What to do if your passport is lost or stolen while traveling abroad
Your trip doesn’t have to be ruined by a lost or stolen passport. Here’s what to do if that happens:
problem solved
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says it may just be a little easier to get and renew a passport.
On July 2, Rubio said the State Department is developing a more streamlined system to make it easier for Americans to take and upload passport photos using their cellphones or computers.
Americans can already upload passport photos taken from their phones or computers. However, you must meet the State Department’s strict requirements. Rubio said the new system uses real-time, built-in facial recognition technology to further speed up the process.
“Instead of going somewhere, you should be able to take a photo with that device. People at CVS obviously hate this, and Walgreens and other places hate it,” Rubio said. “But you will be able to take a photo from that device and see the facial ID in real time through our security system.”
In addition to simplifying the process of taking and submitting a passport photo from home, Rubio outlined plans to allow passport applicants to complete nearly the entire process online.
“Beyond that, I would say we’re also looking at some technological changes, which we’ll be able to announce in more detail in the coming months. Obtaining a passport will be much easier in terms of its dynamics. You’ll actually be able to access it online,” Rubio said.
Rubio’s comments were made during a reception to celebrate the release of commemorative passports commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. Only 25,000 limited edition passports will go on sale starting July 6, according to the State Department.
Controversy over new passports
The new commemorative passport has been shrouded in controversy since President Donald Trump unveiled a rendering of it in late June.
The new passport that Trump shared featured a photo of him standing on a desk of determination, with the original text of the Declaration of Independence in the background and Trump’s signature at the bottom of one of the pages. Meanwhile, another page displays John Trumbull’s painting of the Declaration of Independence.
In a post on Truth Social on June 26, President Trump wrote, “The new American passport says ‘Welcome, but good luck!'” alongside the design.
The new design prompted a backlash from Democrats in Washington, with Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine writing a letter to Rubio saying that including Trump’s face on the document turns “a moment of national unity into a vehicle for personal advancement.”
“To our knowledge, no country carries the portrait of a sitting leader on its passport. Even the most authoritarian and dictatorial governments have avoided equating their national identity with a sitting president in this way,” Kaine said.
USA TODAY’s Saman Shafiq contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
