Damaged Passport

Editor's Note (UPDATED February 25, 2022) -- U.S. passports are taking up to seven weeks to process using the government's expedited service.  It is possible to get a passport in less time by scheduling an appointment with the Passport Agency by calling 877-487-2778 and appearing in person at their office.

Atlanta residents with U.S. passports that are mutilated or even show slight moisture damage should consider replacing their old passports before their next trip.

The federal government considers a damaged passport to be invalid.  Unless your passport is in relatively good shape, you may be denied entry to your destination or upon returning to the U.S. Definitions of “damaged” vary from one country to another, as different border officials and countries have different rules.  For example, in the United Kingdom, BBC News reported, “Travelers whose passports contain multiple visas and stamps – indicating ‘heavy use’ -- are more likely to have a problem.” Frequent travelers sometimes report being delayed or denied entry to a country with an older passport that previously passed inspection without question.

The State Department says on its website, “If your passport has been significantly damaged -- especially the book cover or the page displaying your personal data and photo – you will need to apply for a new passport.” Other damage the department lists includes faded pages from water damage; a significant tear; unofficial markings on the data page; missing (torn out) visa pages; and hole punches.  Other areas of concern include unauthorized entries and obliterations, loose bindings, or damage to the embedded RFID microchip. 

There are many ways your passport can become so damaged that it must be replaced.  You should never remove pages from your passport—not even to move a visa to a new passport.  Water damage can result from a flood at your home, or from accidentally putting it in a washing machine.  Passports may be mutilated when a dog chews it up or a child colors the pages. 

The State Department expects some signs of wear during the 10-year life of a passport.  The department says, “Normal wear and tear includes the bend of a passport after being carried in your back pocket, or fanning of the visa pages after opening and closing.” However, you might encounter problems with U.S. or foreign entry officials if your passport has minor moisture damage (often caused carrying it in your pocket in tropical climates).  Rather than risk harassment or being denied entry at the border, it is safest to replace a questionable passport.   

How you replace the passport depends on the amount of damage it has sustained.  Slight damaged passports can simply be renewed by mail.  However, if your passport is mutilated or heavily damaged, you will have to appear at a passport acceptance facility and obtain a new one.  In either case, it is recommended that you provide a written statement explaining how the passport became damaged.

RENEWING A SLIGHTLY DAMAGED PASSPORT 

If your passport has minimal moisture damage and expires in less than a year, there are several options to renew your passport in Atlanta.  The easiest way is renewing through the mail.  The required form (DS-82) is available online at https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds82.pdf.  You can also obtain a paper DS-82 from your local library or Post Office and submit a hand-written form.

However, you can only renew by mail if you meet these criteria:

  • You have your passport in your possession and can submit it with the application.
  • The passport shows only normal wear and tear (no pages missing, no significant water damage, etc.).
  • You were at least 16 years of age when the passport was issued (child passports do not qualify).
  • The passport was issued within the last 15 years, and expired less than five years ago.
  • It was issued in your current name, or you can document your name change.

If you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, you will need to appear in person at the Passport Agency or a Passport Acceptance site, as detailed in the section below on replacing a heavily damaged passport. 

Those who do qualify can fill out Form DS-82 online and print the completed form (or hand-write on the paper form).  You will submit that form plus the following supporting documentation:

It is also a good idea to write a statement explaining the moisture damage on your old passport.  This is not required, but it can help facilitate the process with the State Department.

Mail the application and other documents.  For normal processing, Atlanta residents should mail the application to the National Passport Processing Center, Post Office Box 90155, Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155.  However, expedited passports should be sent to the NPPC at P.O. Box 90955, Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955.

The normal turnaround time for renewals by mail is eight to eleven weeks.  Expedited service within seven weeks is available for an additional fee.  You can also pay extra for return delivery in two days (rather than the typical first class mailing).

The other two options for renewing your passport are more expensive and more time-consuming.  However, they may be your best options if you need to replace the passport ASAP.  You can appear at the Passport Agency downtown, or use a private service such as Visa Supply.  Both options are outlined in the next section.

REPLACING A BADLY DAMAGED PASSPORT 

If your passport is badly damaged, mutilated, and/or has missing pages, follow these procedures to obtain a new one.  Unlike mailing a renewal form, you will have to appear in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility.  Employees at these facilities verify your identify and your documentation.  You should also provide a written statement explaining how your old passport became damaged. 

In Atlanta, there are three options to obtain a new passport: visit a passport acceptance facility; appear at the Passport Agency downtown; or use a private passport service to expedite delivery.  

Option 1: Appear at an Acceptance Facility 

The most common way to obtain another passport is visiting a passport acceptance facility.  This link allows you to find the closest facility to your home or office: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov.  For those located in Metro Atlanta, we recommend using the Dekalb County Clerk of Superior Court: https://dksuperiorclerk.com/passports/.

The basic form for a new passport (DS-11) is available online at https://pptform.state.gov/PassportWizardMain.aspx.  You can fill out the form online, print it out, and take it to the acceptance facility. (Do NOT sign the application in advance, as a government agent must witness your signature.) You may also fill out the DS-11 form by hand at the passport acceptance facility.  No appointment is necessary.

You will submit supporting documentation along with form DS-11.  The required documents (also listed at https://dksuperiorclerk.com/passports/) include:

  • Your long-form birth certificate or a government-certified copy of that certificate. {If you need to order a new copy of your birth certificate, we recommend using VitalChek (https://www.vitalchek.com), a private company with an easy-to-use process and less expensive rates.} 
  • For naturalized citizens, their original certificate of naturalization.
  • State-issued driver’s license.
  • One photo that meets all passport image criteria, and properly attached to the application. (See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html.)
  • A check or money payable to the U.S. State Department.  The basic passport fee is $130.  Additional charges apply for expedited service and other options. For a full list of fees, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html.
  • Another $35 payable via check, money order, cash, or debit card to be paid to the passport acceptance facility for the identity verification process. (Check with the specific facility for the exact forms of payment they accept.)

Passport acceptance facilities are government offices but they do not actually issue the passport.  These facilities only verify your documents and forward them to the State Department’s Passport Agency.  The normal turnaround time for renewals by mail is eight to eleven weeks.  Expedited service within seven weeks is available for an added fee.  You can also pay extra for return delivery in two days (rather than the default first class mailing).

Option 2: Apply in Person at the Atlanta Passport Agency

If you need to travel within the next month, you can apply in person at the U.S. Passport Agency downtown (230 Peachtree St #1000, Atlanta, GA 30303).  You can ONLY apply in person here if you can prove the need to travel within the next two weeks -- or, for countries that require a visa, within four weeks.  You will need to fill out Form DS-11 and make an appointment directly with the Passport Agency.  Note that the agency is busy during the summer travel season and around the holidays, so give yourself plenty of lead time.

For your appointment, bring the identification listed above, as well as:

  • Your appointment confirmation number
  • Proof of travel plans, such as your flight itinerary, hotel reservation, or cruise tickets 
  • One passport photo
  • Method of payment.  The agency takes major credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, and money orders.  In addition to normal costs, there is an additional $60 expediting fee.

Contact information, directions, and other details about the Atlanta Passport Agency are available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies/atlanta.html.

Visiting the Passport Agency is more expensive and less convenient than using an acceptance facility.  However, if you need a passport quickly, it is worth the extra effort.  Unlike other facilities, the agency can issue your new passport – often on the same day or the following day.

Option 3: Use a Private Passport Service

The third option is to use a private passport expediter such as Visa Supply to speed up the turnaround time.  For this option, you still need to visit a passport acceptance facility so a government official can verify your identity and documents.  Normally the facility can only forward your documents to the State Department for processing.  However, if you are using a courier service such as Visa Supply, the acceptance facility will seal your documents in an envelope and return them to you.  You will then take that envelope back to our office so we can ship it to one of our couriers in San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, or Washington, D.C. so we can expedite your passport application.

Our office is conveniently located in Sandy Springs, just two miles outside of I-285 on the Roswell Road exit.  If you want Visa Supply to help you, you must FIRST visit our office so we can take your passport photo; and help you prepare your DS-11 application; plus review your documentation.  You can take these documents to the Dekalb County Clerk of Superior Court, and then return the sealed envelope to Visa Supply so we can expedite your application with the Passport Agency.

Since Visa Supply is a private company, we charge a fee for our services (in addition to the government’s $190 expedite fee for a passport book).  Beyond the convenience of using our office, we make sure your application form is filled out correctly.  We also take your passport photo and will ensure that it meets the government’s specifications.  Our basic service starts at $100.  Customers receive their new passport (along with the old one) within seven weeks; for additional fees we can also get passports renewed in as fast as one week.  Please call us for the latest details.

If you are unsure whether your passport has minor or significant damage, we can help.  Atlanta and Georgia residents with questions about replacing a damaged U.S. passport can schedule a telephone call through our website.  Our free consultation will explain the various options and guide you through each step in the process.