I had a passport back in 1980. I recently picked up an application for a new one at our local post office. It asked if I ever had one before and wants either the number of the old one or for me to declare it lost. I had mine for a long time but I just can't find it. Will that be considered a black mark and keep me from getting a new one?

It will not be a problem.

If you can't remember the number, just write "Unknown" in the box. Write in the approximate date of issuance in the box calling for that.

Also, you must indicate that the passport was lost by checking that box. Then you should also check the box on the same line marked "Other" and write "Expired" in the blank space after the box.

If you lose a still valid passport, or if someone steals it from you, then you must report it immediately.

But people lose their old, expired passports all the time and there is no need to report them as lost, nor is there any "black mark" attached to it.

Given the question posed, it seems appropriate to post this letter that I recently got from a friend regarding the U.S. Passport Office.


Dear Sir,

I'm in the process of renewing my passport, and still cannot believe this. How is it that Radio Shack has my address and telephone number and knows that I bought a t.v. cable from them back in 1997, and yet, the Federal Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date.

For Christ sakes, do you guys do this by hand? My birth date you have on my social security card, and it is on all the income tax forms I've filed for the past 30 years. It is on my health insurance card, my driver's license, on the last eight goddamn passports I've had, on all those stupid customs declaration forms I've had to fill out before being allowed off the planes over the last 30 years, and all those insufferable census forms that are done at election times.

Would somebody please take note, once and for all, that my mother's name is Maryanne, my father's name is Robert and I'd be absolutely astounded if that ever changed between now and when I die!!!!!! SHIT!

I apologize, I'm really pissed off this morning. Between you and me, I've had enough of this bullshit! You send the application to my house, then you ask me for my fucking address. What is going on? Do you have a gang of Neanderthals working there??? Look at my damn picture.. Do I look like Bin Laden? I don't want to dig up Yasser Arafat, for shit sakes. I just want to go and park my ass on a sandy beach.

And would someone please tell me, why would you give a shit whether I plan on visiting a farm in the next 15 days? If I ever got the urge to do something weird to a chicken or a goat, believe you me, I'd sure as hell not want to tell anyone!

Well, I have to go now, 'cause I have to go to the other end of the city and get another copy of my birth certificate, to the tune of $60. Would it be so complicated to have all the services in the same spot to assist in the issuance of a new passport the same day?? Nooooo, that'd be too damn easy and maybe makes sense.. You'd rather have us running all over the place like chickens with our heads cut off, then find some asshole to confirm that it's really me on the goddamn picture - you know, the one where we're not allowed to smile?! (you morons)

Hey, you know why we can't smile? We're totally pissed off!

Signed - An Irate fucking Citizen.

P.S. Remember what I said above about the picture and getting someone to confirm that it's me? Well, my family has been in this country since 1776 . I have served in the military for something over 30 years and have had security clearances up the yingyang.. However, I have to get someone 'important' to verify who I am - you know, someone like my doctor WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN COMMUNIST FUCKING CHINA !


No, you shouldn't have any problems getting a new passport