Lost or Stolen Documents Abroad

Losing your passport or other important documents is a risk to consider when traveling abroad. Learn some mitigation measures you can take and what to do when you are in that situation.  

Important UTD guidelines for International travel   

• Obtain appropriate travel authorization before departure.   
• Register your trip with On Call International.  
• Call On Call 24/7 at +1 (978) 651-9722 to get travel or emergency assistance while on a UTD authorized activity abroad. Identify yourself as a UT Dallas employee or student.   

Before your Trip 

• Make physical and virtual copies of your passport and store them in accessible and secure place. 
• Save the U.S. or your home country’s embassy location at your destination, and their contact information in an accessible place. 

During your Trip 

If your passport is lost or stolen 

• File a police report as soon as possible and ask for a copy of the report. This document may be necessary for your embassy or consulate. 
• Reach out to the embassy or consulate of your home country. Whether you’ve lost your passport or had it stolen, they will provide guidance on how to replace it. 
• Request guidance on how to replace a visa for the following cases,
  • If your passport had a visa for the country you are currently visiting. 
  • If your passport had a visa that allowed you re-entry to the U.S. 
• You may need to go in-person to the embassy or consulate, and you will typically need to provide:
  1. Your full name, date of birth, and nationality. 
  2. A description of the situation (when and where you lost the documents). 
  3. Any available details about the passport or visa. 
  4. A copy of the police report, if available. 
  5. A copy of your passport, if available. 
  6. A copy of any relevant visa, if available. 

If other official ID documents are lost or stolen 

• If your driver’s license, university identification, or other official identification documents were lost or stolen,
  1. File a police report as soon as possible and ask for a copy of the report. This document may be necessary for replacing your documents. 
  2. Contact the issuing authorities or institutions to report the loss and ask about replacement procedures. 
• If you are a UTD international student and your I-20 or DS-2019 were lost or stolen.
  1. Visit the iComet portal at https://icomet.utdallas.edu and log in using your Net-ID credentials. 
  2. Navigate to F-1 Current Students Section and select “I-20 Reprint” or J-1 Current Student and select “DS-2019 Reprint” 
  3. Complete the “I-20 Reprint/DS-2019 Reprint” Request form. When prompted, select the appropriate reason for the reprint from the available list (e.g., “Stolen,” “Lost,” or any other applicable reason). 
  4. If you encounter any issues while completing the form or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the International Student Services Office (ISSO) for support. You can reach them at ISSOCurrent@utdallas.edu or +1 (972) 883-4189 

If credit or debit cards are lost or stolen. 

• If your credit or debit cards are lost or stolen,
  1. Contact your bank to stop any unauthorized transactions. 
  2. Most banks offer emergency services to issue replacement cards while abroad. 

Steps to Protect Your Identity 

• When documents such as passports, visas, and credit cards are lost or stolen, it is critical to monitor your accounts for potential fraudulent activity. 
• Consider enrolling in an identity theft monitoring service to help protect your personal information. Some banks automatically include this service for account holders, ask your bank if this is already in place. 
• Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card accounts for any unauthorized transactions. If you spot anything suspicious, report it to your bank immediately. 

Sources 

1. USA.gov – Guides you on how to report a lost or stolen passport and apply for a replacement. Provides steps to follow for both domestic and international incidents. 
2. DOS – Offers travel advisories, destination risk information, and consular assistance. Provides answers to frequently asked travel-related questions. 
3. International Risk and Safety website 
4. International Students and Scholars website 

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