What happens if a U.S. visa is lost or stolen?
Oh no! Your U.S. visitor visa or your valid passport with a 10-year U.S. visitor visa attached is lost or stolen. Now what do you do?
1. Go to the police station in the city or town where your documents were lost or stolen and file a police report. The police may want to see copies of the original documents. You will receive a police report detailing the incident. Make a photocopy of the report for your personal records and keep in a safe and separate place.
2. Contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country that issued your passport and report it lost or stolen. Most countries have websites with contact information. Here are two websites that list all embassies and consulates around the world: www.embassyworld.com and www.embassiesabroad.com.
3. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to report your lost or stolen visa. If it is difficult to reach a live operator, send a fax or e-mail. Go to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website to locate the fax number and contact information. Be sure to include your: full name, date of birth, place of birth, address, U.S. address (if you have one), e-mail address, whether the visa was lost or stolen (include the police report), photocopy of your passport picture page and visa (if you have them) or passport number and visa type/category (if you don’t have photocopies).
4. Apply for a new visa in person at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Lost or stolen U.S. visas cannot be replaced in the United States. When applying for the replacement of a visa, you will need to provide a written account documenting the loss of your passport and visa. Include a copy of the police report.
NOTE: If you have already reported your lost or stolen visa to a U.S. Embassy abroad, and then later find your misplaced visa, your visa(s) will be invalid for future travel to the United States. You will need to apply for a new one (see #4 above).
IMPORTANT:
It should go without saying that you should keep a photocopy of all important documents in a separate, safe place. Make photocopies of at least the photograph and signature page of your passport, as well as the front and back of I-94s (Re-Entry Permit) and any visas. It is also suggested that you photocopy each and every page (including blank pages) of passports and visas to show entry stamps. (Make new photocopies of the edited pages every time you get a new stamp.)
Keep these photocopies in a safe place (your immigration attorney’s office, filing cabinet at home, safety deposit box at a bank, electronic copies such as pdfs or jpgs on a computer and/or online server) and separate from your originals. Do not carry your passport and visa with you if you do not have to such as running errands, shopping, siteseeing, going to the beach or pool. Use common sense!
Information gathered from U.S. Department of State
