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Lost Passport, stuck in HK!

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » Hot Topics Forums » Visas, Taxes, and Legalities

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Lordlunchalot

SuperStar

Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 1375

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 01, 2008 - 03:36 PM
Post subject: Lost Passport, stuck in HK!

So I've done myself a big favor and managed to loose my passport while in Hong Kong. Will take over two weeks to get a new one because I need to get original birth certificate, which is in Australia.

They can also get me an emergency passport that is only valid for 7 months, which is what I'll probably do just not sure how the Visa situation is going to be for me.
I did have a resident permit in my passport that is valid until November, hoping to get a tourist visa and then swap over to resident once I get back.

Not even sure it is to get tourist in HK or if they will not like this temporary passport.

Anyone had any experience with similar situation?

yu888
Board Deity

Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17977
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: Sep 01, 2008 - 05:03 PM

i thought the temp passport was only good for you to use to go back to your home country...but i could be wrong/.

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SoFarSoGood

Seeker

Joined: Mar 10, 2006
Posts: 64

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 01, 2008 - 05:49 PM

Well maybe not excatly like this, but couple a weeks ago I had to get an emergency passport, because the original one was at another consulate for for visa related processing. I am EU citizen and I had no problem traveling inside EU with that. I read the small notes: The passport is valid in all countries. Valid for 1 year. I assume your Australian passport should have no problems either. BTW it took me 20 minutes to ge the emergency passport.

Lordlunchalot

SuperStar

Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 1375

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 01, 2008 - 07:07 PM

I actually think Yu is right, but I got to hold on to some form of hope. Can't really afford to go back to Oz at moment. Back to consulate tomorrow to check just what I can do on the emergency passport.

Meanwhile, if you are in Hong Kong and see an Aussie with a cup for change please give generously.

chinamonty

Reacher

Joined: May 12, 2006
Posts: 293
Location: Shenzhen
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 03, 2008 - 05:35 PM

An Australian Temporary Passport basically allows the country you are visiting to give you an Exit Visa so you can leave. You cannot get entry visas added to it to my knowledge. You need to get a new passport. I actually had to travel back to Melbourne to get mine (and I used the temporary passport as idetification to pick up the biirth certificate - govt at work).
If you have an original birth certificate at home get it sent to you in Hong Kong by Fedex or other traceable way. They can process a real passport there although it takes time - 10 days I think.

Lordlunchalot

SuperStar

Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 1375

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 02:24 PM

Not true. Got my tempory passport, it has 4 pages and is valid for 7 months. Applied for Chinese tourist visa today and can pick it up Monday.

Then once I get to Shanghai I need to apply for new real passport and then try to get residency visa back. It take a lot of paperwork though to get tourist visa without hotel booking and return flight tickets.
Luckily I had scanned versions of old passport on a friends computer and visa along with my partners and her work permit. They also asked for lease, but I couldn't get it that quick and managed to talk them into giving visa anyway.

p1atl10

Board Royalty

Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 6103
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 02:45 PM

Congrats!!!

We have missed you....

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maimai83

Talker

Joined: July 11, 2008
Posts: 106

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 04:35 PM

Replacing my US passport was pretty damned painless when that mess happened to me. My soc card, a creditcard with my name on it and a US drivers license was all the verification they needed that I was who I said I was. Getting into the embassy without a passport? I just flash my DL and guards step aside. Took about a week to get a new passport Smile

chinamonty

Reacher

Joined: May 12, 2006
Posts: 293
Location: Shenzhen
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 05:03 PM

Lordlunchalot

SuperStar

Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 1375

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 06, 2008 - 02:29 PM

maimai83 wrote:

My problem here was with lack of ID. I had no photo ID. The only thing with my name on it was my Credit Card. Luckily I could remember my old passport number, I think that helped along with answering a lot of questions.

Quote:

You are very lucky then because that is not the way it was explained to me either in Gunagzhou or in the Immigration Office in Melbourne.

Well I've been told I can pick up chinese visa on Monday, until I actually have it in my hand I'm not going to be celebrating too much.

Lordlunchalot

SuperStar

Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 1375

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 09, 2008 - 05:11 PM

Got it, back now. Still got to deal with getting a real passport and new resident permit within the next 30 days before the tourist visa runs out. Had a few strange looks coming through customs at both ends but a few simple questions and no real problems.