making this call, the victim will need to complete a form reporting the situation. There is no government-provided quick replacement service for stolen passports. The person will have to go through the same passport application process as those who are applying for their first passport. The standard processing time is eight weeks, and the expedited service takes four weeks. Many times, this will be far too long for someone to wait, especially if travel is planned in the near future. There are private companies that offer processing within 24 to 48 hours if necessary.

These online services have a wealth of information and forms posted on their Web sites. They will require that the applicant complete the government forms for passport application and stolen passport reporting. The companies usually require an applicant to complete an order form and possibly a confidentiality form. Each of the forms may be downloaded and printed wherever the traveler may be.

Along with the standard forms, there will be a need to provide identification proving not only who you are but also the travel itinerary. These are simple and should be items that are handy like a driver's license and plane tickets. They will request secondary items of proof but these are easily faxed to the hotel or a local copy shop, if necessary.

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 US 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.

Once all the paperwork is rounded up, there will be an 800 number listed on the website that will needed to be called. The provider will then give the information as to where it should be sent and how. The majority will use some type of private courier such as FedEx or their local equivalent.

The fees for these can range anywhere from around $300.00 for service in one business day to $150.00 for a few days wait. This fee does not include the governmental processing fee, which needs to be paid separately to the issuing agency. No matter the cost, the need to have a new passport in hand during this time is a paramount concern.

A stolen passport does not need to be the cause for a ruined vacation because there are service providers who can assist with United States passport replacement. The traveler can rest assured that the stolen passport will be canceled. The new passport will be in the traveler's hands within the next day, if desired, and the trip may resume as if this whole nasty situation never occurred.