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 U.S. 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.

First of all, don’t panic. While it’s completely understandable that you’d be stressed, these scrambled thoughts won’t get you anywhere. Take a deep breath and realize that you can’t change the problem, but you can work towards a quick solution.

After you’ve regained your thoughts, quickly contact the local United States embassy. Do not delay. If your passport gets into a criminal’s hands, they can cause a lot of harm. Passports are prime targets of criminals because they are a tool of identity theft. This is an increasing problem, so if your passport got stolen, act as soon as possible.

You will need to talk to someone from the American Citizens Service department of the Consular Section when you reach the embassy. The first thing they will do is invalidate your stolen passport, meaning no one can use it. Next, they will let you know what exactly to do in order to go about getting your new pasports and the necessary photos.

The next thing you can do is contact the local authorities if your passport was stolen. They will file an additional report. This report will be used to take legal action as well as for helping the United States embassy file a report for your stolen passport.

Gather all the necessary information and relay it to the embassy. This helps confirm your identity. The information you will need includes your name, your date of birth, place of birth, when your passport was issued, where it was issued, and the passport number. Before you leave for your trip, write this information down and keep a copy with a relative and another copy in a safe place. Having it ready in case of an emergency will make your renewal process go smoother and faster. Contact someone in the United States so they know your passport has been stolen and that you might be delayed on your return. This person might also be contacted in order to help validate 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 and valid passport 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 American passport, knowing what to do is half the battle.

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