The Proper Procedures Of Reporting A Stolen Passport

Passports are very important, even passport for minors. The details in this card are very personal. Travelers must be cautious to keep it from falling in the wrong hands. Lost or stolen passport should be reported immediately to advice the U. S. Embassy or consulate that it is no longer in your possession. This will instigate investigation and retrieval to prevent it from being misused or abused.

Terrorism Threat

Due to the worsening threat of terrorism one should be responsible enough to guard themselves from the dangers of identity theft. Approximately 10% gets victimized each year emphasizing the importance of passports.

Precautionary Measures
Taking a few precautionary measures and knowing what to do help avert stress and confusion in case something bad happens. Obviously you need presence of mind to deal with the situation. Procedures need to be met for protection yourself from involuntarily participation with terrorism.

Dreary Situation
Even the chariest individuals can find themselves in this dreary situation. Calm down. Report the incident to the nearest police station or head to the U. S. Embassy to lodge a formal complaint.

Form DS-64
A consul would ask you to legibly fill out a Form DS-64. Make a brief description on how the card got lost and what you did to find it. This will act as your sworn affidavit to be used in the investigation. It is very important to provide a precise recollection of the whole situation to help the investigating team to retrieve your card. A police report in optional but it can be handy in case investigation points into a suspicious trend.

Specialized System
The form will be placed in a specialized system to alert other authorities regarding the situation. You would undergo intensive interview to establish your identity. It would be ideal to bring impertinent documents with you to hasten the process. If possible have a photocopy handy. Make sure that it is clear enough to be read. This will dictate the legality of your claims. Submit a DS-64 form with your DS-11 application to the nearest Passport Agency to request for replacement. Submit a passport size photo and pay the fee. It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks to process the whole request. However for those who are in a hurry to get one, they should consider paying extra for an expedited service.

Reported Passports
Reported passports are already considered null and void. Further use is already considered criminal in nature. Constantly coordinate with the proper authorities to check the status of your report. It would also be ideal to check with the credit bureau for any fraudulent transactions. Be diligent enough to make sure that the information is not used in financing terrorist activities to avoid further headaches. You may want to check with the U. S. Embassy too to see if anyone has returned the card.

Wise Travelers
Wise travelers note the exact location of the U. S. Embassy or Consular office in their destination. It would be ideal to jot down contact information to ensure that you can contact officials in case you need assistance with your stolen passport inorder to recieve a replacement passport. It would be practical to map out the area before traveling to make sure you know the way around town.