jirish82

Hi All,

Looks like I've lost my British passport with an L1 visa in it

In the US at the moment and need to know if I'd be able to get back in the country if I go home for Xmas. Looking at the site it seems to say I wouldn't have to replace the visa if I'm eligible to travel on the Visa Waiver program,(Non-immigrant visa paragraph):

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...passports.html

Can anyone confirm that?

Also, if I report the Visa as lost, will that mean I actually have to leave the country?

Any help would be much appreciated, tried calling the US embassy in London but I don't have a credit card to pay the $16 fee

meauxna

Take a deep breath.

I don't think that you are eligible to return visa free per what you quoted; you can't be re-admitted in L-1 status without a visa. If you return on the VWP, you can't go back to work.

But reporting the passport (and visa) stolen doesn't mean that you have to leave the country.. you haven't lost your *status*, just your documentation.

jirish82

Arg, wishing I had gotten some other form of ID to take with me on nights out now.

I take it that if I came back on VWP instead I would also then have to leave within 90 days, correct?

So the only way to do this would be to go back to the embassy in London and go through the whole process again? Or is it less involved to get a replacement?

Thanks

meauxna

I believe it's less hassle to get it replaced but please wait for some more answers; I don't know for certain how you do this.
I do recall it being posted about before. You can do some searches while you're waiting.

It'll be solved, don't panic.

Yes, if you come back on the VWP, it's as a visitor. You can't work and you are only admitted for 90 days.

tokolosheman

I might be able to help you out here, I did exactly the same thing this time last year.

First off report your passport missing to the Police, British Embassy.

Did you have a photocopy of your visa/i94? if so inform US embassy (with all the correct references etc) in London (i'm guessing this is where it was issued) that it is lost and they will cancel it.

Apply for new passport.

Get an appointment at the US embassy in London (if you can time it for when you are home great) for new visa issuance - you can only do this once you receive your new passport I think.

It's a hassle, but honestly if you are already going home it's no big deal. I was home in Manchester got a train down early morning and was back in Manchester by 4pm. Don't worry.

I got my passport back the next day - they were super quick last christmas.

jirish82

Did they want to see all your company/job info again or were they happy to just replace it without too many questions? Reason I ask is they took some convincing first time round, didn't think my skills were specialist enough.

Not sure I want to risk them saying no this time just to spend a few weeks home over Xmas

tokolosheman

I would guess that the convincing took place on your petition not on your visa issuance. Just take your approval notice etc and you should be fine. I doubt there would be much trouble.

jirish82

Looks like I'll have to have a think about whether its worth the hassle/expense.

Thanks for your help guys

tokolosheman

My guess is you're gonna have to do it sooner or later, so why not when u are planning to go home.

Also you HAVE to report them missing if not just purely for identity theft reasons!

jirish82

Yeah, now that I know they aren't gonna ask me to leave the country I'll get them canceled soon as.

May not need to get them reissued, can stay until May 2011 as is and my company may decide they don't need me to be here beyond then anyway.

I'll see what happens.

Thanks again

meauxna

If you decide to just stay put, you will still want to get a new I-94 to show that's how long you were admitted for; you can do this through the mail in the US.
But, you will not have a travel document (visa), so you'll be what's known as 'land locked'.