axon 1

My first post here... so hello everyone!

Basically I'm in CA for a few years working on a J1 visa.

A week ago, I was staying at a friend's house and her brother's boyfriend's dog ate my passport. Well chewed two corners of it anyway. Also the I94 card that was in it is rather (no pun intended) dog-eared although you can still read the number and my name on it. On the passport you can still read my details and see the photo. Although the last digit of the number on the inside front page is gone, the passport no. can still be obtained frmo the back page.

I can see why you probably find this amusing, but I'm going on holiday back to Europe in only 3.5 weeks time and I'm scared that they might not let me on my flight :scared: or that they might let me on but tell me that there might be problems letting me back into the US but also .

Can anybody give me some advice (the US consul in San Francisco wasn't very helpful on the telephone). If I get another passport it'll take 2 weeks, but I guess I'd need to get another visa for the new passport. How long will that take? I feel a mild sense of panic coming on.....

ladylisa

I'm no expert but when I renewed my passport recently I had to do it in Washington, as far as I'm aware they are the only place issuing UK passports in the US. Very easy process and only took 10 days. I would call Washington because they are actually very helpfull. As for your visa my understanding is that you should be able to carry both passports at immigration.

fatbrit

Think I'd copy my passport and I94 and travel as is. Explain what happened if they ask. Can't see them either stopping you leaving the US or entering your home country. You can then change your passport at your leisure. Also keep the boarding pass stubs etcetera as proof you left within the allotted time. Bring copies of these with you on any return trip just in case.

If you live in a country that does not return your old passport when renewing, you'll presumably need to book at the local consulate to get a new one. Make sure you copy it before you do it.

scrubbedexpat099

Not quite the same but I fell of my bike when crossing a river in Sri Lanka and mine is a bit stained, had it queried once, and that by UK Immigration, in 5 years. Told them the cause, mumbled something about getting a new one but never have.

So depends on the extent of the damage.

axon 1

Well it actually has a piece each from the top left corner and bottom right corner missing!