PASSPORT SAFETY TIPS

PROTECT YOUR PASSPORT


Your passport is the most valuable document you will carry abroad. It confirms your U.S. citizenship. Guard it carefully. Do not use it as collateral for a loan or lend it to anyone. It is your best form of identification. You will need it when you travel, cash a check, pick up mail or check into hotels, embassies or consulates.

PASSPORT FRAUD

Law enforcement records show that criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity sometimes use U.S. passports for illegal entry into the United States. This can cause embarrassment to innocent citizens whose names become associated with illegal activities. It can also be altered and used by terrorists in order to commit violence against the United States. To protect the integrity of the U.S. passport and the security of the person bearing it, consular officers overseas have found it necessary to take precautions in processing lost passport cases. These precautions may involve some delay before a new passport is issued.

SAFEGUARD YOUR PASSPORT

Carelessness is the main cause for losing a passport or having it stolen. You may find that you have to carry your passport with you because either you need to show it when you cash travelers checks or the country you are in requires you to carry it as an identity document. When you must carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag or an exposed pocket. Do not put it in the same place as your cash and credit cards. Whenever possible, leave your passport in the hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room or packed in your luggage. When living abroad, put it in a secure place away from your cash.

LOSING YOUR PASSPORT

If you do lose your passport, file a local police report immediately. Then notify the Peace Corps office and the U.S. Embassy. Consular officials will assist you in procuring another passport, but due to mail delays and the time required to get another Togolese visa, it may take some time before you can travel again. Alternatively, the U.S. Embassy can issue an emergency passport in order to travel back to the U.S. immediately, but its validity is limited to one year. The issuance fees remain the same.