Vacations Blog

A passport can be a great tool for education, but it can also potentially cause serious problems. A lost new USA passport can be especially serious, because for many, a passport is their only form of veritable identification, and with a misplaced identification, identity theft becomes a major threat.

Knowing the acquisition process for a passport can potentially save you from serious consequences. An applicant, before he can gain a passport, has to provide proof of their citizenship, either by a birth certificate or a naturalization certificate. A form of identification, a driver’s liscense, a school ID, must be present to prove that the birth certificate is actually theirs. This process can be manipulated, however. With the right instruments, a criminal could steal or forge both an ID and a birth certificate, effectively adopting someone else’s identity.

There are multiple ways a identity thief can get their hands on new US passport. With the application and granting of a visa, an alien can enter the United States. This visa, however, only allows the alien to stay for a preset amount of time. Criminals will stay in the United States past this appointed time and will begin to integrate themselves into American society, and will try to acquire identification cards. Once he gains an ID, he can apply for jobs, credit cards, and even a social security card.

There are other options that allow criminals to illegally gain a passport. Passports are only valid for a set aamount of time. A child under 16 has his passport valid for five years, while a person over 16 has 10 years. This space of time presents a fruitful opportunity for a criminal, especially if you don’t travel very often.

If you think your passport has been stolen or just lost, be sure to report it immediately. When you apply for a new passport, you fill out a form reporting that you suspect your passport has been stolen. It is important then to reapply as quickly as possible, time can be the difference when it comes to your identity.

Identity theft is completely preventable if the right measures are taken. Although it is a serious problem, it doesn’t have to keep you and your family away from traveling. Make sure you keep track of old forms of identification and ensure that current ones are up to date and safe. A family vacation is not somethign that should be dreaded, and with the right information, you and your family can have that dream vacation.

Make sure you know where your new United States passport is, especially if you don’t use it very frequently. You’ll notice that passports are only useable for 10 years after age 16, and five years before age 16. Such an extended period of time can give criminals the advantage when it comes to identity theft. Keep in mind also that a new passport is needed if you get married or divorced, so, being very similar it is even more important to make sure either doesn’t get into the wrong hands.