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Your U.S. Passport
Thefts of U.S. passports are increasing rapidly. The theft or
loss of a passport, especially when the nearest U.S. consular
office is hundreds or thousands of miles away, is a major source
of inconvenience and expense to travelers. Before your trip, make
photocopies of the data page of your passport. A copy of the addresses
and telephone numbers of the U.S. embassies and consulates in
the countries you will visit may also be helpful. Put one set
of the photocopies along with two passport photos in a place separate
from your passport. If your passport is lost or stolen abroad,
this will make issuance of a new passport faster and easier. Leave
the second set of copies and your itinerary with a relative or
friend in the U.S.
While in Russia and in many countries, you may be asked to turn
over your passport to hotel personnel or a tour leader for short
periods of time for registration with police or for other purposes.
Your passport should be returned within two or three days. However,
for U.S. citizens on long-term business or studies, the registration
process can often take longer. It is not unusual for sponsors
and local authorities to hold on to American passports for as
much as several weeks while visas are registered or while exit
visas are processed. Be sure to safeguard your passport at all
other times, as its loss can cause you delays and problems.
If your passport is lost or stolen, you must apply for a replacement
passport at a U.S. embassy or consulate. If possible, bring with
you:
· identification, especially photo
ID
· proof of U.S. citizenship (a birth
certificate, naturalization certificate, Report of Birth Abroad
or a copy of your passport)
· two 2" by 2" passport size photos,
in color or black and white, and
· the police report that you filed
when you notified the local authorities that your passport was
lost or stolen.
In most cases, a new passport can be issued quickly. If U.S.
passport records must be checked, the process may delay the issuance
of a new passport.
In Russia you must also obtain a new or duplicate visa from OVIR
(Office of Visas and Registration) if your visa is lost or stolen.
(This office is also known as the "Passport-Visa Service"
in some areas.) The passport number on your visa must match that
of any new passport. Obtaining a replacement visa takes approximately
10 working days. A police certificate verifying the theft of your
visa and passport may be necessary to obtain a new visa.
U.S. Visas for Foreigners
Questions regarding U.S. visas for foreigners should be directed
to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Adoptions
Russia has well-established procedures governing international
adoption; however, adoption laws vary greatly and are subject
to change with little prior notice. Prospective adoptive parents
should be prepared to go through a lengthy and complicated process
before being allowed to adopt a child. For country specific information
about current laws and procedures for international adoption,
U.S. citizens may contact the Department of States Office of
Childrens Issues at (202) 736-7000. They can also consult
the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov.
Prospective adoptive parents are encouraged to contact their states
social services department for assistance in locating an adoption
agency specializing in international adoption.
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