The Problem, And Solution, To New United States Passport And Identity Theft

Having a new pasport 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 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 passports. 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.

Although it is technically useless, it can still be used as an informal form of identification. In the case of a divorce or wedding, a new passport is required. It is important that these two new passports don't get mixed up and put in the wrong hands.