Effective Preparation: Know What To Do If Your Passport Gets Stolen While Traveling

We all know that during vacations, very little goes as planned. And when you’re one of the unfortunate few who are faced with missing or stolen American passports, it’s easy to panic. However, there are things you can do in order to ensure that you obtain a new one as quickly as possible so you can continue enjoying your vacation or so you can return home with as little delay as possible.

The first thing you can do to help yourself is to just not panic. Anyone in that sort of situation would be stressed, so it’s completely understandable. However, being stressed won’t help you. Relax yourself, as there is a solution to this scary problem.

Once you’ve gathered your thoughts, contact the closest US embassy. Do not wait on this. Passports provide criminals with way too many opportunities, meaning you could be in serious danger. A passport is a key tool of identity theft, and with this problem growing every year, you could become just another victim. With your passport in someone else’s hands, you will need to act fast.

Once you have contacted the embassy, ask to speak with someone from the American Citizens Service department of the Consular Section. First, they will immediately invalidate your missing or stolen passport. They will then tell you exactly what you will need to do in order to get a new passport, including how to get a new application and passport photos.

If your passport was stolen, be sure to report it to the local law enforcement. They will also create a report. This additional report goes towards making sure no one else uses your passport, and they are also used by the embassy in order to supplement their file on your stolen passport.

Be sure to supply all the necessary information to the embassy in order to confirm your identity. You will need to provide your name, place and date of birth, when and where you were issued your passport, and also the passport number. Make sure to have this data in a secure place, as having it ready beforehand expedites your request and ultimately grants peace of mind. Also make sure someone in the United States knows that your passport has been stolen. Notifying them of any possible delays is always a good thing, and they might also be contacted in order to verify your identity.

Consider investing in money belt or a little purse that you can wear under your clothes. Those looking to steal identities are more likely to target those who have their important documents in conspicuous places, and by simply keeping yours out of sight, you reduce the risk of theft greatly.

Recently, a story came out in the news about Lindsay Lohan, our favorite train wreck. She claims her passport was stolen in France, leaving her unable to attend her DUI case in Beverly Hills, as well as her mandatory Alcohol Education classes. While this may or not be a valid excuse, she was able to obtain a new passport application forms quickly. These stories only go to show that this sort of thing happens all the time, and while it can be frustrating, there are solutions. And if you find yourself stuck in a foreign country someday with a stolen United States passport, knowing what to do is half the battle.