Passport vanished!

Fuzzywhale

Maybe two days ago I was unpacking my car from lots of traveling in July and beginning of August, and could not locate my passport. I was meant to fly back to school in Edinburgh tomorrow, but I've realized that's not going to happen. So I've a few questions.

Should I eat the cost of my flight? I called the online service I used and they wanted 1000 pounds to change it

With a lost passport, am I starting from scratch in regards to my student visa? I guess I'm asking what's the most cost effective way to recover? Thanks.


Edit: Sorry I should say I am american. I was just back home this summer to teach a math class.

matt has a problem

Call the actual airline you're flying on, I've never heard of a change/cancel fee that high before. Usually it's the equivalent of 100-150 USD. Call your country's embassy, whichever office is closest to you, and tell them your situation. They can usually rush a replacement/temporary passport within 24-48 hours. At least, that's how it works for US passports. You'll have to go in to prove who you are of course.

Kalkino

I was just looking at the UK Border Agency website - they have a FAQ but it doesn't give timeframes, so you should call them I think

Dman

1000 british pounds? That's ridiculous....can you phone the airline your flying with and talk to them directly?

You should be able to work something out regarding your flight for less than 1000 pounds...you'd be better off just cancelling your flight than paying that.

There are two approaches to finding something.

1. stop panicking, sit down, relax, think about the last time you had your passport in your hand, where did you put it?

2. do a thorough search of everything and everywhere.

Loosing your passport sucks.

If your British passport is lost or stolen abroad

You should report all passport loss or thefts to the local police in the country you are in as soon as possible. You will need the crime reference details they provide for the LS01 form.

You should report the theft or loss to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) embassy, consulate or high commission of the country you are in. You can get details of your local FCO office wherever you are by calling +44 (0)20 7008 1500 (0870 606 0290 within the UK) or by visiting the FCO website.

When you make a report to the FCO office, they will give you a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification form to fill in and sign. You can also download this form if you lose it or need another copy.

The FCO office will record the loss or theft of your passport and forward the information to IPS. IPS will then cancel your passport to reduce the risk of someone else using your identity.

* Find British embassies, consulates and high commissions around the world Opens new window

Help travelling back to the UK

The FCO will issue you with replacement travel documents so you can travel back to the UK.
Getting a replacement passport

You can apply for a replacement passport once you are back in the UK. IPS recommends that you do this as soon as possible. You can apply for a replacement passport as long as you are a British national and in the UK at the time you are applying.

* Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Loststolenordamagedpassports/DG_174162

I don't really know much about the british passport system or if this site is really legit or anything I just did some google-fu

Fuzzywhale

matthasaproblem wrote: »

Call the actual airline you're flying on, I've never heard of a change/cancel fee that high before. Usually it's the equivalent of 100-150 USD. Call your country's embassy, whichever office is closest to you, and tell them your situation. They can usually rush a replacement/temporary passport within 24-48 hours. At least, that's how it works for US passports. You'll have to go in to prove who you are of course.

Do all the regional passport offices issue speed passports? I am In Rochester, NY so regardless I've got another roadtrip ahead of me.

The British Man I spoke with suggested I call my airline, Delta, directly so perhaps that will be more fruitful.

Also I edited the OP as I am american.

matt has a problem

Ooh... you're in a little more difficult of a situation then. You're going to have to report yours as lost, and basically get a new one, and rush processed. Temporary and emergency passports are for people abroad so they can get home, but since you're going abroad they won't consider it an urgent issue.

EskimoDave

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/scotland/lost.html

Consulate General, Edinburgh
Lost or Stolen Passports

If your passport is lost or stolen, you are advised to report it to the local police in the area in which it occurred. In order to replace the passport, you must appear in person at the Edinburgh Consulate or the London Embassy. You should submit your application for a replacement passport as soon as possible after the loss or theft is discovered.
Application Requirements

In addition to the items on our main passport webpage, please bring the following with you when you appear at the Consulate to replace your passport:

* Passport application form DS-11: Applicants aged 16 and over must sign their own application. Please ignore pages one and two of the instruction pages, as they do not apply when applying for your passport in the United Kingdom. Form DS-11 must be printed on separate sheets of paper. Do not print this form on front and back of the same sheet; it will not scan properly and you will have to complete a new form at the Consulate. Do not sign the application; you must sign in front of the consular representative.

* Form DS-64:Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport.

* Proof of U.S. citizenship:
o a U.S. Birth Certificate; or
o a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad; or
o a U.S. Certification of Birth; or
o a U.S. Certificate of Citizenship; or
o a U.S. Naturalization Certificate; or
o a passport of your U.S. citizen parent(s) in which you are included

* Proof of identity:
o a valid passport of any country; or
o a valid driver's license with photograph; or
o a national identity card with photograph; or
o a valid U.S. or State government ID card; or
o a U.S. military ID card
o If you do not have any personal identification it will be necessary for you to be accompanied by a family member (mother/father/brother/sister) with a valid passport, preferably U.S., who will be required to make a sworn statement identifying you. This family member must be over the age of 18.

* If born outside the U.S., your original long-form birth certificate.

* Any foreign passport that you may currently hold, have held, or been included in.

* Name change documentation: If you have changed your name, you may apply to have this change reflected in your passport. For instructions, click here.

Additional documentation may be required depending upon the circumstances of your case.
Checklist of Required Documents For Lost or Stolen Passports:

* Completed form DS-11
* Completed DS-64 Statement of Lost or Stolen Passport
* Two U.S. passport photos
* Royal Mail Special Delivery pre-paid envelope addressed to yourself
* Credit/debit card or international money order for payment
* Photographic identification
* Proof of US citizenship

* For under 16s: Both Parents and child
* Both Parents' IDs
* Long form birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad
* If one parent cannot appear - DS-3053 Notarized Statement of Consent
* If one parent is deceased, original death certificate
* If one parent has sole custody, original court order

Kalkino

and as I said before, contact the UKBA (Home Office) asap - they are the people who generally deal with visas in the UK and who most likely are going to have to reissue your visa, unless your visa is dealt with some other agency.

Fuzzywhale

Looks like this won't be the end of the world. Studentuniverse has decently priced one way tickets. I've emailed my university and will place some phonecalls this monday. One last thing: Are these expedited passport services scams? It seems like I can make an appointment to appear in person at a regional agency If i need it in four weeks for a visa, but the cost for me to get to any of these places would be the same as the "two week package" that these services offer.

Talka

Try calling your local congressman's office. No joke. Hard to believe, but they love bending over backwards to help with things like these.

Cauld

Just go to your passport service center. Make an appointment first. My passport was lost in the mail once and you can get one at the service center same day. I had to go to Chicago for mine, but they've since opened up an office in Saint Paul.

You go in, fill out some forms, bring passport photos and they'll print one up for you. You come back about 4 hours later to pick it up. Getting a replacement visa sounds like it will be more difficult.

edit: Use this website http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_4312.html make an appointment, bring all the documents you'll need and a copy of your itinerary so they know its rather urgent and you'll be fine.

Fuzzywhale

Cauld wrote: »

Just go to your passport service center. Make an appointment first. My passport was lost in the mail once and you can get one at the service center same day. I had to go to Chicago for mine, but they've since opened up an office in Saint Paul.

You go in, fill out some forms, bring passport photos and they'll print one up for you. You come back about 4 hours later to pick it up. Getting a replacement visa sounds like it will be more difficult.

edit: Use this website http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_4312.html make an appointment, bring all the documents you'll need and a copy of your itinerary so they know its rather urgent and you'll be fine.

this is great I'm going to do this right now. Thanks!