@#$%#$^
My passport is gone.
Gone.
It was on my desk on Sunday, because I looked through it to write the last entry.
I haven't used or moved it since then. But it is no longer in my desk, in my backpack, in any of my clothes, in any of my books or papers, under the desk, under the bed, squished in a chair cushion, under my mattress, hidden in my laundry, or any other of a number of ridiculous places.
I was all set to go to Prague for the long weekend, but now I can't.
Now, what's worse than this?
Monday and Tuesday are national Hungarian holidays, so everything is closed, including the American embassy. The embassy web page says that it takes five business days to process a passport application. They will issue a provisional passport for return to the US, but I wasn't even planning to be in the US for five business days, and I will in any case be three time zones away from all my documents.
My flight to the US to visit grad schools leaves on Thursday morning. The tickets, are, of course, economy, and so non-refundable in every sort of way.
The only real photo identification I have here is an expired California state ID.
Does anybody know what I can do?
UPDATE: I called the embassy and spoke to a very nice man who told me that he didn't know the exact procedure, but that I can come in at 9 am on Wednesday morning and they'd "fix me right up". I think this means I get some sort of paperwork to re-enter the US and they'll be able to mail me a passport while I'm there.
My passport has 4 days to re-appear before it gets declared gone forever.
Interestingly, it feels like my accent is a temporary passport, particularly on the phone, to get me transferred to someone who can tell me what's going on. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy about being an American.
Comments
Hi Nadia,
I spoke to a representative at the National Passport Information Center (http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/npic/npic_898.html)
They didn't have much add, but seemed to think the embassy could help, even given the short amount of time. She did say get there ASAP when they open.
There's also an emergency contact number on the website for the embassy, which you probably know. I'd probably try it tomorrow. ("After-Hours Emergency Calls FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS ONLY: (36-1) 475-4703/4924")
I'll email my contact info, in case there's anything I can do from here.
Tom
Posted by: Tom | March 12, 2005 12:09 AM
I had an experience travelling with a friend by car from Detroit to Canada. My friend didn't bring his passport. Both officers at the Canadian and American sides asked to see his driver license, and asked where he was born. It seemed to me that if you were born in the US, they can look it up in the database, and let you get in/back to Canada/US. But there is a problem that they won't let you onto the plane in Budapest if you don't have a passport...
Posted by: Zhongning | March 12, 2005 10:13 PM
The USA and Canada (and Meixco for that matter), have a joint agreement to let people from the USA into their country (and vice versa) without a passport. Unfortunately this doesn't help you out Nadia. Your best bet is to just wait out until the embassy is open and see what they can do for you. I know that's what I'm supposed to do if I get stranded in a country :P
-Ogi
Posted by: Ogi | March 12, 2005 11:48 PM
I am aware that you can go to Canada without a passport, but official sources say you need your birth certificate in addition to a driver's license. I don't want to risk the border people being stricter when you travel by airplane than by car.
Posted by: Nadia | March 13, 2005 10:16 AM