Can K1 visa be reprinted?

[Badgerella 5]

Does anyone know what happens if one's passport, with an unused K1 visa in it, gets lost or ruined/destroyed in any way?

I asked the staff at the Embassy here in Zagreb, but they knew the answer only for B2 (visitor) visas. They've had no problems with K1s ever so the person couldn't give me an accurate answer. B2s get reprinted (if the passport gets stolen, or washed in a washing machine, etc.), but you have to pay the fee and do the interview again (as much as I understand, you won't be denied).

Has anyone ever had it happen, when it comes to K1? Or does anyone know what happens? Do you have to go through the entire process again (starting at the USCIS level), or would it still work with just an interview at the USEM?

I'm asking because I had my visa issued last week and I won't be using it for many more months (I'm aware of its validity and willl use it before it expires, though!). The visa is, of course, in my passport which I use pretty often and would like to continue doing so before I leave for the US. Passports can be stolen, lost... or customs officers can just, say, have a bad day and stamp some wrong page....

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Does anyone know what happens if one's passport, with an unused K1 visa in it, gets lost or ruined/destroyed in any way?

I asked the staff at the Embassy here in Zagreb, but they knew the answer only for B2 (visitor) visas. They've had no problems with K1s ever so the person couldn't give me an accurate answer. B2s get reprinted (if the passport gets stolen, or washed in a washing machine, etc.), but you have to pay the fee and do the interview again (as much as I understand, you won't be denied).

Has anyone ever had it happen, when it comes to K1? Or does anyone know what happens? Do you have to go through the entire process again (starting at the USCIS level), or would it still work with just an interview at the USEM?

I'm asking because I had my visa issued last week and I won't be using it for many more months (I'm aware of its validity and willl use it before it expires, though!). The visa is, of course, in my passport which I use pretty often and would like to continue doing so before I leave for the US. Passports can be stolen, lost... or customs officers can just, say, have a bad day and stamp some wrong page....

I know of a case recently in Kiev. The FedEx truck was on its way to deliver the visa (with other things of course) and was robbed, the truck was stolen, the valuables were taken and the rest dumped somewhere. The couple had to get a new passport and the visa was re-issued. Not to make it sound easy, it took some weeks to sort out. FedEx had to verify her visa package was on that truck and lost. I can try to contact this man and see if I can get details. I do know they had to cancel the passport, get a new passport issued (which they paid some extra money for to get quickly) and then the consulate had to be satisfied the visa was lost. It is not a good thing to happen, but it appears, at least in Kiev, it can be sorted out with some degree of difficulty. I will see if I can contact him and get more details, which of course, will apply to Kiev

[Badgerella 5]

Thanks for your reply - this kind of thing gives me some hope, or, to put it some other way, makes me feel a bit better about using my passport before I actually fly to the US. I have to admit, though, that I'm still feeling all kinds of worried. Or just paranoid. Uh.

Edited April 12, 2009 by Badgerella

[payxibka 10,045]

it really does not matter what anyone on this board believes.... it is the consulate that matters.... they will do what they are willing to do... this may be the same as what they might do in Kiev but it may not be

[scandal 951]

Thanks for your reply - this kind of thing gives me some hope, or, to put it some other way, makes me feel a bit better about using my passport before I actually fly to the US. I have to admit, though, that I'm still feeling all kinds of worried. Or just paranoid. Uh.

What do you want to use the passport for in the interim months before entering the US?

If for ID - then don't use it! Use your drivers license, national ID card, etc. instead and leave the passport at home.

If for travel - then just be careful with the dang thing, and treat the K1 & passport itself as a valuable document- always in purse/hand luggage, never out of your sight, etc. Do you really have that much international travel planned during these next few months? I just looked up on Wikipedia that Croatia is not part of the Schengen area. You can travel to neighboring countries (Italy, Hungary, Slovenia) without a passport but to travel further into Europe you do need the passport. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area#Special_arrangement_on_entry_for_Croatians)

[July09Bride 1]

Does anyone know what happens if one's passport, with an unused K1 visa in it, gets lost or ruined/destroyed in any way?

I asked the staff at the Embassy here in Zagreb, but they knew the answer only for B2 (visitor) visas. They've had no problems with K1s ever so the person couldn't give me an accurate answer. B2s get reprinted (if the passport gets stolen, or washed in a washing machine, etc.), but you have to pay the fee and do the interview again (as much as I understand, you won't be denied).

Has anyone ever had it happen, when it comes to K1? Or does anyone know what happens? Do you have to go through the entire process again (starting at the USCIS level), or would it still work with just an interview at the USEM?

I'm asking because I had my visa issued last week and I won't be using it for many more months (I'm aware of its validity and willl use it before it expires, though!). The visa is, of course, in my passport which I use pretty often and would like to continue doing so before I leave for the US. Passports can be stolen, lost... or customs officers can just, say, have a bad day and stamp some wrong page....

Curious... what country is Zagreb in? My grandfather, when he was a child, his family got their US passports from the office in Zagreb. My mother and I are trying to do geneaology work and we are curious as to where Zagreb is now. Thanks!

[payxibka 10,045]

I find google an amazing resource

now it is Croatia, previously Yugoslavia

Edited April 13, 2009 by payxibka

[TBoneTX 45,087]

Regarding the passport: If the passport or visa is lost or ruined, call or write the Section Chief (only!) of the Immigrant Visa Unit at your consulate. I would not trust any staff member (foreign nationals, likely) or even a vice-consul. The Section Chief would be aware of any policies that guide his activities, and he could shepherd your incident most efficiently toward (it's hoped) a satisfactory conclusion.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

Yes it can be printed again, I received my visa wit the wrong passport number on it, I had to return to the embassy where they put a new one in my passport while I waited and cancelled the old one, so I know for a fact that they can reprint

I am sure that if you have proof that the visa was not used and proof of the passport being stolen or lost that they can reprint

[Badgerella 5]

Thanks for your reply - this kind of thing gives me some hope, or, to put it some other way, makes me feel a bit better about using my passport before I actually fly to the US. I have to admit, though, that I'm still feeling all kinds of worried. Or just paranoid. Uh.

What do you want to use the passport for in the interim months before entering the US?

If for ID - then don't use it! Use your drivers license, national ID card, etc. instead and leave the passport at home.

If for travel - then just be careful with the dang thing, and treat the K1 & passport itself as a valuable document- always in purse/hand luggage, never out of your sight, etc. Do you really have that much international travel planned during these next few months? I just looked up on Wikipedia that Croatia is not part of the Schengen area. You can travel to neighboring countries (Italy, Hungary, Slovenia) without a passport but to travel further into Europe you do need the passport. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area#Special_arrangement_on_entry_for_Croatians)

We have other ID(s) so that's not what I need my passport for. I have a whole lot of international travel planned for the next few months (Europe is small and we all do a lot of traveling on a regular basis) and I'd actually like to make it all happen. For instance - my fiance is staying with me in Croatia right now, and we'd like to visit a few countries. I am well aware of the Schengen agreement and its borders, as well as the list of countries Croatians can get into without their passports, but we'd like to see more of that.

I must say I am not insanely scared I'd, all of a sudden, become careless and lose my belongings, including my passport (even though things like that can always happen), but I can't stop thinking about a careless customs/border control person stamping the visa page either by mistake or, well, on purpose. The latter, I've heard about it happening.

[Badgerella 5]

Also, it makes sense that they ca be reprinted, and are, whenever something happens that is the Embassy's fault. I'm just kind of scared that they could put you through the entire process again if the passport or visa are lost or ruined by your own mistake.

I might as well email the head consul in Zagreb.

[Badgerella 5]

My fiance emailed the head consul last night and today I received a phonecall from another ZAgreb Embassy employee. It was a very nice lady who wanted me to know that I could travel wherever I wanted and that, in case anything happens to my passport or the visa in it, I'd contact them and they would reissue.