Losing your passport and US visa could be a nerve racking experience. In this video, you will learn the 5 best tips you can follow if your passport, US visa, and arrival/departure records are lost or stolen while you’re present in the United States.
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Learn how to obtain a US State driver’s license:
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Learn how to apply for a US State Driver’s License as an international:
Follow these 5 steps if you’re the victim of a lost or stolen international passport or US visa:
#1. Contact a lost and found desk and/or file a police report
In the event that you lost your passport or US visa in a location with a security department or a receptionist, you should first ask someone in this department about your lost passport or US visa. If they can’t find your passport or US visa, then you should file a police report, stating that your US visa or passport was lost or stolen.
#2. Replace your passport with your home countries embassy or consulate in the US
Different countries have different procedures for passport replacements. Consult your home-countries embassy for the best guidance.
#3. Understand that you can remain in the US with a lost or stolen US visa
Your duration of stay in the US does not depend on the possession or the expiration of your US visa but on your authorized period of stay based on your current US immigration status.
You may find your electronic form I94 containing the period of authorized stay on the US customs and border patrol website:
*Note that the information found on your electronic form I94 is based on the information collected upon arriving or departing the US and may not reflect the current conditions of your immigration status if changes are made after entering the US. For example, someone who enters the US on a B2 tourist visa and changes to an F1 student visa while in the US, may still have an electronic I94 showing the previous B2 Tourist Visa/Status information.
#4. Replace your US visa by re-applying abroad
US visas can only be issued outside of the US by the US Department of State. Thus, if you ever depart the US, you will need to obtain a new US visa to re-enter the US.
Applying for a replacement US visa is similar to applying for a new US visa. It’s recommended to bring a copy of the police report you filed during your US visa interview.
#5. Obtain a state driver’s license or State Identification Card
To reduce the risk of losing your passport or US visa, you should get a state driver’s license or state ID and avoid using your passport as your primary form of identification while in the US.
— Resources —
Apply for a replacement US Visa:
Replace your lost or stolen paper I-94:
Obtain your electronic Form I-94 here:
DISCLAIMER: This video and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. I am not a licensed attorney and so the information presented in this video should not be construed to be formal legal advice. If you need legal advice, you may contact a licensed attorney.
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