The problem is common enough that the passport clerk knew immediately what to do about it. He gave her a Jefferson City telephone number to call to request a new birth certificate acceptable to Uncle Sam. The clerk in Missouri,with whom she spoke also was familiar with the problem and had an established procedure to follow to solve it. At a modest cost, her new federally approved birth certificate arrived within a few days. If she had needed it sooner, it could have been FedExed to her overnight for an additional fee.
Many travel agents keep passport forms on hand and notarize documents as a service to their clients.
A good travel agent also will have relationships with specialists in handling such complicated matters as a business visa admitting a professional traveler to a country that views with a jaundiced eye any foreigner seeking to work within its premises. It offers assistance in issuing new passports for adults and children, passport renewals, replacing lost or stolen passports, and securing visas from countries that require them. The cost depends on what you need, and how quickly. The company's Web site clearly explains the fees for each kind and time category of service, and provides detailed instructions on what to do. If you don't have a proper birth certificate, the Instant Passport Web site provides a link to VitalChek Network, Inc. , which in turn has links to participating vital-statistics agencies all over the country.