A passport is one of the most important travel documents that should never be left behind when on a trip. As such, I once read a post about a travel blogger that goes by Glass Dawg mention that losing it can be a nightmare. However, it is a common occurrence that most travelers experience every once in a while. In case you lose your passport while travelling, it does not mean you will be stuck there for the rest of your life. Below are guidelines on how to proceed if you lose passport during a trip.
File a Police Report
The police in the area where you have lost your passport are your best chance of staying safe before the issue is resolved. Although most people do not usually consider it necessary, reporting the matter to the police can help you in many ways. The police can assist with getting the passport back or making sure that you are not harassed by the authorities for lack of the important document.
Get In Touch With the US Embassy or Consulate
After notifying the authorities about the loss of your passport, find or contact the nearest United States consulate or embassy. If you are good with the police, they can even help you get in touch with the embassy or consulate so the issue is resolved quickly. As you contact the embassy officers, be sure to tell them if the loss of the passport was related to a crime.
Besides, you should also tell them when you are expecting to leave the destination of your travel. This will enable them decide whether to get you an emergency passport for a limited period of time or a full validity passport.
After contacting the US embassy or consulate, you will be directed on the next course of action to pursue. Generally, you will be required to take a passport photo, fill out an application form for a new passport, pay a passport fee of US $140 and wait. It usually takes about four to six week for the US embassy or consulate to renew passport.
However, the wait can be reduced if you lost your passport as a result of a serious crime. You can be issued an emergency passport to fly back to the US within 24 hours.
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