Passport + Visa Package might be lost in the post

[Vengatore 53]

Dear all,

I am posting this as a preventive measure...

My K1 Visa was granted to me by the US Consulate in Frankfurt (Germany) and mailed to me in July, 8. As I am not in Germany at the moment, the package + passport were received by a friend and sent to me by certified mail from Frankfurt to Madrid on July 11... it didn't arrive yet.

It should be fine and it might only be a jam at the Spanish International Package Center due to the lack of personnel in summer, but I want to prepare myself for the worst case scenario if the package is really lost and won't be recovered.

My departure date is September 9 but it can be delayed, I just want to know the steps I need to make to get a new visa sealed package and get a new K1 visa stamped in my passport.

If someone knows or has passed through this before and can share their experience in this thread I will be eternally grateful.

Thanks a lot!

[lost_at_sea 995]

You'd have to first order and receive a replacement passport.

Then you'd have to contact the embassy in Frankfurt to see if they will reissue your visa - they would provide information on what they would like for that - probably courier your passport to them and back again.

The issue is, of course, that that sealed package contained all of your application documents for your petition and visa - they give it back to you sealed so you can essentially courier it back to the USA for them for their records. Without those documents, they may be unable to reissue your visa and you could be forced to re-obtain all the documents you submitted (any certificates, medical, etc) or even reapply.

You'll have to speak with the embassy, either way.

If you do believe your passport and visa are lost, you should also report that to the embassy immediately. I'm not sure for Germany, but some countries also want you to report lost / stolen passports to the authorities.

Does the certified mail used mean that it has to be signed for on receipt or that you have a tracking number for it?

Edited July 26, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[Vengatore 53]

Hello lost_at_sea!

First of all, thank you very much for your post, I really appreciate it

You'd have to first order and receive a replacement passport.

Ok, I have already reserved a date to get a new passport in Spain in late august in case the shipment doesn't arrive (I am Spanish even though I've been living in Germany for the last 5 years).

The issue is, of course, that that sealed package contained all of your application documents for your petition and visa - they give it back to you sealed so you can essentially courier it back to the USA for them for their records. Without those documents, they may be unable to reissue your visa and you could be forced to re-obtain all the documents you submitted (any certificates, medical, etc) or even reapply.

I am pretty sure that my fiancee made a copy of everything she sent, I actually asked her to do so

If you do believe your passport and visa are lost, you should also report that to the embassy immediately. I'm not sure for Germany, but some countries also want you to report lost / stolen passports to the authorities.

As soon as I decide that the letter is definitely lost, I will go to the police station in my neighborhood to report it, thanks for the tip (I have decided that I am going to stay in Spain until this whole thing is clarified).

Does the certified mail used mean that it has to be signed for on receipt or that you have a tracking number for it?

Yes for both! actually there is already an inquiry open at the German Post Office, but they said it can take up to 8 weeks... (the track disappears as soon as the letter arrives to Spain).

Edited July 26, 2016 by Vengatore

[Vengatore 53]

The package is finally at home!!

Edited July 28, 2016 by Vengatore

[AmandaBN 32]

Thanks for the update, I'm glad everything worked out!

[Vengatore 53]

Thanks for the update, I'm glad everything worked out!

Thanks Amanda!!

[TBoneTX 43,048]

What a relief for you!

*** Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the K-1 Case Progress subforum. ***