<p>My daughter is studying abroad in Spain starting Feb 8, ending in late May/early June. We had a valid passport, and she was starting the process of applying for a student visa. The visa process is completely coordinated by her university. You turn in your passport TO them, and fill out paperwork etc, they coordinate getting the visa.</p>
<p>I mailed her the passport over the weekend in sealed, secure mailer. It arrived yesterday - with no passport in it. So, now 1) her passport is gone 2) her visa process is not able to be coordinated by the university.</p>
<p>We are quite concerned as we now have the lead time of getting a new passport issued, and then coordinating the visa process on our own - which can take 8-10 weeks according to the Spanish Consulate in DC. I think the VERY best turnaround we can hope for on a passport is 3 weeks, which puts us in mid December for STARTING the visa process.</p>
<p>I am concerned that we might be too late to do this.</p>
<p>There are services that purport to be able to get a replacement passport in a day. It probably won’t be cheap…but when you’re in a crunch, sometimes it’s worth it.</p>
<p>I got a new passport (old one expired) in 3 days last spring when I had a last minute travel request overseas for work. It cost extra but it can be done. While I was getting my paperwork processed I met many folks who got last minute travel deals needing passports in a day. They did have to wait many hours at the passport office but they were accommodated. </p>
<p>You could also go to a US government passport agency. Washington DC is probably the closest place for you. You can go to the State Dept’s website and see where these agencies are located. I would also tell them about losing your d’s passport, as they need to know that.</p>
<p>See if there is a consulate anywhere near you. I have gotten a visa to China, same day. It did take pretty much the whole day, but it was done in a day.</p>
<p>Provided your daughter is at least 18, getting a new passport is the least of her worries. She can pick up the paperwork at any US Post Office, complete it there, and then submit it with the extra fees for quick processing and delivery. I did this about three years ago, and had mine in my hot little fist in two weeks. She might even get it in time for her school to take charge of the visa.</p>
<p>Since you are in Maryland, you can’t be more than four hours from DC. If your daughter will be home over the winter break, she can hand carry her paperwork to the Spanish Consulate there, and ask what she needs to do to expedite the process.</p>
<p>Oh, and don’t forget to lodge your complaint with the service that you used when you sent the passport to your daughter. The theft of a passport is a serious crime, and they need to take responsibility for pursuing appropriate action.</p>
<p>My son was able to get a same-day passport by visiting a regional passport office. It looks like there are two in the D.C. area. This is from the State Dept. web site:</p>
<p>Double-check that you actually put the passport in the mailer. If you did it at the post office, they may be waiting for you to come claim it. (I did that once: mailed an empty envelope and left the check on the counter.)</p>
<p>happymom - sadly, the service used to get the passport to her was the US postal service. My bad choice.</p>
<p>To get a passport soon enough for the student process, we would have to have it done by Monday at 5pm. No one can get her from her university to Philly or DC tomorrow or Monday - she also has classes she needs to attend. So, the plan now is to get one FAST, but not by Monday.</p>
<p>We will have to plead our case at the consulate to get the visa processed by her travel time - we will only be a few days behind the main group of students hopefully.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone - not sure if we will use an expediting service, or pull her out of class and get to Philly or DC.</p>
<p>If you use an expediting service, you do not have to appear in person. My company has renewed my passport for me and I just signed the paperwork, provided the photo and they handled it. It’s not cheap, but probably the best option for you.</p>
<p>You can’t really rush the Spanish consulate so I would do everything in your power to get her a replacement passport by 5PM Monday to use the school’s group appointment. My son went through this. He ended up getting his visa on Friday with a Sunday flight to Spain, so it worked out, but with enormous stress. If this is impossible logistically, get on the website for the Washington DC Spanish consulate (your region) and make an online appointment for visa application. It may be several WEEKS from now, and then the waiting process begins. At least in NY and SF you cannot walk in to start the visa process and they do not expedite student visa requests. Again, your best move would be to get her an expedited US passport by Monday 5PM no matter what it costs and what she needs to do (either the courier service or going into a regional passport agency). Good luck.</p>
<p>I just got back from the Baltimore City Post Office. I had called their ‘claims and inquiries’ phone number after someone at my local post office recommended we call them. They found her passport in the City Post Office, and I have it now. I will be driving up to give it to my D on Sunday.</p>
<p>By the way, the folks at the Baltimore City Post Office were efficient, responsive and beyond helpful.</p>
<p>Problem solved - so glad we do not have to try to get the visa on our own now. We are overjoyed and relieved.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your suggestions and advice.</p>
<p>How did the passport get separated from the mailer? Was the mailer tampered with? Or was dmd77 right–that the passport never made it into the mailer? Curious…</p>
<p>Just glad that the emergency has been adverted! Now drive carefully…</p>
<p>The mailer was open and empty when she got it - open rather cleanly. It must have fallen out in processing at the post office - that’s all I can guess.</p>
<p>The obvious lesson here is to use super secure mailers, and traceable mail. I was in such a hurry last Saturday to mail it, I just took it for granted that it would be OK. It would have been worth the extra time and expense to mail it differently.</p>
<p>I am planning on having a lovely, leisurely brunch with my daughter on Sunday and handing it to her in person.</p>
<p>No, I sent it regular mail, which is of course a major error. It was 4pm on a Saturday afternoon and our post office is not open at that time. There is no post office anywhere in our area open on Saturday after 12:30.</p>
<p>My daughter let me know on Friday the 5th she needed the physical passport for the school’s coordinated visa process. They were to be turned in on Friday the 12th.</p>
<p>Just wanted to note that it is possible to get a new passport at a day if you go to a government passport agency. I once showed up for an overseas school trip with an expired passport. We had to call one of my congressman to call in and get me and appointment for the next day at the closest passport agency (because of course all the appointments) and I was able to get my passport within a few hours. I did have to show proof that I had plane tickets for that afternoon, and I’m sure that’s what really helped expediate the process so much.</p>
