German entering USA from Mexico after loss of passport?
My boyfriend and I visited my family in the USA last year in August. Then, after 90 days my boyfriend returned to Germany and stayed there for another 3 months. After that period of time, we met in Mexico to meet my father.
As soon as he arrived, the Mexican Immigration gave him 180 days stay in Mexico. After spending 2 months together, I returned to California to finish school. Our plan was actually for me to go back to Mexico, but instead we decided for him to come here to the US. He has been in Mexico for about 4 months now. He was planning on booking his flight for the 7th of June.
A few days ago, his bag got stolen with his money, ipad and passport inside of it. The problem now is, I read that one cannot enter with the Visa Waiver Program without an electronic passport. Besides that, I'm not sure if he even is allowed to enter the USA from Mexico, since it is part of North America as well.
Now the question is, should we still book the flight? Will he even be eligible to enter the US through Mexico? And how long would it take for the German embassy to make him an eligible passport for entering the USA through the Visa Waiver Program?
Best Answer
Your boyfriend will have to apply for a new passport at his local German mission in Mexico. The reason being that he is not looking to go back to Germany, and thus does not need a one-off document to get home. Indeed he wants to continue travelling and thus will need a brand new German passport. Once he obtains a new passport he will have to apply for a brand new ESTA since these are valid only for the passport they were issued for. Quoting from the linked Travel SE answer:
What should I do if the information on my passport has changed?
If you obtain a new passport or there is a change to your passport information, you must apply for a new travel authorization and pay the associated fees. See What information can I update? for a full listing of information that can be changed after submission of your application.
The application processing times for a new passport will depend on the mission, and on whether or not his case gets accepted as being an emergency. Once again: getting in contact with the German mission in Mexico should be the first step of this entire procedure.
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Can you get back into the US if you lost your passport?
What Should a U.S. Citizen Do if his/her Passport is Lost or Stolen Abroad? You will have to replace the passport before returning to the United States. Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance.What happens if you lose your passport in Mexico?
I lost my passport in Mexico, what do I do? Report the missing passport to the local police and to the U.S. State Department and contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to request a replacement.What happens if I lost my passport and need to travel?
In order to get to the U.S., you will need a replacement passport. Fortunately, you can obtain it as long as you go to the closest U.S. consulate or embassy. You will have to complete a few forms and show proof of your travel itinerary, but you may also have to file a police report if the document was stolen.What happens to my visa if my passport is lost?
Lost or stolen U.S. visas cannot be replaced in the United States. For replacement of a visa, you must apply in person at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. When applying for the replacement of a visa, you will need to provide a written account documenting the loss of your passport and visa.These Countries will DENY ENTRY at Immigration. Vacation Disasters
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