Frequently Asked Questions

How do I renew my passport?
Passport renewals is not as straightforward as one may think. There are many variables that can change from individual to individual. Please go to our passport section for more information on this.

How do I get my newborn child a passport?
If your child was born here in Bermuda or another foreign country, parents need to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Please go to our Report of Birth section for more information.

While in Bermuda my U.S. passport was lost or stolen. What do I do now?
This depends on how long your stay is in Bermuda. If you only have a few days till your flight leaves, the Consulate urges you to contact the Bermuda Police Headquarters and file a report. If you are a visitor to the island and have an imminent departure date, please bring your police report and all available I.D. to the Consulate Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. walk in service, except on holidays. If you are in Bermuda for a longer period of time, once you have contacted the Bermuda police contact the American Citizen Services section and we can start your application for a new passport. Please go to our Lost/Stolen passport section for more information.

Can I travel on my expired passport?
Many airline carriers do not accept expired passports from travelers as proof of identity/citizenship. You should check your travel documents well before your planned trip to make sure there is sufficient validity left.

My federal benefits check is late/missing, what do I do?
Please see our Status of Federal Checks section for more information.

How do I apply for a non-immigrant visa?
Applications for non-immigrant visas are almost the same for all applicants. Please go to our How to apply section for more information.

Do I need a non-immigrant visa?
This depends on which country you are from and what your purpose of travel is. People from most countries must have a visa in order to enter the United States, although Bermudians with no criminal convictions or other ineligibilities qualify for a visa exemption. Visa regulations are constantly changing so please go to our Do I need a visa? section or to the Bermuda Visa Exemption section to see what applies to you.   

How long is my visa good for?
The validity of a visa is determined by the consular officer at the time of your application. However, remember that a visa does not indicate how long you can stay in the States. 

How long can I stay in the United States?
The length of stay is determined by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Bermuda airport. However, Bermudian citizens may be able to stay in the United States for up to 180 days without requiring a visa and citizens from visa waiver countries may be able to stay up to 90 days without requiring a visa. Again, the CBP officers will ultimately make the final decision as to your length of stay in the States.

Can a dual citizen (U.S. & Bermuda) travel on their Bermuda passport to the United States?
No, the law states that if you are an American citizen you must use your U.S. passport for entry into the United States.

How do I apply for a green card?
In most instances Foreign Nationals can not apply for their own permanent residency or "green card". Only specific categories of individuals can qualify for Permanent Residency in the U.S. Please go to our Immigrant Visa section to see if any of these categories apply to you.

My spouse is a U.S. citizen, do I automatically become an American citizen?
No, you must first become a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. then apply for naturalization. For more information please go to the the U.S. Citizenship & Immigrant Services website or go to our Immigrant Visa section.

Do Bermudians require student visas?
No, since Bermudian citizens can travel on the I-20 or DS-2019 and the financial information for their school. However, the Consulate recommends student visas to Bermudian students as it may help clarify their status in the States. For more information please go to our Non-immigrant visa section.

What is the phone number for the ____ (Embassy/Consulate/U.S. Institution)?
Unfortunately the Consulate does not have this type of information readily available. Neither do we have the phone numbers for many American Institutions. If you are looking for contact information for other Consulates on the island please go the the government pages in the Bermuda phone book or to: U.S. Embassies & Consulates Worldwide. For other information on U.S. based locations you can go on-line and use a general search engine to find your information.