The Outcome Of The Stolen Passport
Travelers beware, even those with U.S. passports for minors. Approximately 10% victims of stolen passport suffer from identity theft and fraud. They commonly fail to notify the U. S. Embassy immediately permitting others to use their details for their scrupulous activity. One should never underestimate the disappearance of this document. It can lead you into frustrating predicaments once it falls in the hands of criminals.
Passports are valuable for anyone who likes to venture beyond borders and territories. It permits one to discover the beauty of other countries, enjoy the richness and thrive on attaining personal and professional growth. It contains personal information such as our gender, height, weight and birth date. It also records visas and immigration stamps attained from each journey. Evidently one must be responsible to keep it safe. These details can be used to falsify documents and put you in a hot seat, even on replacement pass port. Surely you would not appreciate someone sharing your information and using it for evil, right?
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.
Do not wait for renewal to report the occurrence. Proceed to the local police station or go directly to the U. S. Embassy and have your statement taken. Clearly complete a Form DS-64 an accurate recollection of your ordeal. A consul would be assigned to witness your sworn affidavit. It would be ideal to include a police report in case unexpected conflicts arise during investigation.
This form will be filed until your identity has been verified. Photocopies of your passport and other major documents can hasten the proceedings but you may need to consider having someone to testify your claims. It would be practical to photocopy every page twice so you bring one with you and the other one archived at home.
After verification, you would be given an option to replace your card. Submit a form DS-64 to the local Passport Agency, attach the duly completed DS-11 and a photo and secure payment. Wait for 4 to 6 weeks to receive your card. However you can always pay for expedited cards, if needed.
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 note the exact location of the U. S. Embassy or Consular office in their destination, even those carrying the U S passports for minors. 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 or replacement U.S. passport. It would be practical to map out the area before traveling to make sure you know the way around town.
