Question: Can a US citizen born in America be denied a passport if that person lost more than 3 passports. If so, what should he do in order to obtain a passport?

I am planning a travel but now missplaced my passport. Tried to expedite, but they told me I have to wait for clearance, however with no bad intent but I am a very forgetful person. What should I do?

Answer: 
You can't be denied a passport simply because you're forgetful, but you might be denied expedited processing. Somewhere, an officer is wondering what happened to all those passports you lost, and whether they might have been stolen or misused.

The reasons why one might be denied a US passport include:

* [Submitting low quality passport photos](https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/news/picture-perfect-passport.html)
* [Failing to fill out the application completely](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/reasons-passport-would-denied-61703.html)
* [Failing to include payment](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/reasons-passport-would-denied-61703.html)
* [Failing to include legible and valid supporting documents](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/reasons-passport-would-denied-61703.html)
* [Not being a US citizen](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/reasons-denial-us-passports-63314.html)
* [Owing more than $2500 in child support payments](http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/legal-matters/child-support.html)
* [Owing back federal income taxes, in some cases](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/can-still-us-passport-owe-irs-back-taxes-100657.html)
* [Having pending felony criminal charges](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/reasons-denial-us-passports-63314.html)
* [Being on probation or parole for a felony](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/reasons-denial-us-passports-63314.html)

If you had such a circumstance apply to you and your circumstances recently changed, it might not be possible to get expedited processing as the change in circumstances will need to be verified.

Further, if you have a history of lost/stolen passports, and you lose a passport while overseas, [the embassy or consulate may issue a limited validity emergency passport](http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/emergencies/lost-or-stolen-passports-abroad.html) which is only good for one year, rather than a full 10-year validity passport.
While I know we dislike link only answers but do we really want to reproduce the relevant, lengthy sections of the US Code of Federal Regulations here? If not, then [22 CFR 51.60 - Denial and restriction of passports](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/51.60) is the answer. (The main reason I wrote this one is because Michael Hampton's otherwise excellent answer links to the USA Today which I find slightly less trustworthy than the CFR itself.) 

What is notably missing from Michael Hampton's list for someone who tends to lose their passport: 

> 
> The applicant is in default on a loan received from the United States under 22 U.S.C. 2671(b)(2)(B) for the repatriation of the applicant and, where applicable, the applicant's spouse, minor child(ren), and/or other immediate family members, from a foreign country (see 22 U.S.C. 2671(d)); or
> 
> 
> 

So if the embassy loaned you money to get you home because you were destitute then you can't get another passport until you paid back the loan.

Also, if your forgetfulness reaches really badly serious levels and 

> 
> The applicant has been legally declared incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
> 
> 
> 

then you also won't get a passport.