The U.S. Passport Agencies are currently recalling several thousand passports issued between July and November of 2012. Â Several thousand Americans were issued passports with duplicate passport numbers, which means you may have a passport number that is the same as somebody else. Â This is a problem because each passport issued in the USA needs to have a unique number. Â The good news is that if you have one of these passports, you have probably traveled on it and not had any problems at all. Â The personal information contained in your passport book is not related in any way to your passport book number. Â Your current passport book is fully operational and information contained in it is securely protected.
If you were issued a passport that is being recalled, you will be contacted directly by the US Department of State or by Swift Passport Services if you used our service to obtain the passport.  If you are NOT contacted by SPS or the State Department, then you have nothing to worry about; your passport is fine and is not being recalled!  The Department of State will issue you a new passport at not cost to you and will provide you with detailed instructions on what you need to do to replace it.  Essentially, all you have to do is use a pre-paid UPS envelope that they will provide, and send your passport to the Passport Agency in New Orleans.  Once they receive your passport, they will destroy it in most cases, issue you a new one, and send it back to you immediately.
If you have a valid foreign visa in your current passport, many countries will continue to accept the visa until its expiration date when presented with the cancelled passport and new passport.  If a new visa is required, the Department of State will reimburse you for the cost of obtaining a new visa.  Instructions on how to request reimbursement for your visa(s) will be mailed to you with your new passport.
If this recall affects you, or if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact SPS, we are very happy to answer your questions: Â 877.917.9438
