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Information, Applications and Procedures for:
Replacing a Mutilated/Damaged Passport for Adults
(16 Years and older)
Mutilated/Damaged US Passports - Requirements and Instructions
What is a mutilated or damaged Passport?
Examples of mutilated Passports:
- A Passport which has been damaged in any way which may have caused the lamination to come loose, so that a fraudulent photo could be inserted in the passport.
- The Passport has been exposed to water causing the ink to run.
- The Passport has been cut or torn.
- The Passport has been marked on in a manner to change the appearance or make any part of it unreadable.
- The Passport has been damaged beyond normal wear and tear.
To expedite the replacement of a multilated US passport, you must first gather the documents below and appear before an acceptance agent:
- You must appear in person before an acceptance agent with the unsigned documents.
- Acceptance agents are at designated Post Offices and Court Houses in your area. Click here to find the acceptance agent nearest you.
- Tell the acceptance agent that you are using an expediting service to "hand carry" your passport application to the passport agency for processing. The acceptance agent will witness you sign the DS-11 application and seal your passport information documents in an envelope and return the sealed envelope to you.
Once the acceptance agent has returned the signed envelope to you, proceed to steps 2 and 3 below.
Note: If you are departing the U.S. within 4 business days, you must call us to ensure we have the capacity to process your passport application in time for your departure. Mutilated passport applicants between the ages of 16 and 17 must appear with one parent to co-sign the application. Information on New Passports for Minors under 16 here.
A
Your Mutilated Passsport
Bring your mutilated passport to the acceptance agent to be included in the sealed envelope. It will not be returned to you with your new passport upon completion.
B
Proof of Citizenship
Your mutilated Passport is not proof of citizenship and cannot be used for that purpose. You must have an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, naturalization papers or old passport, other than your mutilated passport. We strongly recommend using a long-form birth certificate.
If you do not have your Birth Certificate, you can obtain information about ordering a certified copy of your birth certificate here.
Requirements for Acceptable Forms of Birth Certificates can be found here. (All proof of citizenship documents will be returned to you with your new passport.)
C
Proof of Identity
In order to prove your identity to the passport acceptance agent, you will be required to show a driver's license or state-issued identification issued more than six months ago. Official government or military picture identification is also acceptable.
If you do not have this identification,
Supplemental Identification described here.
D
DS-11 Application for a New Passport
Click on the link at the bottom of this section ("Section C") to create your DS-11 Application for U.S. Passport. You will be asked to enter your personal information. After entering your personal data, click on "Create Form" which will create your completed DS-11 Application for U.S. Passport application.
US Passport applicants may electronically submit their personal information and then print the completed form. This system generates a 2D bar code (required for all applications submitted by hand carry, the submission method used by A Briggs) on the printed form. This 2D barcode enables the information to be reproduced electronically. All information is captured on a secure U.S. Department of State server and is deleted once the form is printed. Please note the US Passport Office will not accept hand carry applications without the 2D barcode.
Print two copies of the completed DS-11 form. Do not sign the DS-11 until you are instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent. Give one DS-11 to the Acceptance Agent to be placed inside the sealed envelope. The second DS-11 is to be placed inside the shipping envelope to A Briggs.
Application for U.S. Passport DS-11 here.
(The State Department web site does not support the Safari, Opera or Chrome web browsers for passport form completion; Internet Explorer and Firefox should work fine, however.)
E
DS-64 Application
Complete the DS-64 Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport Form.
The following questions,
“How was passport lost or stolen” and
“What efforts have you made to recover the passport,”
should be answered in detail.
DS-64 Statement Regarding Lost of Stolen Passport Form here.
F
Passport Photos
You will be required to submit two (2) identical passport photographs. Photographs must be taken by a passport photographer. Homemade photos are not acceptable and most often cause a delay in passport issuance.
We can prepare passport photographs for you at select A Briggs office locations nationwide. Review our Passport Photo Locations to see if there is one located near you.
G
Proof of Departure
Submit a copy of your computer-generated itinerary or your ticket from an airline, travel agency, or online booking agency showing your departure from the U.S. FAX or photocopies are acceptable. Please include one copy inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside of the sealed envelope.
If you are unable to provide an itinerary please provide a letter from your company on letterhead. This letter should explain details of the trip and needs to be signed by someone other than the applicant. Please include one copy inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside of the sealed envelope.
If you are unable to provide a trip itinerary or company letter, we can still assist you without one however it will take a minimum of 11 business days to process your request.
H
Government Fees
Two checks or money orders, one payable to U.S. Department of State for $170.00 (or $140 for Children under 16) and the second for $25 payable to the courthouse or post office (the acceptance agent fee).
Please include your date of birth on the memo line of the check. Starter checks for new bank accounts are not acceptable.
I
Letter of Authorization
Submit a Letter of Authorization giving A Briggs the authority to submit your application and pick up your passport when issued. Provide two originally-signed Letters of Authorization - One copy should be inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside the sealed envelope.
NOTE: Each copy MUST contain your original signature preferably in Blue Ink. Fax or photo copies of your signature are NOT acceptable - both letters must contain original signatures.
Online Order Form and Payment
You must complete the Online Order Form.
The order form gives us your name, address, shipping information and payment method. Multiple applicants can be entered using one order form. Please print two copies of the confirmation page. Include one copy with the documents you ship to us and keep one copy for your records.
While completing the online order form in this step, you will be asked how you want to pay A Briggs. You may pay our fees online with a credit card or enclose a personal or business check or money order.
Shipping Address
Processing Department
A Briggs of Houston
3801 Kirby Drive, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77098
1-800-806-0581
Carrier Specific Shipping Notes
Federal Express

On the FedEx air bill, check the box in 4a "FedEx Priority Overnight".
Do NOT ship "First Overnight" unless instructed otherwise by an A Briggs agent; this will delay the delivery of your package.
UPS
The UPS Shipping Document must indicate "UPS Next Day Air". Any other type of UPS service is NOT acceptable.
USPS

For shipments via USPS Express Mail or other shipping providers, please follow the instructions carefully when completing the air bill.
Note: Additional shipping costs must be charged to a credit card for each package shipped to an international destination and the following locations: Alaska, Hawaii, and all U.S. Territories.
Saturday Delivery is an additional $14 when available to US destinations.
Failure to follow these instructions may cause a delay in processing, and could also result in additional charges on your order for shipping, such as: before 8:00am delivery, Saturday Delivery, etc. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us toll free at 1-800-806-0581.

