What Happens When You Replace Your Damaged Passport?

In order to replace your damaged passport, you will need to submit the mutilated passport book and an explanation of how it got damaged. Even if there are only a few shreds of your passport left, you have to submit them! You’ll have to appear at a Passport Acceptance Facility to have your application reviewed and your identity and citizenship verified. The Passport Acceptance Agent will then seal your passport replacement request into an envelope, which you will send to G3 for processing.

G3 will hand-carry your sealed envelope to the Passport Agency for rush processing of your damaged passport replacement. As soon as your new passport is ready, we will pick it up, check it for accuracy, and send it out to you. You’ll receive a brand-new passport, valid for ten years from the date of issue. You’ll also get your proof of citizenship document back.

You will not, however, get back your damaged passport book. The Passport Agency keeps all the mutilated passport books that are submitted for replacement.

Why Doesn’t the Passport Agency Return Damaged Passports?

When your passport gets damaged, it is considered compromised. It’s no longer valid for travel, or as proof of your identity or US citizenship. The idea is that if a passport is damaged, it could be altered in some fraudulent way. This was especially an issue before US passports were redesigned. If you had a passport 15 or 20 years ago, you may remember that your photo and personal information used to be on the inside of the front cover, underneath a sheet of plastic lamination. Back then, the most common reason for passports to be considered mutilated was if the lamination began to peel up. The government was understandably concerned that criminals might put in a different photo or otherwise falsify the passport. It’s safer for the government to keep the damaged passport that’s been turned in for replacement, so it can’t fall into the wrong hands.

What if There are Valid Visas in a Damaged Passport?

A few countries, most notably Brazil, China, and India, issue long-term multiple entry visas to US citizens. These visas may be valid for as long as ten years! It’s quite common for these visas to remain valid even after the passport has expired, been cancelled, or been renewed. Usually, any visas that are in your passport are cancelled when the passport expires or is renewed. However, China, Brazil, and India will allow you to keep using valid visas on your old passport! You can travel carrying both your new, valid passport and your old passport with the visa sticker.

If you have a valid visa for India, China, or Brazil in your damaged passport, you can ask the Passport Agency to return your passport so you can keep using the visa. It’s worth a try! Include a letter with your mutilated passport replacement request, asking for the passport to be returned. In the letter, explain that you have a valid visa that you would like to be able to use for future trips. Whether or not they will return your damaged passport is up to Passport Agency discretion. They sometimes return passports on request if the damage to the passport was minor.

But if you don’t get your damaged passport back, and you need to get a new visa, G3 can help!

The post Will I Get My Damaged Passport Back? 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.