Rush Passport – Passport Blog

US Passport security is in question after an undercover passport sting operation launched by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) exposed loopholes in the passport system.  The GAO applied for 7 passports using a counterfeit birth certificate, two different addresses, someone else’s passport photo, an invalid Social Security number, and the name of someone who is already deceased.  The passport sting operation resulted in the issuance of 3 out of the 7 passports were applied for.

The GAO applied for the 7 passports at different passport agencies across the country.  Initially 5 passports were issued, but 2 of the passports were caught and recovered by the Passport Office after being mailed out.  The other 2 passports were denied.

The US State Department issues 13 million passports each year.  Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat out of Maryland expressed concern over this passport security lapse in the following statement, “The integrity and security of the passport issuance process is extremely important because it can have a profound impact on the national security of the United States.”  John Kyl, a Republican Senator from Arizona, also voiced his concerns regarding passport security “We tend to forget what happened (on 9/11) and why it was that people could operate freely in this country– because they had obtained fraudulent documents.”

A similar passport sting operation was conducted 2 years ago, in which the GAO was able to obtain four out of seven genuine passports using false information. The State Department stated that it continues to make improvements in passport security and that passport staff receives fraud training and is provided with an improved method of sharing information with law enforcement and the Social Security Administration.

A spokesperson for the US Department of State for Passport Services acknowledged that even one passport issued in error is problematic, however also stated that this passport sting operation will be used to make improvements to the passport services system.  The passport sting operation was uncovered when passport officials used facial recognition technology to discover that an identical passport photo had been used on multiple passport applications.  The passport photo was that of a GAO investigator.

In an effort to beef up passport security, Senator Cardin has introduced a bill that would arm certain passport officials with the power to access criminal records databases. Also included in the bill is a push to increase the use of biometrics in the passport application process.

If you have valid documents and you are interested in getting a genuine US Passport or US Passport Card, visit us at http://www.rushpassport.com or call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a Live Passport Agent.  (877) 937-7277 (All 50 States) or (212) 643-9305 New York Passport Agency.