New Passport – The Problem, And Solution, To New United States Passport And Identity Theft
Having a passport can open worlds of possibilities for you and your family, but with this power comes great responsibility. Passports for many are their sole source of proof of their citizenship, and if your passport gets in the hands of someone who plans to abuse it, it becomes a very serious situation for you and your identity. It is important to remember that, when getting a passport, the proper precautions can protect you from identity theft.
Knowing the process of acquiring a passport can aid in the prevention of identity theft. Certain documents are needed to apply for a passport, but once these are obtained, it becomes very easy to get a passport. A potential applicant needs to have proof of his or her citizenship, either by means of a certificate of birth or a naturalization certificate. Along with this proof, an applicant needs to supply a form of identification, and many forms are accepted, some not even government issued, such as a school or job ID.
There are many ways criminals can obtain as well as abuse passports. Most of the time, an alien will apply for and be granted a visa with a specifically alotted amount of time that he or she is allowed to spend in the United States. However, many aliens stay far beyond this time and attempt to introduce themselves into American society in order to obtain an ID. Once an ID has been acquired, an alien can apply for credit cards, become employed, or even get 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 doesn’t have to happen to you. Armed with the right information and the right precautions, it can be totally preventable. Simple steps can prove to save your identity. Make sure you keep track of old, as well as new, social security cards, driver’s liscenses, ID’s, and birth certificates. With the possibility of identity theft out of your mind, you and your family can finally enjoy that relaxing get away.
Make sure you know where your New USA Passport is, especially if you don’t use it very frequently. You’ll notice that pasports 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.
