LeavingLondon

Hi. Please help. Somehow I've managed to lose mine and my hubby's passports with our visas in. How bad is this? How long will it take to get new ones? Am sure I showed them as ID to gain membership to the Children's Museum on Sunday but they can't find them. Feeling really sick at the thought of having lost them.

Speedwell

LL, this seems to be the appropriate page for replacement of a US visa lost overseas: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_2009.html You will need a police report for the lost/presumed stolen visa.

As for quick replacement of a UK passport, I'm hoping someone else will know.

hungryhorace

Firstly, don't worry. You're not the first to lose a passport, and you won't be the last.

Secondly, you must report them as lost immediately. Please see: https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport for details.

Thirdly, go to http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_2009.html which details how to let the US Embassy that issued your visa know you have lost it.

Fourthly, and probably the most painful part, you will need to reschedule an appointment at your nearest US Embassy (that is NOT in the United States) to have a replacement visa issued.

This means a new DS-160, more visa fees and a plane ticket to a nearby country (Canada?) to appear at the Consulate to ask for your visa to be approved again.

Frankly, the fourth part is the nightmare bit and I hope I never have to go through it.

Good luck!

Pulaski

As opposed to? ..... Doesn't the federal government maintain an embassy in every state capital?

hungryhorace

I was just making clear that the OP will need to travel outside the US to have their visa issued again.

Bootle

If you wanted to be 100% correct it should be an Embassy or Consulate of the United States that will process the visa type and for non-residents.

Pulaski

Based on a discussion I read, but did not participate in, within the past 4-5 days on the subject of embassies and consulates and the conclusion was that it is always a consulate that processes visas, and that some, but not all consulates are located within embassies. ..... Which in any case is incidental to the point I was making, which is that ALL embassies/ consulates are necessarily outside the US and it is therefore redundant to say say, and looks slightly odd if you leave a suggestion that there might be US embassies within the US.

N1cky

However, you don't need to do step 4 until you want to re-enter the USA. You don't need the visa in your passport, while you remain in the USA. So unless you have plans for an international vacation, or need to travel on business, you can hold off on this part.

LeavingLondon

Thank you everyone who responded. The Museum (after 3 panicked calls from me) have found them! What a horrid and stressful day (and we've now missed our written driving exam twice - last time we didn't have printed i-94s, this time due to no passports - third time's the charm... I hope!)

Have a great day - i need a few

kodokan

Phew, that's a relief! Don't worry - it gets easier after the first few months, once all these tedious admin things are sorted.

N1cky

Phew! What a relief

Good luck on the driving tests

LeavingLondon

Thank you! Am so relieved. I shall take the kids for a swim to celebrate (before drinking my wine!)

agentred

Careful, don't get the passports wet!