Lost Pass Port – Recovering One Can Be Easier Than You Would Believe

When a passport is lost, the passport holder’s first thought is where it was last seen. The desk and suitcases are quickly searched but nothing can be found. If travel is planned in the near future, time becomes of the essence and this adds to the traveler’s stress. If the lost passport is not located, it must be replaced quickly while in the midst of finalizing the travel plans.

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.

The provider Web sites contain detailed instructions regarding all additional identifying documentation that must be provided. The applicant should print out these instructions and use them as a checklist in order to gather and photocopy the necessary documents. The passport application, which may also be found on the provider sites, should then be completed.

The identifying documents that are required include a birth certificate from the city, county, or state in which the individual was born. Certified copies that do not contain the entity’s official seal will not be accepted. Therefore, obtaining the proper type of birth certificate is something that must be done prior to being able to get a new passport.

A copy of a driver’s license that was issued at least six months prior must also be provided. Alternatively, there are other forms of identifying documents that may be provided. The criterion for these pieces of identification is that they contain the individual’s signature and photograph. Two documents may be supplied to meet this requirement. There are also additional documents that must be supplied in order to obtain a new passport, so it is important to carefully review the instructions listed on the provider’s Web site in order to get all of the details.

Some of the other information that must be provided includes a travel itinerary or plane ticket. Two identical color photographs must be supplied with the paperwork. These photos must meet certain requirements because they will be used in the passport itself. Again, it is important to check the list of required documents in order to review the specifications for these photos.

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 U.S. Passport. A new U.S. passports will be mailed to applicants whose stress-free vacations may then begin.