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MichaelEL

Oct 25, 2009, 10:27 PM

Post #1 of 15 (652 views)

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It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Is it distressful? You bet.
In a period of 6 hours, a passport and FM3 are missing. We don't know if they were dropped or lifted, but we do know they are gone, and we expect to fly back to the US in a week.
Has anyone else done this and can they point us to a procedure?

Thanks, Michael

sioux4noff

Oct 25, 2009, 10:41 PM

Post #2 of 15 (641 views)

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Re: [MichaelEL] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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First, keep looking, asking around, look some more.
Contact the US Consulate about the passport. (If it is a US passport, that is)

Hound Dog

Oct 26, 2009, 7:17 AM

Post #3 of 15 (599 views)

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Re: [MichaelEL] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Michael:

You need to contact the U.S. consulate in Guadalajara first thing this morning if you are a U.S. citizen.

On the FM-3, perhaps you had better get up to both the consulate and INM headquarters this morning and I hope you have copies of the FM-3 which, my guess, should help you immensely but if you don´t you don´t so go see them anyway since they will have a copy somewhere.

Now, for the rest of you readers, I have just gone through a month in hell because my wallet was lifted in the Ajijic WalMart parking lot and, yes, the wallet was in my right front bluejeans pocket where idiots such as I thought it was safe. These pickpockets are good at their trade but here is what I found out subsequently:

*You absolutely must have copies of your Mexican driver´s license hidden away somewhere and if you do your life will not be simple but it will be much simpler if you lose your license or it is stolen. I can only speak of Jalisco and even more narrowly the Riberas del Pilar branch of the state transito but getting a new Jalisco driver´s license was relatively simple and inexpensive since I had a copy of the stolen license. I don´t know what would have been the procedure had I not had a copy of the license but because I did I did not need to take any tests for the new license except a vision test and even that was really an absurdity. You would have to be totally blind and incapacitated and perhaps even dead to fail that test.

I have already spoken of this but Michael´s stressful situation calls for a recap. We only have one credit card and that is an American Express card and I have held an American Express card since 1966. Read carefully. I ordered a new American Express replacement card after my wallet was stolen in the Ajijic WalMart parking lot under my very eyes and here is what happened:

I ordered new American Express cards and here is where the story gets interesting. The cards were sent to our home at Lakeside via DHL express courier and we got them very quickly. Please pay attention here because it is easy to get confused. A major fraud was to follow but not under the old American Express card that was stolen but the brand new replacement card. I repeat - under the new replacement card with a new number that I had just received and activated but never used. In short order I found out the following:

Someone claiming to be me called American Express and changed my address from our home in Jalisco to Texas and then ordered an upgrade of the card from a simple green card to a platinum car and then tried to change our e-mail address and then ordered a new PIN number for cash advances (in 43 years I have never had a PIN nor requested a cash advance from American Express but they still issued this crook a PIN number) and then ordered a $5,000USD advance pre-payment on a retiretiree´s credit card when we never spend that kind of money on any credit card in Mexico - EVER - since we live in a cash economy.

Now, listen folks; had I not been at home and checking my bank account daily on the computer these thieves would have used the $5,000USD credit in my American Express account to commit a fraud and the American Express people told me how this is done but let´s not go there since the purpose of this posting is to tell you what thieves can do with your identity with ease and very quickly playing the system.

That´s it with Dawg and credit cards.

Hound Dog

Oct 26, 2009, 10:10 AM

Post #4 of 15 (548 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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I failed to mention in my above post that it is important for the reader to realize that the fraud that happened to me as an American Express card holder happened evn though the new replacement cards were only in my possession and had never been used in any way except that I had activated them. That, in turn, means that the had to have been initiated by employees or acquainatances of employees at one of three entities who had access to this new card with the new number:
* American Express
* DHL
* The Mexican customs people who we know for sure opened the DHL packet containing our cards when the packet entered Mexico.

I believe I know where the fraud took place but I will not speculate on this forum.

All I can say is watch it because these criminals are quite accomplished.

jerezano

Oct 26, 2009, 10:19 AM

Post #5 of 15 (536 views)

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Re: [MichaelEL] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Hello MichaelEL

Yep. It is not only distressful but it is also panic inducing.

I recently lost my US Passport and am in the process of getting a new one. When finished I plan to write an article about this for www.mexconnect.com.

#1. Go immediately to your local security people (Ministro de Seguridad) and report the lost passport. Once they see you and start working you will get a two page report (or at least I did) of its loss. Time about 45 minutes not including the wait to see time.

#2. Meanwhile search the web for your US consulate. Go to their web pages and search for Passport documentation. You will find instructions for setting up an appointment and the documentation needed to apply for the new passport and the cancellation of the old lost one. There you should also be told that they won't even schedule you an appointment if you don't have that report of loss from the local security people.

#3. Get all the documentation together and schedule an appointment. The Monterrey Consulate did not schedule Monday appointments. So I scheduled for a Wednesday morning. Tuesday through Friday and the next Tuesday was already filled up by Wednesday of the preceding week.

#4. Go to that appointment. Go early. First appointment time on an available day was 9:00 AM on a Tuesday. but it was already filled up. I had the second appointment time 9:30 AM (only morning hours at the Monterrey consulate) and I found 64 people ahead of me when I arrived at 9:15.

#5. Take two forms of picture identification. I took my Texas and Mexican driver's licenses. You will not be told about this necessity.

#6: Go through the really thorough security check. Leave one of the picture identification documents with the clerk who gives you a visitors tag. Go into the secured waiting room, take a number and wait.

#7. When called, deposit your papers with the receptionist. If everything is in order, pay for the new passport ($100 usd) and go back and wait until your name is called again. When called a clerk will ask for your second identification picture and will essentially check with you to make sure what you have said on the application is what you want to say. Go sit down again and wait.

#8. This time when your name is called you will be talking to a Consular official who will ask you to swear to the truth of what you have put on the application. Go back and wait some more.

#9. When called the next and last time you will be told that your Passport will be ready in two weeks and it will be delivered. They will give you an address where you go and pay for the delivery. They told me delivery to my residence. But when I went to the delivery agent and paid the delivery fee, in my case, Zacatecas, they deliver to the regional office and I need to go there and pick it up. That is where I am right now in time, waiting for that delivery. At that last window the Consular official will return all your original documents except the document left with initial security agent in exchange for your visitor tag. You will need to stop and pick that up when you surrender your tag. Total time in the Consulate nearly 4 hours.

Somewhere along the way they might have notified you that in emergency cases you will receive your passport in 24 hours or that same day. They decide what is an emergency, not you. Where you can make your case along the way I don't know, but I suspect it would be with that first visit with a Consular official. If not offered a chance, make it. I was not offered that chance but I knew I couldn't qualify.

Now this is the US Consulate General in Monterrey, N.L. Other consulates may have other procedures but whatever they are will be outlined on their web pages. There must be procedures available for emergency cases, but again they decide what is an emergency, not you.

Other consulates may not have those maximum security provisions that Monterrey has. But Monterrey has suffered from attacks and all business was conducted from behind bullet proof windows. I would expect that any of our consulates will have similar safety provisions.

Now the FM3 is an entirely different ball of wax. Without the Passport you are probably dead in the water. Again, there must be emergency procedures but they decide what is an emergency. Not you. But by all means, report your loss to them. Go from there, do what they tell you to do.

Good luck to all of us. I am praying every day that there are no foul-ups in delivery of my own passport because my FM3 renewal period runs out on November 15, 2009. If delivery is reasonably close to the two week period I will have about 10-12 days to get my FM3 extended. And I have a Thanksgiving meeting with the family in Texas to which I cannot go without that Passport.

jerezano.
Magna gasoline at frozen $7.72 p/l and at 3.785 liters/gal. and $13 p/dollar is now costing $2.25 dollars/gal. More pesos per dollar cheaper gas & viceversa.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Oct 26, 2009, 10:42 AM)

Ustlach

Oct 26, 2009, 1:01 PM

Post #6 of 15 (497 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Why specifically Guadalajara? Do they specialize in lost passports and visa?

MichaelEL

Oct 26, 2009, 4:54 PM

Post #7 of 15 (468 views)

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Re: [Ustlach] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Guadalajara since that's where we are, on a road trip of the area. If we go back to PV and do it there, they have to send it to G anyway and the process will take a lot longer- more like two weeks than two days.
Michael

MichaelEL

Oct 27, 2009, 6:01 AM

Post #8 of 15 (400 views)

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Re: [jerezano] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Thanks for sharing Jerezano. I’ll keep you posted on our progress and perhaps it can contribute a little to your future article. I think it’s a great idea to have a comprehensive step-by-step instruction on how to replace Passports and Visas when visiting other countries.

We have different circumstances. We are regular visitors to San Pancho, Nayarit, where we own property and will start building soon. We come monthly in the good season for 7-10 days, often with family and friends. This was a rare trip when we came alone and did not have other tasks to fulfill on our project, bank, attorney, or others so we decided on a road trip while we have the time, to Ajijic, San Miguel, Guanajuato, Tlaquepaque, and Tonala.

However, on entry, at the airport in PV, my wife’s passport and FM3 was either lost or “lifted” out of her purse, which was accidently left unzipped. Either way, they are gone. We checked everywhere to no avail, and on Sunday headed out on our trip, after discovering that Guadalajara was actually a better place to pursue a solution since all PP issues in PV are forwarded by courier to Guadalajara.

What makes it …..interesting…., unlike Jerezano’s residency in Mexico, is that we don’t live here and are scheduled to fly home next Monday, and the “temporary” Passport is only good for 2 weeks, etc. And…..we have reservations to return in a little less than a month with 12 family members for a week.

Where we are now is this. We were able to reach Heather in Puerto Vallerta on Monday, who is listed on San Pancho Life as a liason to the consulate. She gave advice and tried to help with contacts. Our best resource is the US -Guadalajara Embassy Website. We called them numerous times, but there is no way we could find to talk to a human, only a punch button maze. We were directed to download and fill out Forms DS 11 (Application) and DS 64 (Lost Report), and make an appointment on line, which we did for 9:15 am this morning.

We have not yet started the FM3 replacement process since we know we cannot do that without a passport in hand. We are hopeful that we can get a temporary PP today or at least by tomorrow, drive back to PV and start the FM3 process or temporary Visa process promptly, back in PV where we have knowledgeable assistance.

After we get the temporary PP, I’ll report in on our experience. There is a lot of stress in this and it all goes back to a previous discussion of doing everything possible to not be a target and victim. Hungry underpaid locals and (relatively) rich expats is an opportunistic and dangerous combination. The loss was our fault, and I’m willing to wager that we will both be far more careful with possessions when we travel from now on and that losing a Passport will be far less likely. In most clouds, there is a silver lining.

Michael

jerezano

Oct 27, 2009, 8:49 AM

Post #9 of 15 (376 views)

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Re: [MichaelEL] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Hello MichaelEL,

If you have not yet reported your lost passport to the local security people, do it NOW. Immediately. As I mentioned the Monterrey Consulate people wouldn't even talk to me without that report.

That was one of the first documents demanded of me by the Monterrey Consulate receptionist.

What Guadalajara will demand is unknown to me. Go to their website and you will get a list of the documentation required.

I never heard of a temporary passport. It was never mentioned to me. It was not on any documentation which I received. There were no forms to solicit one. Everything available indicated that only a permanent passport or a passport card were available. Of course, your problem as you mentioned is different from my own.

jerezano.
Magna gasoline at frozen $7.72 p/l and at 3.785 liters/gal. and $13 p/dollar is now costing $2.25 dollars/gal. More pesos per dollar cheaper gas & viceversa.

sioux4noff

Oct 27, 2009, 7:27 PM

Post #10 of 15 (330 views)

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Re: [MichaelEL] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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It sounds like there is a possibility of the passport and FM3 being lost in the airport in PV. Has anyone contacted the airport authorities to see if they have been turned in? The US Consulate in PV could help you with that.
I may be overly optimistic, but I think loss of the documents is more likely than theft.
If you need contact information for Kelly Trainor, US Consular agent in PV, send me a message. I can prived her direct contact info.

MichaelEL

Oct 28, 2009, 7:09 AM

Post #11 of 15 (295 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Indeed, we started with the PVR airport authorities and the PVR Lost&Found. No joy.

UPDATE: We got a replacement Passport at the consulate in less than 6 hours; turn in forms in morning, attend interview (1 hour); return at 3 pm to pick up passport (30 min).

When she gets a chance, Judith will update all on the specifics of the process.

Kelly was out of office when we called, but we got good advice from Heather, also listed on the SanPanchoLife website.

Summary of process coming soon. Now we return to PV to deal with the FM3 replacement process.

Michael

jerezano

Oct 28, 2009, 10:54 AM

Post #12 of 15 (254 views)

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Re: [MichaelEL] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Hello MichaelEL,

Lucky you. You folks managed to convince the Consulate that you had an emergency. I was not able to do that and was never given the chance, although I had advised the chief of the American Citizens Service Section in Monterrey that I had a time problem. They felt that since I lost the passport nearly a month before I needed it to renew my FM3 there was plenty of time.

I now am developing ulcers waiting for delivery of my passport. Twelve working days before my FM3 runs out and no passport yet. Is there sufficient time? Yep, if my passport is delivered SOON. God willing.

Also you didn't mention whether the Guadalajara Consulate demanded that LOST PASSPORT filing with the local security people or not. Did they? Did they not?

jerezano.
Magna gasoline at frozen $7.72 p/l and at 3.785 liters/gal. and $13 p/dollar is now costing $2.25 dollars/gal. More pesos per dollar cheaper gas & viceversa.

Huchepo

Oct 28, 2009, 9:46 PM

Post #13 of 15 (210 views)

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Re: [jerezano] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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I am going through the process of replacing my lost FM2 inmigrado visa right now. I lost it over a month ago, I went on the INM website and there was a section on what to do if your FM3 or FM2 was lost, but when I got all the copies and reports prepared and went to my local INAMI office, I was told the website was not up to date and the forms, and procedures were not what was needed (go figure).

I was given a new list and updated forms, went and had more copies made, went back to the office, the lady went over all the checklist and took all my copies (it was pretty much as if I was starting all over again and had never been given Inmigrado status). She said everything (police report, bank statements, employer tax record, payment receipt, photos etc) were in order and that to come back in 4 weeks for my new visa. Yesterday I went back and there was a new list of items that supposedly should have been included in the package….so I am presently getting those forms typed up (they won’t accept an FM1 form handwritten), and will be back there Friday to see if everything is order once again.

In my case, an FM2 inmigrado visa has to be sent to Mexico DF INAMI office, so hopefully, in your case being an FM3, it will be easier….yeah right ;)!!

Peter

Oct 29, 2009, 6:55 AM

Post #14 of 15 (185 views)

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Re: [Huchepo] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Judging by your name and the instructions you received I'm guessing your local office is in Morelia. Correct? Just curious. If so I doubt the FM-3 would be much easier, though the people in that office have been helpful and pleasant.

'Chepo is something we call some of our friends when horsing around. Not sure if you knew the connotations of the name, or if you cared.

Huchepo

Oct 29, 2009, 8:50 AM

Post #15 of 15 (166 views)

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Re: [Peter] It was bound to happen someday; lost passport and FM3

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Actually Peter it was in Tijuana, but your are correct in my name nick "Huchepo" having Michoacan roots. Chepo is a nickname for Jose, along with Pepe and others.