Lost Indian Passport in USA? Here’s What to Do
Have you lost your Indian passport in the USA? Losing your passport or any other important document in a foreign land can invite a lot of stress, if not trouble. And, applying for a new passport may seem like a daunting task. However, you can get a new passport or an Emergency Certificate by following some simple steps.
File a Complaint
The first thing you must do as soon as you realize that you have lost your passport is to visit the nearest police station and file a complaint about your lost passport. You will be issued a copy of the police report, which will act as proof of loss of passport or any other important documents. This report will help you in the application process for a new passport with the Indian embassy.
If you’re traveling this year, I recommend getting a travel insurance plan, so you can avoid expenses during an unfortunate event. I suggest Atlas America.
Get in Touch with the Indian Embassy
The next important thing you need to do is to contact the nearest Indian Embassy and inform them about the loss of your passport. They will help explain the entire process of applying for a new passport and guide you through the process. You can check the contact details of the Indian Embassy in different countries on the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs. This will help you find the contact number and address of the nearest Indian Embassy.
Application Process for a New Passport
Now, you can either choose to apply for a new passport or for an Emergency Certificate. If you are applying for a new passport, you will need documents, such as a copy of the lost passport’s front and back pages, copy of the police report, passport size photographs of the applicant, copy of your air tickets, copy of your US visa and an application stating the reason for immediate request for a new passport. You will get your new passport in about a week or so.
However, if you cannot wait that long to get a new passport, you can apply for an Emergency Certificate, which is a one-time use document that allows an Indian citizen who has lost their passport to return to India. For this, you need to submit Form EAP2, passport size photographs, police report and the copy of your lost passport’s front and back pages.
You also need to apply for a new visa. You can easily get your visa by visiting the Indian embassy and submitting the copies of your lost passport and police report.
Don’t Forget the Insurance
Such emergency situations can be handled with ease when you have travel insurance. Contact your insurer and inform them about the loss of your passport or baggage. To make a claim, you will need to show the police report. So, make sure you keep a copy of the report safe.
While you can’t really save your documents in case of theft or natural calamity, you should always keep backup copies of all important documents with you when you are traveling. You can print out colored photocopies of your passport and also scan and save it digitally on your mobile phone, email or cloud storage. Along with your original passport and visa, make sure you carry copies of these documents too. This will help you get started with the recovery process quickly.
Having lived in 3+ countries, worked for companies small and big in the USA, Middle East & India, I have a lot of experience to share about international travel, immigration and living as an NRI in the US. Add me on WhatsApp if you have any queries (+1-408-489-4785)