When traveling abroad in a foreign country, even the simplest tasks can be more complicated. When there is a language barrier, things become even more difficult. You can imagine how a normally difficult task in your home country, such as lost passports replacement, can be a stressful thing to deal with while traveling. In order to make the process run as smoothly as possible, it is best to be prepared ahead of time.
Most people would never leave on a vacation without first packing their bags, making reservations at a hostel or hotel and saving up a little bit of spending money. So why would you leave on vacation without taking all the necessary precautions to deal with a lost passport? A little bit of planning can help tremendously in a complicated situation like applying for a replacement Emergency American Passport in a foreign country.
Before leaving your home country, you should make copies of everything. You should pack your passport, credit cards and ID in a different bag than the copies you made. If your backpack with all of your important documents gets stolen, you will still have the copies to prove to the embassy that you are who you claim to be.
Another thing you should do before leaving on your trip is set money aside for such a situation. Many people have an emergency fund in case of a medical accident or stolen travelers checks. Prepare for a situation where your passport and credit cards are lost or stolen by talking with a friend about the possibility of them lending you money to replace the passport.
If you are already traveling and you notice your passport missing, you should immediately call local authorities to report it. If it was stolen they can begin searching for the person who stole it. Often times you cannot get a new passport until you have officially reported your original one missing.
If you have computer access, you should log onto the American embassy’s website and download a DS-11 form. Fill out the form and bring it with you to the embassy. This form, along with identification and a fee will allow you to get a new passport. Original identification cards such as a driver’s license will work best, but if you only have photocopied versions, bring those.
You will be required to pay a fee for the passport. Without paying this fee you cannot receive the document. If your money was stolen or lost with the passport, you should contact family and friends to see if they can wire you money.
Losing your passport should not mean that you have to miss or delay flights. Furthermore, lost passport replacement can be a speedy process if you are adequately prepared ahead of time to deal with the situation. Expedite the process with Emergency Pass Port services. This way, you’ll get a temporary passport in time to make it onto your flight.
