That would be a nightmare.
But, don't panic.
Here's what you do...according to U.S. Department of State's website.
1. Find and contact the nearest US embassy.
You can easily find the contact information for the U.S. embassy in country you are visiting by visiting the embassy’s website, then search the country. You'll need to report your lost or stolen passport to the consular. If you were victim of a crime, be sure to tell the consular officer.
2. If you were, indeed, victim of a crime, then also file a police report.
You can easily find the contact information for the U.S. embassy in country you are visiting by visiting the embassy’s website, then search the country. You'll need to report your lost or stolen passport to the consular. If you were victim of a crime, be sure to tell the consular officer.
2. If you were, indeed, victim of a crime, then also file a police report.
Filing a police report isn't required, but it can help to confirm that your passport was stolen.
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3. Take a new passport picture.
Next, find a place where you can have your passport photo taken. Arriving at the embassy with a photo will help to speed up the process of getting a replacement passport.
4. Complete an application for a new passport and a file a statement for your lost or stolen passport.
You’ll have to complete two forms to get your replacement and emergency passport. First, the standard application for a US passport and also a statement regarding a lost or stolen passport. This will ensure that your existing passport will be invalidated, preventing anyone else from being able to use it.
5. Now you’re ready to head to the nearest US embassy or consulate to obtain your new passport.
You'll need a have the following documents with you:
- Second form of identification (i.e. a driver's license)
- Evidence of American citizenship (i.e. a birth certificate)
- Your new passport photo
- Evidence of your travel itinerary (i.e. airplane ticket)
- Your completed application for a passport and statement regarding your lost or stolen passport.
- Passport replacement fee
*NOTE: Unless you've been a victim of a serious crime (like a kidnapping), you will have to pay the standard passport fee.
You did it!
Now, just wait 24 hours for your emergency passport.
You’ll be issued an emergency passport, which will only allow you to get back into the country. You will not be able to use it as a standard passport to enter other countries. It will still take about 4-6 weeks from the passport office to get your replacement passport – though it may be expedited in particular circumstances.
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But before you eve find yourself in this situation, take a photo of your passport – be sure that you can properly read the text and see the photo- and email it to yourself. This can serve as an alternate way to identify yourself when at the U.S. embassy.
Hopefully, you’ll never have to be in this situation. But, if you are, now you know exactly what to do!
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I did not have this experience but my husband did. At the time we were just dating. But he was from another country and he lost his passport. He didn't know what to do. Neither did I for that matter. But all my life I had seen a building in downtown Miami. I never had any reason to go into it. I'm American! It was the Bahamian Embassy. But I figured the folks who worked there probably knew what to do about a lost passport! LOL. Thanks goodness they did! Whew!
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