| A traveler should not travel with a damaged | | | | passbook application prove the individual's |
| passport because this can cause serious | | | | citizenship and identity. A certified birth certificate |
| international security issues. The last thing a | | | | or previously issued undamaged U.S. Passport |
| traveler needs is to be detained by customs | | | | may be supplied. The birth certificate must have a |
| officials and interrogated by a foreign government. | | | | registrar seal, signature, and filing date. Those who |
| Replacing the document prior to the next trip is | | | | were born in another country may provide a |
| the best way to ensure a smooth travel | | | | naturalization or citizenship certificate or a |
| experience. | | | | certification or report of birth abroad issued by a |
| Having a damaged passbook makes the individual | | | | consulate. Those who do not have any of these |
| ineligible to apply for passbook renewal through | | | | may submit certain forms of secondary |
| the mail. The person will need to begin the | | | | documentation as listed by the State Department |
| passbook application process from step one, as if | | | | on its Web site. |
| he or she was applying for a passbook for the | | | | Each form of identification must be accompanied |
| first time. The government has placed these | | | | by a photocopy of the item. There are very |
| stringent guidelines in place to prevent security | | | | detailed instructions regarding how these |
| breaches and assure the safety of all U.S. | | | | photocopies must be made, so applicants should |
| residents. | | | | refer to the government Web site. An identifying |
| The person with a damaged passport will need to | | | | witness that testifies to the identity of the |
| obtain the DS-11 application document through the | | | | applicant must submit a photocopy of identification |
| State Department Web site, Passport | | | | as well. All of these stipulations serve a purpose |
| Acceptance Facility, or Passport Agency. The | | | | and that is to verify that the applicant is |
| online version of the form may be completed | | | | legitimate. |
| either electronically or by hand, but it must then | | | | The application and documentation are not the |
| be printed. It cannot be submitted online, due to | | | | only items that must be supplied. Payment and |
| current government policy. If the form is | | | | identical copies of color photos also need to be |
| completed by hand, the applicant should print | | | | presented. The photos must be exactly two by |
| legibly, because anything that cannot be read by | | | | two inches, recently taken, and feature a full-face |
| the government agents will delay processing. | | | | frontal view. For additional details, refer to the |
| Applicants must take this application and other | | | | government Web site because submitting photos |
| required documentation to a Passport Agency or | | | | that do not fall within the guidelines will cause the |
| Acceptance Facility. They should not sign or date | | | | application to be rejected. The application fee that |
| the DS-11 application until they are instructed to | | | | should be submitted is $75 plus an additional $25 |
| do so by the government agent. The agent will | | | | fee for execution. Getting a passport card in |
| require that applicants provide their Social Security | | | | addition to the passbook will cost $20 more. The |
| number and this information will be verified. | | | | passport will be mailed to the applicant within six |
| The documents required in addition to the | | | | weeks of paperwork submission. |