One of the most sensitive travel documents around is the passport. Laws about passports all over the world have changed in recent years to ensure that borders are tighten and that fraudulent materials are not being used to allow people into countries that do not belong. Anyone can find themselves with a damaged passport close to a trip and have to use expedited damaged pasport replacement to make sure the trip runs smoothly.
There are quite a few reasons that a passport could be deemed damaged by the proper authorities. What we think is just a small mark could be enough to keep someone out of the country. A wine spill over the signature, a faded or ripped photo or even a torn page could raise suspicions. Even the smallest issue in the wrong area of the passport is reason for them not to accept it.
Common ways people damage passports include dropping them in water, leaving them in their clothing in the washing machine, mud, tears, rips, stains, animal bite damage, and other various wear and tare issues. Water damage is probably the most common cause of passport damage. Regardless of how badly the passport is damaged, the passport must always be returned with the replacement forms.
When a passport is damaged, it does usually not have a very good outcome. Customs officials look very closely at a passport that appears to be altered in any way and they have every right to refuse entry if they think these alterations were done to falsify documents. This is why it is better to just replace the passport versus risking being denied entry into a foreign country.
It is not really hard to replace a passport that is damaged. All it really involves is downloading some forms off of the Internet, filling them out and then sending them out with payment and the damaged passport to get the new one. If there is the need to get it quicker than standard processing allows, there are expedited services that can be used.
The process of getting an expedited replacement USA passport is pretty much the same as getting a new passport without much of the hassle. There is a fee associated with the application of $60 along with any shipping costs that would be incurred for delivery. If this is not quick enough, there are other routes that can be taken.
The time frame for an expedited replacement to be received is identical to a regular passport in that it takes about two or three weeks to come back. However, there are some quicker services that are available, but they will cost significantly more money. When someone is jammed up for time though, paying $300 for a new passport is a much better alternative than scrubbing an entire trip abroad.
Anyone taking a trip that thinks that they have a damaged passport would do well to use the expedited damaged pasport replacement services that are available. Finding out at the border gates that the passport is unacceptable is never an enjoyable experience. Getting a American passport replacement is far easier than applying for a new one and paying the $60 sure beats the alternative.