Whenever you travel, you must devise contingency plans to help you if things do not work according to plan. For example, your cruise ship could leave you behind at a foreign port. How would you catch up with it? These are key scenarios you must play out to ensure you are not left stranded. Along this line, you must know what to do if your passport is stolen. While it might seem unlikely, it happens more often than you think. And without a physical and valid passport, you cannot return to the U.S. So, what should you do in such an event?
What To Do If Your Passport Is Stolen
Can someone steal your identity with your passport? Yes! Thus, if someone steals your passport, you must first report the theft to the authorities. It helps the authorities invalidate the passport, ensuring nobody can use it. Also, reporting the theft allows you to process a replacement passport which you can use to travel back to the U.S. Please note that once a passport has been invalidated, you cannot use it even if you later find it.
If you wish to travel or use your passport for official use, the next step is to replace the stolen passport. As you did when getting a new passport, you must complete the DS-11 form and provide a complete DS-64 form. And because you will not have a valid passport to use as proof of citizenship and identification, you must also visit a passport center to begin the replacement process.
Luckily, with TVP, you can reduce the waiting time in passport offices. We help you prepare your passport application documents and guide you on where to present your documents for verification purposes. Moreover, we submit and monitor the documents on your behalf. We know that some of you may be on a time crunch and may need to travel immediately, and we thus offer rush passport services in addition to the application guidance. Call us at +1-833-TVP-VISA (887-8472) to find a TVP office in your state where you can drop off your documents.
How To Report a Stolen Passport
You may wonder how to report a stolen passport to keep it from getting into the wrong hands. Below are the means through which you can get your passport invalidated:
- Reporting the Theft Online: The U.S. Department of State offers a convenient online platform where you can report stolen passports. This website allows you to report the theft and even apply for a new passport simultaneously. It is likely the best option for someone not in the U.S. and thus cannot use mail and other such methods. If you are reporting a stolen passport, you will use form DS-64. But if you also want to start the application process, you will fill it out alongside form DS-11.
- Reporting the Theft Via Mail: This method also works if you’re reporting an adult or minor passport stolen. You use the same website as that of online reporting. But instead of completing the form online, you print it out and fill it out by hand. The website will guide you on where to send the form for processing. Like with the online reporting platform, you can also request a new passport as you report the stolen one via mail.
- Reporting the Theft Via Phone: If you think your passport may be in the wrong hands, you can as well call the authorities at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793). This toll-free number allows you to expedite passport invalidation in cases where time is not on your side. All they need to hear is, “my passport was stolen,” and they will cancel it once you verify your information.
Did you know? You can report the passport stolen even if you do not plan on getting another one. The idea here is to invalidate it and prevent criminals from misusing your data for gain. Please note that the sooner you report the theft, the sooner your passport can be invalidated, which is crucial to preventing identity theft. We advise that you call the number above as soon as you notice your missing passport and have ascertained that it has been stolen.
What Happens If Your Passport Is Stolen in Another Country?
Did you know you must have a valid passport to travel back to the United States? If your passport was stolen abroad, you would have no option but to replace it. Here are the steps on what to do if your passport is stolen abroad:
- Report the Theft: Identity theft is still a risk abroad. Thus, you must contact the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy and report the stolen passport. They will cancel it and keep it from being used for travel or official transactions. If you have suffered a violent crime, you should address this in the call so they can expedite the matter and work to get you out of the country.
- Get an Appointment: You must present yourself and supporting documentation at the consulate or embassy to get a new passport. They will issue you an appointment during which you will go through the usual passport application process.
- Show Up with Required Documents: You cannot renew stolen passport and must instead get a new passport application. Thus, you must provide supporting documentation as you would in the U.S to replace stolen passport. These documents may include any of the following:
- A recent passport photo,
- Proof of identification, e.g., a driver’s license,
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship, e.g., a birth certificate, an expired passport, etc.,
- Your travel documents, e.g., visa, flight itinerary, etc.,
- A complete DS-11 form, and
- A complete DS-64 form.
You will also need to present a police report if you have been a victim of a serious crime. However, a report will not be necessary if you have not been violated or if getting one can delay your travel itinerary. You can weigh your options and decide what route best favors your swift return to the U.S.
Can I travel if I find my passport after reporting it stolen? Even if the police recover your passport once you have reported it stolen, you cannot use it for travel as it is invalid.
