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OldEnoughToKnowButtr t1_ja77jko wrote

LINCOLN, N.H. —

More than 40 students from the United Kingdom, who were visiting New Hampshire, last week, are stuck in the United States after their school said their passports were destroyed at the hotel, where the group was staying.

Kate Hibbs, the head teacher of Barr Beacon Head School in Wallsall, England told News 9 on Sunday that 42 students and 4 staff members are currently waiting in New York to receive their emergency documents after 41 of their passports were destroyed by the hotel.

They were on a ski trip that started on Feb. 17, and were expected to return home on Feb. 25.

An itinerary for the trip, posted school website, said that the students were staying at the Kancamagus Lodge, which is in Lincoln.

A representative for the hotel told News 9 that she had no comment to share about the situation.

At this time, the students have a safe place to stay in New York. However, Hibbs said funds for their trip are starting to run low, given the unexpected four-day extension.

One parent said that the situation has been incredibly stressful, as he awaits word on when his son will be able to come back to the U.K.

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OldEnoughToKnowButtr t1_ja77ok6 wrote

I've always had a lingering fear leaving my passport at the front desk....

Police or hotel not commenting tells us F nothing - Like how to prevent this happening again. Come on People!

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northursalia t1_ja7i36w wrote

You don't have to leave your passport with them - you own it, or I guess technically the US government owns it. If a country requires the passport details for purposes of registration, stand there until they give it back to you. If they refuse, ask for the manager. If they still refuse, find a different place to stay.

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blzac33 t1_ja7kzn7 wrote

This is correct. It’s actually illegal for hotels in the US to keep your passport.

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OldEnoughToKnowButtr t1_ja7p1yi wrote

Small consolation to the UK group. Unless the get an attorney. Maybe they could recoup some of their added travel expenses. I'm sure booking last minute airfare for 47 isn't cheap?

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gmcgath t1_jaamz9n wrote

The article says the chaperones took the passports and put them in a safe deposit box. If they did that, it makes less sense than ever that they were destroyed.

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