Best Practices to Take Care of Your Passport

A new passport opens the doors of a lot of new opportunities for you. A passport is one of the most important identification documents and may be key to job opportunities and other opportunities. You cannot move beyond the United States without a passport. So, while a passport is undoubtedly an important document, you need to take the greatest care of your passport after you have received it. It is solely your responsibility to ensure its safe custody. A damaged passport is often treated as an invalid document. While there are various means of addressing situations such as a lost or stolen passport, such situations are harassing and stressful.

Keep it off the reach of kids

Kids are prone to treat almost anything as toys or play objects. So, keep your passport securely locked or on an elevated place where your kids cannot reach out.

Keep it wrapped in plastic cover, when not using

A plastic cover will protect the passport from spilled water, mud or any other liquid objects which can damage or render the printed content illegible. It is important to keep the cover on at all times. However, mind the moisture generated while the passport stays undet the covers.

Exercise caution while handing your passport over to anyone else

It is almost needless to advise not to give any unauthorized or unknown person. Still, you may need to temporarily hand over your passport for such purposes as visa stamping. So, in such cases, you will be given an acknowledgement in printed form or email. You need to carefully preserve the acknowledgement till you receive the passport.

Do not carry it unless necessary

Some countries such as some Gulf countries require foreigners to carry passports every time they leave their hotels. Except such situations, do not carry your passport while you are out of your hotel, office or home. You must prevent any attempt at stealing or pick pocketing your passport. The last thing that you want is ruining your vacation in another country or becoming an identity theft subject.

Know what to do if in the event of lost or stolen passport

No matter how well you take care of your passport, you always are vulnerable to theft or misplacement. A deft thief or a moment of carelessness, which is absolutely natural, can land you in intolerable stress. So, it pays to know now the actions you need to take next. To report lost or stolen passport over phone, dial the toll-free number of the United States travel which is 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793) or, if you want to report the same by submitting Form DS-64, submit the form to the following address:

U.S. Department of State

Passport Services

Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section

1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

You can download the DS-64 form from http://travel.state.gov/passport/lost/lost_848.html

Note that the above steps must all be observed and are not alternatives.

About the Author

Mary Taylor is a writer, specialist in tour and travelling. She is now associated with The Passport Office, a privately owned U.S. Passport expediting service, authorized by the U.S. Department of State. It helps US citizens to know how to apply for a passport.

All About A Passport Holder

Do you need to travel on a regular basis? Do you think that when you travel, you cannot carry yourself in as much as styles as you generally do? In case your answer is yes, then probably you are in dire need of a passport holder. These days we all need to travel a lot. Globalisation is the call of the day. As a result, work is based all over the globe. Quite obviously you are meant to cross borders for work purposes quite regularly. And if you are a part of a business house, then travelling is becomes nothing less than your way of lifestyle.

That is exactly why these days; passport holders are very much in vogue. As the name suggests these are holders which are meant for carrying your passport in. Those who travel regularly know that their passports are pretty much subjected to wear and tear. To preserve your passport in the best of condition, you need to use some kind of a protective covering. However that is not just all that a passport holder comprises of. These generally come with other pockets and holders which lets you keep your credit and debit cards and the like. This means that when you are travelling you can be sure that you have all the important documents that you would need once you have one of these passport holders.

Quite obviously a passport holder goes a long way to add on an element of organisation to your life. However that is not just the only reason you should be carrying one of these. A passport holder is also a great style statement. Since these are designed for long distance travel, passport holders are made with something that is sturdy. Generally the choice of material is leather. As a result, you get an added accessory when you are travelling that looks quite stylish and trendy.

Indeed the style factor that a passport holder carries makes your travel image complete. In fact most people who own these leather holders generally flaunt these around as much as they can. Truly a person carrying his or her passport in a holder gives out an image of being a confident and cool person. The impression that these make is tremendous. And if you are in the corporate sector, you would know how much of a difference a good image makes to your life.

For those who travel on a regular basis, you would see that a passport holder is indeed quite an important accessory. This is one accessory that serves three purposes at the same time. First of all it provides your passport with a protection against wear and tear and makes it more durable. Secondly, it goes a long way to add on an organisational touch to your life. And thirdly this is one item which makes quite a trendy impression. As a result this can definitely be tagged as one of the most useful of the accessories that ever was. In case you are a person on the go, you could definitely get one for yourself. 

By: louisa martha