Lost Documents
Learn about steps to take if you’ve lost your visa-related documentation.
Lost documents on campus
If you lost your documents on campus or on University of Rochester affiliated grounds, we recommend contacting any “lost and found” desk or office in the building or department where you think you lost your documents.
If the building’s lost and found does not have your documents, contact campus police (Department of Public Safety) and the Rochester Police Department. Both agencies have “lost and found” departments.
- University of Rochester DPS Lost & Found: (585) 275-2552
- Rochester Police Department (Non-Emergency): (585) 428-6720
Sometimes passports and other immigration documents found on campus are delivered to the ISO. We always contact the student/scholar/employee as soon as possible whenever this occurs.
If possible, we recommend waiting at least a week before reporting your lost document and taking the steps below to replace them, if there is a possibility that the documents may be found and returned to you.
If you know that your documents were stolen, make sure to report it to the police and get a copy of the official police report.
Replacing lost documents
Here are guidelines to replace different types of lost documents, if they are not found.
Contact your home country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S. and follow their instructions on what you need to do to obtain a new passport.
Report your lost/stolen visa to U.S. Department of State. You cannot replace your visa (a sticker with your photo placed in your passport) while in the U.S. Next time you leave the U.S., you will need to apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. You do not have to have a valid visa in your passport while you are in the U.S., it is only required for travel. Please reference our Visa Application Process page for more details.
If you were issued an I-94 when you entered the U.S., you can print a replacement Form I-94 at cbp.gov/I94. If you cannot find your latest I-94 record, contact ISO to talk to an advisor.
- If you are an F-1 or J-1 student, you can request a replacement of your I-20 or DS-2019 via URcompass. After you log in, please click on ‘F-1 & J-1 Student Services’ on the left-hand side. The button to request an I-20/DS-2019 reprint is in there. The new I-20/DS-2019 will be sent electronically.
- If you are a J-1 scholar, you can download a copy of your current DS-2019 from URcompass under the “Documents” tab. Be sure to sign it once printed.
You will have to apply for a replacement card with USCIS.
- For OPT or STEM OPT students: Follow the OPT application instructions Filing Form I-765 on our website, including the fee payment, with the following exception: Check box for “Replacement of lost Employment Authorization Document” at the top of Form I-765.
- For J-2 or H-4 dependents: If an EAD card was delivered but later lost, the dependent must apply for a replacement EAD and pay the filing fee again. Detailed instructions for H-4 EAD applications are available on the USCIS website.
If you are in H-1B status and your H-1B approval notice is lost/stolen, you will need to file Form I-824 with USCIS to request a replacement.
Identity theft concerns
If any of your financial documents (such as credit cards, checks, ATM cards, etc.) were lost/stolen, contact your banking institution to cancel or put a temporary hold on your accounts.
You may want to check your credit report to make sure no one has opened a credit card or other account under your name. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires 3 companies to provide you with one free credit report every 12 months. Reference the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Fighting Back Against Identity Theft guidance. For a free credit report, go to annualcreditreport.com.