Lost Passport and I-94.. URGENT!

[wizkid732]

Hi Sunny,
Just another front. I have had thefts earlier, but the person is interested in the cash only. This might sound lame, but did you check the trash bins, garbage area in the store. There were at least 3 occasions when the perpetrators stole just the money and threw the official documents into the nearest garbage bin (Drivers license and wallet in my case) as they dont want to be caught with the evidence. I would suggest you call/go to the store and follow up for the next few days regularly.These are my two cents, I am sure you must be doing a ton of other things too.

Wishing you all the best.

Originally Posted by sunnymit

Guys, we had something terrible happen to us today... We left my wife's Indian passport and I-94 today at a store by (HUGE) mistake and after we realized this and went back to pick it up the store owner told us that someone already took it from there (sic). We have done a Police complaint and everything but the chances of us getting the documents back are negligible. I am usually a very positive person, an optimist, but this one really breaks my heart. I have just got current (PD 10th Dec 2001) and was happy that I can finally file for my wife's paperwork when this happens to us. I know its my fault for misplacing such important papers but everyone expects a break. I am really heart broken right now. I need guidance from you guys.. what should I do? Here is what I have:

1. Copy of Passport (first 2 pages and the last page with biographic information)
2. Copy of I-94
3. Copy of her H4 Visa

I will get the police report on Tuesday or Wednesday this week and I intend to apply for a new PP as soon as I get the report. Do I need to wait for the new PP before I file for her papers or can I file it with the details above? Guide me...

[sunnymit]

Originally Posted by wizkid732

Hi Sunny,
Just another front. I have had thefts earlier, but the person is interested in the cash only. This might sound lame, but did you check the trash bins, garbage area in the store. There were at least 3 occasions when the perpetrators stole just the money and threw the official documents into the nearest garbage bin (Drivers license and wallet in my case) as they dont want to be caught with the evidence. I would suggest you call/go to the store and follow up for the next few days regularly.These are my two cents, I am sure you must be doing a ton of other things too.

Wishing you all the best.

No you are right.. I was expecting that the guy does just that. I check all the trash bins in the area, made a round of the entire parking lot of the mall (it was a strip mall, so not that big), even checked at the nearby Shop & Stop to see if someone dropped something at the customer service (just in case). But alas, I couldn't find it anywhere. There was no money in there, just some bank checks, which I have already cancelled. I am following up with the store where this happened to see if they have any update but nothing so far.. thanks for the concern though..

[sounakc]

First of all let me say that I really feel sorry for your trouble. Although, I cant give you any valuable tips as I dont have any experience in this regard, except expressing my solidarity. Nevertheless, I wonder how the shop owner can give your bag to a random person without checking the identity. So irresponsible and disgusting !!!

Each store have their own security and monitoring cameras. You can ask the owners to review the security tapes by specifying the time window of your visit.

sounak

[WeShallOvercome]

If that was an Indian Grocery store, chances are some Indian has taken picked the passport from there. I dont think the passport is of any use to them. did you hvae your US address on the passport or any other document that was stolen along with it?
If yes, I'd still be hopeful they return it to you somehow

[sunnymit]

Do we need to go through fingerprinting before we can get the EAD and AP? I am going to file my wife's paperwork on 1st of next month and wanted to apply for those docs alongside. Do I need to wait for the fingerprinting for them?

[gc28262]

Originally Posted by sunnymit

Do we need to go through fingerprinting before we can get the EAD and AP? I am going to file my wife's paperwork on 1st of next month and wanted to apply for those docs alongside. Do I need to wait for the fingerprinting for them?

Paperwork ? Do you mean GC application ?

[srinivasj]

check with indian consulate and see if you can avail Tatkal Service..it usually costs you around $200..if you are eligible for Tatkal you can get it in less than 24hrs...

[sunnymit]

Originally Posted by srinivasj

check with indian consulate and see if you can avail Tatkal Service..it usually costs you around $200..if you are eligible for Tatkal you can get it in less than 24hrs...

Yeah I plan to.. but not sure if they can do that for lost passports. Anyway, I will give it a shot..

[sunnymit]

Originally Posted by gc28262

Paperwork ? Do you mean GC application ?

Yes, thats what I meant. I will file for her I-485, EAD, AP all at the same time. I am wondering if fingerprinting is necessary to get the very first EAD and AP

[srinivasj]

Originally Posted by sunnymit

Yeah I plan to.. but not sure if they can do that for lost passports. Anyway, I will give it a shot..

yeah check with them..its tough to get there lines..So I sent out an email once...
Hello Sir/Madam,
I have registered for Fresh passport application and got a appointment date of July 15th..I have travel to india on July 25th and probably July 15th would be too late ..

Can I please drop the application Package early on Monday June 28th...

Please let me know..Greatly appreciate your response..

*************
here is the reply I got..

Please refer to your e-mail. Kindly visit our website, www.cgisf.org and complete all the paperwork.
You have then two choices -
1. Come personally to the Consulate, on any working day, between 9am to 12pm, with ALL documentation. In case it is possible to assist you, we will have the passport issued under 'tatkaal', on the payment of an additional fee of $150/-.
OR
2. Mail your documentation, (kindly check our website for 'Guidance for applying by mail'), to the Consulate. Attach a separate additional Cashier's Cheque / MO for $150/- payable to the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, in addition to the passport fees ($40) and mailing fees ($20). In case it is possible to issue the passport under 'tatkaal', then the money would be accepted, otherwise the additional amount of $ 150/- would be returned.

*****
if you probably can convice them about the trouble you are facing they might well accept it...

[desigirl]

Things happen......and in your case with wanting to file for your wife's papers, you are in a time crunch.. You should be ok with filing using the copy of the passport, i-94 and the visa approval....
file a missing report, apply for the new pp, and send them all.
consult your lawyer too

[sunnymit]

I called the Edison Police department to check on the status of the report but they tell me that I need to get a letter from the Indian consulate on their letterhead stating that I had a passport once. This is ridiculous! I am willing to show them the photo copies of everything but all they want is the report from the Consulate. Is this for real? My wife is on her way to the Consulate right now but I can totally see that Consulate will say that they don't issue any such letters! Has anyone heard of something like this before?

[cgs]

Did you post pamphlets around that place where you lost it, asking for return of your passport to the store owner / post it to your address.

[gc28262]

Originally Posted by sunnymit

Yes, thats what I meant. I will file for her I-485, EAD, AP all at the same time. I am wondering if fingerprinting is necessary to get the very first EAD and AP

Anyway she will have to go through the first fingerprint for her I-485. Not sure whether she can avoid FP before getting an EAD/AP.

BTW why are you concerned about the fingerprint ?

[sunnymit]

Originally Posted by gc28262

Anyway she will have to go through the first fingerprint for her I-485. Not sure whether she can avoid FP before getting an EAD/AP.

BTW why are you concerned about the fingerprint ?

Thanks. Not really concerned.. its just that she lost the PP with the H4 visa in it of course. All I have is the photo copy of that visa with me. I was just wondering if they would create any problems because of that. Thats all