How to Replace Stolen Documents (Wallet, Passport, Social Security Card)
A stolen wallet or bag in the US often takes your passport, Social Security card, license, and immigration papers all at once. Replacing them has a strict order — some documents are required to get others. Follow this sequence and you will rebuild the full set without dead ends.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official US sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 9 steps
- Before You Go 2 hours
File a police report and freeze your credit — today
The police report is the multiplier for everything that follows: it waives some fees, speeds up replacements, and is required for some stolen-document forms. Then contact the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for a free credit freeze — the strongest identity-theft protection. Call your bank and card issuers to cancel stolen cards and report a stolen Social Security number to the IRSInternal Revenue Service — The US federal tax agency. It collects federal income taxes, issues refunds, and administers ITINs.Click for official info ↗ and FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
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- Before You Go 30 min
Order your foundation document: the birth certificate
If your birth certificate was stolen or lost, it is a prerequisite for other replacements. Order from the vital records office of the state where you were born, usually $15–30. If you were born abroad, order from the State Department ( Consular Report of Birth Abroad) or your country's consulate. Expedited shipping is worth it — you will be asked for this copy repeatedly.
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- Submit & Pay 6–11 weeks
Replace your passport
Report it lost/stolen FIRST at travel.state.gov or 877-487-2778 — this invalidates it instantly and protects you from misuse. In the US, apply in person with Form DS-11US Passport Application — The form for first-time passports, minors, and anyone not eligible to renew by mail. Filed in person.Click for official info ↗ (lost/stolen requires in-person; you cannot renew by mail with DS-82US Passport Renewal Application — The form for renewing a passport by mail. Only for adults whose current passport is undamaged and issued within the last 15 years.Click for official info ↗), your photo, citizenship evidence, ID, and a statement describing the loss. Fee: $130 book + $35 execution. Stolen with the police report attached, the State Department processes it like a routine renewal.
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- Submit & Pay 2–4 weeks
Replace your Social Security card
Complete the SSASocial Security Administration — The agency that issues Social Security numbers/cards and pays retirement, disability (SSDI), and SSI benefits.Click for official info ↗ application (SS-5) and bring proof of citizenship or immigration status plus proof of identity to a Social Security office — appointments beat walk-ins. The card is free, and you can get up to 3 replacement cards per year (10 per lifetime). Your number never changes, so the card is mostly needed for hiring paperwork; take the receipt SSASocial Security Administration — The agency that issues Social Security numbers/cards and pays retirement, disability (SSDI), and SSI benefits.Click for official info ↗ gives you as temporary proof while the card comes in 2–4 weeks.
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- Submit & Pay 1–3 weeks
Replace your driver's license or state ID
Visit your state DMVDepartment of Motor Vehicles — Your state agency for driver's licenses, state IDs, and vehicle registration. Some states call it the BMV, DPS, MVD, or DDS.Click for official info ↗ with your police report, birth certificate or passport, and 2 proofs of residency. Most states issue a temporary paper license on the spot and mail the real card in 1–3 weeks. Report the old license as canceled/lost so it cannot be used for fraud. A REAL IDREAL ID-compliant license — A state driver's license or ID that meets federal security standards — required for domestic flights and federal buildings.Click for official info ↗ replacement requires the full document set again.
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- Submit & Pay 5–12 months (green card)
Immigrants: replace your green card, EAD, or visa documents
Green card: file Form I-90Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card — The form used to renew or replace a green card.Click for official info ↗ ($415 online or $465 paper, fee waived if the card was issued with errors). Lost/stolen EADEmployment Authorization Document — The "work permit" card (Form I-766) that shows you are allowed to work in the US while waiting for a green card.Click for official info ↗ (work permit): file Form I-765Application for Employment Authorization — The form used to request a work permit (EAD).Click for official info ↗ again with a cover letter referencing the theft — replacement is often fee-exempt when tied to a pending case or the fee is $470 online / $520 paper. Stolen or lost visa foil or I-94Arrival/Departure Record — The electronic record of your legal entry — your admission class and the date your authorized stay expires.Click for official info ↗: you do not replace the visa inside the US; instead apply for a new one at a consulate abroad or retrieve your I-94Arrival/Departure Record — The electronic record of your legal entry — your admission class and the date your authorized stay expires.Click for official info ↗ record online at the CBPUS Customs and Border Protection — The agency that inspects you when you enter the US at an airport or land border crossing.Click for official info ↗ website. Always carry the police report with you until replacements arrive.
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- Wait Ongoing
Track each replacement separately
Passport: State Department online status checker. Social Security card: your local SSASocial Security Administration — The agency that issues Social Security numbers/cards and pays retirement, disability (SSDI), and SSI benefits.Click for official info ↗ office or 800-772-1213. License: state DMVDepartment of Motor Vehicles — Your state agency for driver's licenses, state IDs, and vehicle registration. Some states call it the BMV, DPS, MVD, or DDS.Click for official info ↗ tracking. Green card/EADEmployment Authorization Document — The "work permit" card (Form I-766) that shows you are allowed to work in the US while waiting for a green card.Click for official info ↗: USCISUS Citizenship and Immigration Services — The federal agency that processes green cards, work permits, naturalization, and most immigration benefits. Part of the Department of Homeland Security.Click for official info ↗ case status online with your receipt number. Expect a 2-week "not found" window on all of them. Save every receipt number in one place — they are your proof of pending status.
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- Receive 30 min
Verify each new document the day it arrives
Check name spelling, date of birth, and expiration dates immediately — errors are much easier to fix in the first 30 days. Sign new cards, make copies of everything, and store the originals somewhere safer than a wallet: a home safe or bank deposit box. Carry only what you need daily and leave the Social Security card at home permanently.
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- Follow Up Ongoing
Audit your accounts for the next year
Keep the credit freeze on (thaw temporarily when applying for credit) and pull your free annual credit reports from all three bureaus. Watch for tax-refund theft (a stolen SSNSocial Security Number — A 9-digit number issued by the Social Security Administration. It is the main US identity number for work, taxes, and credit.Click for official info ↗ can trigger a fraudulent return) — if the IRSInternal Revenue Service — The US federal tax agency. It collects federal income taxes, issues refunds, and administers ITINs.Click for official info ↗ rejects your e-file as a duplicate, you are a victim and should file Form 14039. Immigrants should also watch their USCISUS Citizenship and Immigration Services — The federal agency that processes green cards, work permits, naturalization, and most immigration benefits. Part of the Department of Homeland Security.Click for official info ↗ myHistory page for unexpected filings in their name.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which document should I replace first?
File the police report and credit freeze first (same day), then the birth certificate if it is gone — it unlocks the passport and license. The passport and Social Security card can run in parallel. The license is often fastest and gives you photo ID for everything else.
Will a stolen green card put me out of status?
No — your status does not expire with the card, only your proof of it. File the I-90Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card — The form used to renew or replace a green card.Click for official info ↗ right away and keep the receipt notice (I-797) as temporary evidence; it is valid proof for work and travel purposes while you wait. Never travel abroad without the card or an I-551 stamp in your passport.
Someone is using my stolen Social Security number. What do I do?
Report it at IdentityTheft.gov to generate a recovery plan, notify the IRSInternal Revenue Service — The US federal tax agency. It collects federal income taxes, issues refunds, and administers ITINs.Click for official info ↗ (Form 14039 if tax fraud is involved), and file a police report. The SSASocial Security Administration — The agency that issues Social Security numbers/cards and pays retirement, disability (SSDI), and SSI benefits.Click for official info ↗ itself cannot issue you a new number except in extreme cases — but a credit freeze blocks most new-account fraud with the stolen number.
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