So you've lost your passport in Rome...

So you've arrived at your hotel in Rome to discover you've dropped your passport somewhere between border control and the check-in desk. Luckily, you made color photocopies of your passport before you left and this gets you checked in. (Do NOT tell the desk agent your passport is missing.)

Scratching a few things off the Roman to-do list, here is the process for passport recovery:

1) Most importantly, if you feel your passport was stolen, file a police report. I was quite confident that I simply dropped mine and did not make a report.

2) Find the best transit to the US Embassy: via Vittorio Veneto, 112. The emergency services hours are ONLY in the mornings, 8:30-12:30.

3) Once you have arrived to the Embassy, there are many entrances. Depending on which way you've come, you might not be at the proper gate. One gate says, in Italian, that the official entrance is around the corner on via Emilia. Yes, it is the official entrance if you are diplomat. The "Services for American Citizens" entrance is closer to the corner of via Liguria.

Here you will find 2 turnstiles and guards that speak no English. Your key phrases are:

"Sono in vacanza e ho perso il mio passaporto." if you've lost your passport

or

"Sono in vacanza e il mio passaporto e' stato rubato" if your passport was stolen.

There was a bit of confusion even after I was handed a cordless phone to someone that supposedly spoke English. He kept asking if I had an appointment. I then realized he thought I was a citizen that lived in Rome, not a person traveling. There are 2 types of passports issued, explained below.

4) Once you are past the turnstiles, you will go through a security check point similar to an airport screening.

ALL electronics must be LEFT at the security desk. Your bags WILL be hand searched. The guard and I both chuckled as he had to retrieve a bowl to contain my GPS, my iPhone, my Italian cell and my point and shoot camera.

5) There is a photo booth on the ground floor of the Embassy. Do not bother going upstairs without a set of passport photos. The cost is 3€.

6) At the counter you will find a fluent Italian to explain your situation. You will be given forms DS-11 and DS-64 to fill out. DS-11 is the same form you filled out when applying for your original passport. The other is an affidavit of loss or theft. You will also need to present proof of citizenship. This is the second time having a photocopy of your passport will come in handy. You can also present your US driver's license. If you do not have a copy and your entire wallet is gone, you can bring a witness that can attest to your citizenship.

If you are on a short vacation and fly back to the US soon, you will be issued an emergency passport. If you are on a long visit, say the full 90-days allowed by your tourist visa, you can apply for a full replacement.

7) Payment of $100 can be made by major credit card, US Dollars or the Euro equivalent.

8) A temporary passport may be issued the same day. A full validity passport must be issued from Washington D.C. and will take 2 weeks. In this case, you are given a slip with a date to return which will get you past the guards.

You can now retrieve your bowl of electronics from the guards, walk PAST the Hard Rock Cafe across the street and continue with your Roman vacation.