What is a Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

As part of the process to get your first passport, replace your lost passport, or get a passport for your child, you will need to visit a Passport Acceptance Facility.  There you will have your passport application reviewed by a trained government employee. These Passport Acceptance Facilities are often located in Post Offices or courthouses, and sometimes in other government buildings like public libraries.

At the Passport Acceptance Facility, the Passport Acceptance Agent will check that you have completed your passport application correctly and supplied the right supporting documentation. They will also verify your identity by looking at your current driver’s license or other official ID. Finally, they will seal your passport application documents into an envelope that may only be opened by State Department personnel. This process is called “execution.”

The US State Department sets the fee for this service. For many years, the Passport Acceptance Agent fee was $25, but it will soon increase to $35.

Why has the government increased the Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

The US State Department first proposed the $10 increase in execution fees for passports in 2016. They periodically compile a report called a “Cost of Service Model.” The most recent Cost of Service Model showed that it was costing more in labor and overhead to provide the Passport Acceptance service. The $10 fee increase is meant to cover the expense of providing this service, not to provide a profit.

What types of passport service require a Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

You will need to visit a Passport Acceptance Facility and pay the Passport Acceptance Agent fee if you are applying for any of these types of passport service:

• New Adult Passport – This service is for travelers age 16 or over, who either have never been issued a passport as an adult, or whose most recent passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
• Minor Passport – Travelers under age 16 must use the minor passport procedure and visit a Passport Acceptance Agent, whether or not they have been previously issued a passport.
• Passport Replacement – If you need to replace a lost passport or a stolen passport, or if your current passport has been badly damaged, you’ll need to go to a Passport Acceptance Facility as part of the replacement process.

My whole family needs new passports. Do we each have to pay the Passport Acceptance Agent fee?

Yes, the Passport Acceptance Agent fee is charged for each traveler, not per family. That means that if you are visiting the Passport Acceptance Facility because you and your wife and three young children all need new passports, you will be charged five Passport Acceptance Agent fees, one for each of you.

Can I go to the Passport Acceptance Agent now to beat the fee increase, and send my passport application to G3 later?

It’s definitely a good idea to have your passport applications executed now, before the fee increases! However, you must send your sealed envelope with the passport application to G3 as soon as it is executed. Your passport application must be submitted to the Passport Agency within 5 business days of your visit to the Passport Acceptance Agent. If you wait too long to send it to G3, you will have to go back to the Passport Acceptance Facility and have your application re-executed… and you’ll have to pay the fee again!

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If you need a passport urgently for your summer travel, G3 can help you beat the passport rush.

Why is the State Department Experiencing a Passport Rush?

The summertime is always a popular time for travelers to apply for passports. If you are a business traveler, the summer is an ideal time to renew your passport, when you have a break between business trips. If you are a leisure traveler, you’ve probably got a summer trip planned. It’s a great time for you to travel, since the kids are out of school. Even if you aren’t traveling with children, you might want to take a relaxing summer vacation while things are quiet at work. And as you get ready for your trip, you may discover that someone in the family has an expired passport (especially kids, as their passports are only valid for 5 years), or a passport that’s out of blank pages, or simply can’t find their passport at all! All of these factors add up to lots of people trying to get rush passport services at the same time.

This year, there are way more passport applications than normal because 2017 is the 10 year anniversary of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI is the law that requires you to have a passport for all trips in and out of the United States, even to destinations like Mexico or the Caribbean. When the law went into effect in January 2007, there was a massive surge of people who applied for passports so they could travel to Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and other destinations. Now, all of those passports issued in 2007 are expiring! Added to the normal summer passport rush, the result is record numbers of passport applications. Unfortunately, many people who apply for their passports by mail are reporting delays in the issuance of their passports.

Top Tips to Beat the Summer Passport Rush

Use G3

Since you’re here at G3Passports.com, you’ve already found the best way to beat the summer travel passport rush! As registered passport expeditors, we can get your passport for you very quickly. We can even have your passport completed within 2-3 days! You’ll have the support of the G3 team every step of the way, to make sure there are no delays. Best of all, unlike applying through the Post Office, our processing times are reliable.

Apply Early

Don’t wait until the day before your trip to look for your passport. When you start planning your trip, check your passport right away. You’ll want to make sure you can answer yes to all of these questions:

• Do I know where my passport is stored?
• Does my passport have at least six months validity after the end of my trip?
• Is my passport in my current legal name?
• Does my passport have blank pages marked “visas” for my entry stamps?
• Is my passport in good condition, with no tears, damaged pages, or unauthorized markings?

If any of those questions are a “no,” G3 can help you quickly renew or replace your passport.

Find the Best Passport Acceptance Facility

If you need to get your first passport, get a passport for your child, or replace a lost or damaged passport, you will need to visit a Passport Acceptance Facility before you send your application to G3. During the current passport rush, you may find that some Passport Acceptance Facilities do not have any appointments available, or ones that do not require appointments may have long lines.

During this busy season for passports, it’s great if you can schedule an appointment with a Passport Acceptance Agent. With an appointment scheduled in advance, you know exactly when you’ll be seen, and you won’t have to waste time standing in line. We encourage you to call around to other Passport Acceptance Facilities if you can’t get a convenient appointment with the first one you check. Consider locations near your home, your office, or maybe even one further afield that is close to a shop or restaurant you like but don’t get to visit often.

Prefer to go to a “first come, first served” facility that doesn’t take appointments? You’d be wise to try to get there early in the morning, just in case there are lines. At some Passport Acceptance Facilities, they will even shut down the lines if they know they already have more people than they can serve before the end of the day!

We look forward to helping you get your passport in time for your summer travel!

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Child Passport Replacement – Which Service Should You Choose?

Children age 15 and younger are issued minor passports, valid for 5 years. Once your child turns 16, she is eligible for an adult passport valid for 10 years. When you replace a minor passport that has been lost, stolen, or mutilated, the type of passport your child will be issued will be determined by how old she is when you apply for the replacement.

If you need to replace the passport of a child age 15 or younger, please choose our minor passport service.

If your child is now age 16 or older, select the appropriate replacement service: lost passport, stolen passport, or mutilated passport replacement.

Passport Applications for Child Passport Replacement

You’ll need to prepare passport application form DS-11 to replace your child’s mutilated, stolen, or lost passport. On this application, you’ll be asked for details of your child’s most recently issued passport. If the passport is lost or stolen, and you don’t have the passport number, you can fill in “000000000” as the passport number, and provide your best guess at the issue and expiration date. But it’s best if you can provide the exact details of the missing passport. (This is why we always urge you to keep photocopies of your passports!)

Do not sign Form DS-11 until you get to the Passport Acceptance Agent!

In order to replace a lost or stolen passport, you’ll also need to submit Form DS-64. This form is an official statement on how the passport went missing. It will automatically be generated when you fill out the online passport application form.

If you are doing a child passport replacement because your child’s passport is badly damaged, you will need to write a statement explaining how the passport was damaged. This letter should be signed by the parents. Older children may also sign the statement, in addition to their parents.

What If the Whole Family Needs Replacement Passports?

We hope you never find yourself in this situation! But if you find yourself the victim of a fire, flood, or theft, you might need to replace everyone’s passport at once.

You can place multiple orders with G3passports.com, so we can help you get your new passports quickly. You will need to place a separate order for each person in your family.

When you go to the Passport Acceptance Facility, let the agent know that you will be using a passport expediting service. Make sure they seal everyone’s applications into separate envelopes, one for each member of your family.

If you have more questions, just let us know! We are here to help.

The post Child Passport Replacement – What to Do if a Passport is Lost, Stolen, or Damaged appeared first on G3Passports.

Why Do I Need to Provide Identification to Replace My Stolen Passport?

As part of the process to replace your stolen passport, you will need to appear in person at a Passport Acceptance Facility. It’s the responsibility of the Passport Acceptance Agent to make sure you are who you say you are! Most people who are applying for a first-time adult passport or a replacement for a lost, stolen, or damaged passport use a driver’s license for their proof of identity. Since your driver’s license is gone with the wind, you’ll need to find a different form of identification.

Alternative Proof of Identity

If you’ve lost both your passport and your driver’s license, you’re going to need to prove your identity in a different way. There are two different ways to submit proof of identity to get a passport. The easiest way is to provide a document that’s considered “primary identification.” This would be a government-issued document that has your name and photograph. If you don’t have any other primary identification, you can bring multiple items with your name to serve as “secondary identification.”

Primary Identification to Replace Your Stolen Passport

You can use one of the following items as primary identification instead of a driver’s license.

• Expired or cancelled US Passport. Do you still have your previous US passport? Great! You can use this to prove both your identity and your US citizenship. But keep in mind this should be a relatively recent passport, so the photo will still look like you. Don’t try to use the passport you got when you were in elementary school!
• Passport Card. If you’ve got a valid or expired US passport card, this is a great way to prove your identity.
• Valid Military ID. Are you an active member of the US Military, or a military dependent? You can use your government-issued military ID card.
• Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship. Since these documents include your photo, you can use them as proof of identity as well as proof of US citizenship.
• Government Employee ID. Do you work for the federal, state, or local government? You can use your government employee ID badge to apply for your replacement passport.

Secondary Identification Options

Your driver’s license was stolen. You don’t have an old passport to submit, or any of the other primary identification options. What do you do now? Gather as many documents as you can to serve as secondary proof of identity. You’ll want to look for items that list your name. The more official the organization that issued the document, the better. Ideally, you also want documents that show your photo or other personally identifiable information like your birth date. Here are some ideas of the kinds of documents you can use for secondary identification:

• Social Security card
• Employee ID
• Professional license (such as a medical license or beautician’s license)
• Trusted Traveler Card (Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI)
• Student ID
• Learner’s permit or temporary driver’s license
• Expired driver’s license
• Voter registration card
• Medicare or health insurance card
• Welfare card
• Foreign passport (even expired)
• Selective Service (draft) registration
• Union membership card
• Membership card for a club, gym, or social organization
• Credit card or bank records for the past year
• Copy of your lease or mortgage
• Income tax records or W-2 forms for the past year
• School diplomas or yearbooks
• Newspaper or magazine articles that show your name and photo
• Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or your childrens’ birth certificates
• Baptismal certificate or other religious records

Try to bring as many items as you can – we recommend at least five! You’ll need to bring the original documents as well as photocopies of each item.

The post Proof of Identity Options if Your Passport and License are Stolen appeared first on G3Passports.

Protect Your Passport from Getting Lost

Every year, far more passports are lost than are stolen. It’s expected that more than 200,000 Americans will report the loss of their passport this year!

Follow our tips to make sure you don’t become part of that number.

1. Keep Your Passport Safe at Home

At G3, we’ve heard a lot of stories of how passports got lost. By far, the most common scenario is that passports are misplaced at home!

Make sure to designate a secure spot to store your passport, and make it a place that you can remember! A fireproof box or filing cabinet are good options to store your passport between trips. The most important thing is to always return your passport to the same storage spot. No matter how tired you are when you get home from a trip, put your passport away as soon as you get in! Don’t leave it in your bag or your jacket, where you might forget it.

2. Keep Your Passport Safe When Moving

We’ve also had many travelers tell us that their passports were lost when they were moving house. It’s understandable — moving is a major endeavor, with a lot of stuff to keep track of! But when you need your passport to travel, you don’t want it to be just “in a box somewhere.”

As you pack, set aside a special box for your most important documents, such as passports, birth certificates, and financial records. Make this one of the items that you move yourself, rather than packing it on a moving van. Once you get to your new home, find a secure spot to store your passport and other key papers.

3. Keep Your Passport Safe While Traveling

The one time you can’t keep your passport securely tucked away is while you are traveling! We’ve also known travelers to misplace their passports while they are in transit. At the airport, you’ll need to pull your passport out many times. Choose a place to keep your passport where it will be accessible but secure from falling out and getting lost. For instance, it’s much safer to keep your passport in a deep inner pocket of your jacket than a shallow front pocket. Put it back in that safe spot every time, and you’ll save yourself a lot of frantic pat-downs!

Protect Your Passport From Theft

Passport thefts are far less common than lost passports, but they do happen. Although it’s not unknown for thieves to specifically try to steal passports, most passports are stolen by thieves who are quickly trying to grab your money or other valuables. In a British Government survey of tourists who had their passports stolen, 40% of thefts were bag snatchings!

Here are some tips to keep your passport safe from being stolen:

• At home, keep your passport in a locked cabinet, or hidden away from other valuables.
• When traveling, keep your passport separate from your wallet. Consider keeping it in the safe in your hotel room rather than carrying it.
• Do not carry your passport in your back pocket or in the outer pocket of a backpack, where it would be an easy target for pickpockets.
• For maximum security when carrying your passport, use a traveler’s wallet that is kept under your clothes.
• If you carry your passport in your bag, keep a close eye on your bag. Don’t leave it slung over the back of a chair. In areas with a higher level of street crime, consider carrying your bag cross-body rather than over your shoulder.
• Take particular care when you are in crowded tourist spots or on public transportation.

We understand that no matter how careful you are, passports can still get lost or stolen. If you need a replacement, G3 is here to help!

The post Keep Your Passport Safe from Loss or Theft! appeared first on G3Passports.

Most Common Reason for a Stolen Passport: Pickpockets

Even in the safest cities, pickpockets can be a problem.  Petty thieves love to target distracted tourists, looking for an opportunity to grab a wallet, phone, camera, or passport.  A pickpocket could strike anywhere, but you’re most at risk when you’re at a crowded tourist attraction or using public transportation.   Luckily, with a little forethought, you can keep your passport safe from thieves!

• Don’t keep your passport in your back pocket, or in the outer pocket of your backpack.  Pickpockets have that name for a reason — they are amazingly good at slipping your belongings out of your pocket without you feeling a thing!
• Don’t sling your bag over the back of a chair.  It’s too easy for a thief to grab the bag, or just brush by and yank your wallet out of your bag.
• Beware of distractions. Pickpockets often work in pairs or teams. One will distract you by bumping in to you, spilling something on you, or handing you a flower or card.  Meanwhile, their partner in crime will be robbing you of anything they can grab!
• Do use a traveler’s security wallet to store your passport, credit cards, and cash under your clothes.  We know, they’re not the coolest accessory, but spending part of your trip at the police station and US Embassy isn’t cool either!  There are many different kinds of traveler’s security wallets, including ones to be worn around the waist, the neck, or even around your leg. Another good option is to keep your passport in the inner pocket of a coat that you’ll keep buttoned or zippered… but don’t leave that hanging over the back of a chair!

If your passport is stolen while you are in the United States, G3passports.com can help you replace your stolen passport quickly.  However, if your passport is stolen while you are overseas, you will need to visit a US Embassy or US Consulate to have a new passport issued before you fly home.

Most Common Reason for a Mutilated Passport:  Water Damage

If you’ve taken our advice about keeping your passport in the inner pocket of your jacket, make sure you take it out before you do your laundry!  Believe it or not, one of the most common reasons for a mutilated passport replacement is because the passport has gone through the washing machine and the dryer.  The US State Department has been steadily improving the design of passports to make them more impervious to damage, but water damage is still a serious concern.  We have seen water-damaged passports that were considered mutilated because mildew grew under the plastic coating of the information page, or because the binding of the cover became loose.  If you have any visas in your passport, those are even more susceptible to water damage.  The ink on your visa can easily run, or the water can loosen the glue, causing your visa sticker to fall out.

In addition to keeping your passport out of the washing machine, we recommend using a plastic or vinyl passport cover to help keep your passport dry in case it’s ever caught out in the rain.

G3passports.com can help you determine if your damaged passport is in bad enough shape to need the mutilated passport replacement procedure.  If your passport is only lightly damaged, you may be able to do an early passport renewal instead.

Most Common Reason for a Lost Passport: Misplaced at Home

We can’t tell you how often we’ve spoken to travelers who have lost their passports inside their own homes!  “It’s around here somewhere,” they’ll say, but with an international trip rapidly approaching, they may wind up having to do a lost passport replacement if the passport can’t be found.  We always encourage travelers to do a thorough search before starting the replacement process, because once you have reported your passport lost, it will be cancelled.  Even if you find your passport the next day, you won’t be able to use it for travel.

The simple solution is to designate a place that you always store your passport between trips.  As soon as you get home, put your passport away in the same safe place as before.  This will help keep it out of the washing machine, too!

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