So...19 yr old daughter in Oz and until few days ago living in a hostel.  She only took a backpack but has managed to 'lose' most of her tops, she sleeps with her MP3 and other valuables inside her pillowcase because one night someone went around the rooms pinching all and sundry while they slept.  I don't know why the door wasn't locked but probably because everyone is slipping in and out all hours due to different types of jobs.

Latest is she's had her passport stolen so what does she do? Ring mum obviously to get new forms.  I rang the Passport Office and then the Commonwealth office and was given details of Consulate in Brisbane because the Passport Office will not send passports abroad but the Consulate can issue replacements over there.

Sorted I thought and text the details to her. She's phoned this morning, the Consulate takes 5 wks to process replacement and she wants to move on as work is drying up where she is and she can't stay with no income.  I can get forms today and it will take about 4 days to reach her, about 4 days to post back and the post office can process much quicker than 5 weeks so why does it take the Consulate so long bearing in mind they have email, fax etc?

Seems like an unnecessarily long time to me My friend is the US Consul General currently appointed to Belfast and I have been with her when she has had 'emergency' requests for replacement passports. Last time was a Saturday morning when we were out walking the dogs together and she got the call on her mobile. The young girl who had lost her passport had a replacement issued the same day and was on her way home to the US again the following morning so 5 weeks seems ridiculous!!

If your daughter has to travel immediately (or just before she plans to travel, so that it looks like an emergency) get the Consulate to issue her with an emergency passport - this will be enough to get her home (hope she has a copy of the photo page of her passport as this will speed things up).  The delay is probably down to understaffing due to cutbacks, especially in civilised countries.