Trip Reports - A Week in Tokyo - Part 1 - Passport Problems

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GregL

Mar 29, 02, 12:42 pm

I'm leaving for a week long trip to Japan with my boyfriend (Christian) on April 6. The planning process went very smoothly from the day the idea for this trip was hatched in late December, upon finding a $575 round-trip airfare from STL.

Even before purchasing the tickets, luck was smiling on us. A co-worker of mine who is an Executive Platinum on AA (converted from Platinum of TWA with the merger) was no longer travelling for business with any frequency and offered us four of her VIPOW certificates which would allow us to upgrade to business class on the flight.

I watched availability on flights very closely and as cheap seats started dwindling, called to verify what flights would still had upgrade availability. We ended up with multiple routing options before deciding on STL-ORD-NRT each way.

For hotel, I had about 95,000 Marriott points sitting in my account. Finding that there was a Renaissance in Ginza with award availability for the week, I transferred enough Diners Club points to top off the Marriott account and claim an award certificate for the week.

In January, Christian realized he didn't know where the passport he had obtained last year was. (He is just out of school and working to build a resume in stage management by working at different companies throughout the country -- as a result, he has belongings at various friends' places in different states.) Eventually, he decided to just apply for a replacement -- which he did towards the end of February, well within the six week limit before our trip.

Everything seemed to be going well, right?

March 25 11:30am

Christian makes it back to St. Louis over the weekend and decides to call the 1-900 Passport Information number to find out the status of his passport only to be told it had been mailed out March 5. Uh oh. It had also not been returned to the Passport Agency.

Since he was working down in Sarasota earlier this month, he asked that the passport be mailed to my address in care of my name to avoid delivery problems if it came after his work there was done. Now, while the mail can be slow it shouldn't take 20 days to go from Miami to St. Louis.

They tell him to check with the post office it was sent to.

March 25 11:45am

I call my post office and am told that I have to come in to fill out a tracking request.

March 25 1:30pm

I leave the office for a long lunch to hunt down the missing passport. Talking to the worker at the counter, I'm asked how the passport was mailed. How am I supposed to know? Christian again calls the 900 number and is told it was sent regular mail without tracking.

Ok.. wait a minute. After 9/11, doesn't it surprise you they mail passports out through first class mail without any tracking or delivery confirmation? At the cost of another dollar or two, I would think it makes sense -- then again I don't work in the government.

When told there was no tracking number, the agents at the post office look through all areas they think it could be -- without luck. One woman actually went so far as to call my regular mail carrier who was out sick that day. No one recalls seeing the passport at all.

March 25, 2:00 pm

Christian calls the 900 passport number again and is told someone will contact him later in the day. I've also realized his birth certificate is with the passport lost in the mail -- so even if we want to, we can't head up to Chicago to request an emergency passport. Thoughts of having to cancel the trip run through my head.

March 25, 6:00pm

Christian is called and told to fax a letter to the Passport Agency saying he never received the passport. Once that is received, a decision would be made if another could be issued to him without further documentation.

March 26, Noon.

Christian gets a call -- his passport has been found returned to the Miami Passport Agency. We think it is because they did not include the "care of" line in the address.

He asks if the passport can be express mailed to him. They say no. It supposedly goes out First Class that afternoon.

March 28, 8:10am

I am woken up by a call from my post office -- they received the passport! This time the address did include the "care of" line. It is to be delivered with today's mail. I'll keep my fingers crossed until then...

Greg

lalala

Mar 29, 02, 1:09 pm

Greg,
My partner renewed her passport at the DC passport office. She ended up expediting it, but bought the incorrect envelope for return. The passport agency sent it back regular USPS mail to Seattle. So, they do still send things back using the mail- 5 day turn around too.

I hope the mail gods are kind to you and you enjoy your VIPOWs (assuming they cleared) an d the cherry blossoms -lala is very envious.

lala

GregL

Mar 29, 02, 1:23 pm

Originally posted by lalala:
I hope the mail gods are kind to you and you enjoy your VIPOWs (assuming they cleared) an d the cherry blossoms -lala is very envious.


Yes, they did clear -- I called up to check availability on the different routings (via ORD, DFW and SJC) before booking the tickets.

I think there was availability on all of the flights. I avoided SJC since it gave us a much shorter flight in International Business Class.

In choosing between DFW and ORD, I chose the ORD outbound since it allowed us to leave about two hours later (8am departure from STL vs 10am) and sleep two more hours. On the return, I picked ORD because of a shorter connection -- although a change to the return NRT-ORD flight made it just as long. Oh well.

Thanks for the good wishes!

Greg

Worldtraveler36

Mar 29, 02, 1:45 pm

Greg, my sympathies and condolensces. Been there, done that. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I am assuming the passport has been received.

I applied for a passport, didn't have to, was full, Asia stamps like crazy, wanted a new passport. They hassled me over that. If you have ever seen the LA Federal Building and passport office, it is a zoo. They make you apply til right before you go, which is just plain stupid.

They kept it there, vs. sending it back, when I told them, obviously I wanted it sent back. Full panic with checking the mail everyday. Went in to the Fed. bldg.and picked it up the day I was to leave for Asia.

Blood, sweat, and tears doesn't begin to describe it. Ok, not that bad, but, whewwwww.
So, can identify well. Good luck and sayonarra http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

------------------
Michael
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
HH GLD, SCI GLD, MM SIL
LE PRESIDENT ETERNEL DE CAMAIR-CAMEROUN AIRLINES :)

Steve M

Mar 29, 02, 5:51 pm

Originally posted by Worldtraveler36:
I applied for a passport, didn't have to, was full, Asia stamps like crazy, wanted a new passport. They hassled me over that. 

The proper thing to do in this situation is to have additional blank pages added to your existing passport, rather than getting a new one. You didn't address this specifically, but was there a particular reason you didn't want to do this?

Also, assuming that you'd have at least some room for one more entry stamp, the easiest way to have additional pages added is to go to a US embassy or consulate overseas. Most will add additional pages on the spot without hassle - no waiting and no multiple trips.

Also, the next time you renew your passport, if you anticipate needing one, you can request a 48-page passport instead of the regular 24-page one.

Worldtraveler36

Mar 29, 02, 6:14 pm

Originally posted by Steve M:
The proper thing to do in this situation is to have additional blank pages added to your existing passport, rather than getting a new one. You didn't address this specifically, but was there a particular reason you didn't want to do this?

Also, assuming that you'd have at least some room for one more entry stamp, the easiest way to have additional pages added is to go to a US embassy or consulate overseas. Most will add additional pages on the spot without hassle - no waiting and no multiple trips.

Also, the next time you renew your passport, if you anticipate needing one, you can request a 48-page passport instead of the regular 24-page one.

>>> greetins Steve. Glad I checked back here. I am aware of the extra pages and may try it sometime, haven't yet. I love my stamps and often will ask the officer, if they speak English or French, to stamp a separate page. The thing gets filled up quickly.

Even with the extra pages, I can see the officers stamping over old stamps... can you say corronary? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif they did that over an old Hong Kong, pre-handover stamp...that is when alarm bells went off... The officers don't care and can become obnoxious when you "tell them their job."

Thanks for the advice. I am sure you know with a trip through Asia, it brings in lot's of stamps. I picked up atleast a dozen stamps just playing around Hong Kong: 2- in and out/airport, 2 to Macau/HK and back, 2 to Macau, 2 to China and back + 2/back to Macau, in Macau, plus a Chinese visa stamp(day visa), so 11. Plus Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and Taiwan... hence, a few stamps... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ciao

UAL Traveler

Mar 29, 02, 9:02 pm

Originally posted by Worldtraveler36:
they did that over an old Hong Kong, pre-handover stamp...Are you implying that the HKG pre-handover entry/departure stamps are different in some way(s)? I just scanned my PP and checked several dozen pre/post handover stamps and they are all identical (only the inspector numbers and dates vary). Even the granted stay-duration remained the same within a month or so after the handover (one month). It wasn't until late '98 or so that the visa-free stay granted to US citizens increased to three months.

Please clarify. I'm curious. Thanks.

GregL

Mar 29, 02, 10:49 pm

Good news.. the passport arrived this afternoon.. Tokyo here we come!

Greg

Worldtraveler36

Mar 30, 02, 1:11 am

Originally posted by UAL Traveler:
Originally posted by Worldtraveler36:
they did that over an old Hong Kong, pre-handover stamp...Are you implying that the HKG pre-handover entry/departure stamps are different in some way(s)? I just scanned my PP and checked several dozen pre/post handover stamps and they are all identical (only the inspector numbers and dates vary). Even the granted stay-duration remained the same within a month or so after the handover (one month). It wasn't until late '98 or so that the visa-free stay granted to US citizens increased to three months.

Please clarify. I'm curious. Thanks.

>>> Ok, quickly http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif, the fiance awaits.

I was shocked to learn that the stamp was relatively the same, but the date is relevant. I didn't know that it wouldn't be different so I had daggers for the US officer at Vancouver who stamped over the HK pre-handover stamp before I had gone back...GRWL... It is still special...

Now, the special stamps are from the European Union-pre Schengen, those were all nice. I can't stand the boring, generic schengen stamps that don't show anything special to that particular country. Fortunately, the UK and Ireland stayed out of that idiocy, and of course Switzerland, smart as always, kept everything the same, hence, my Zurich stamps are special as well. ciao... ( It was sad for me to finally get to Greece and they had just joined Schengen. Since I flew in from Paris, no stamp at all, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif. I bluffed my way to getting a stamp when I had left and they weren't happy about it...)

Worldtraveler36

Mar 30, 02, 1:12 am

Originally posted by GregL:
Good news.. the passport arrived this afternoon.. Tokyo here we come!

Greg

>>> CONGRATS DUDE!!! Have a wonderful trip
and do some lounge hopping at Narita, fun!

Steve M

Mar 30, 02, 3:16 am

Originally posted by UAL Traveler:
Are you implying that the HKG pre-handover entry/departure stamps are different in some way(s)? I just scanned my PP and checked several dozen pre/post handover stamps and they are all identical (only the inspector numbers and dates vary).

This is true. On my last HKG entry prior to the handover, I was fortunate enough to have inspector number 1997. A fitting souvenier, I think.

Seiple

Mar 30, 02, 2:16 pm

UAL,
Another option is that WT didn't know they were the same until he read your post, as it probably differed from other information he had read on the internet (and your information was correct).

Worldtraveler36

Mar 30, 02, 7:39 pm

Originally posted by Seiple:
UAL,
Another option is that WT didn't know they were the same until he read your post, as it probably differed from other information he had read on the internet (and your information was correct). 

>>>UGH... Mr. Seiple is referring to an allegation(and a very serious one, at that!) that I am making up all my world travels, which atleast to me, would be impossible to make up. Well, I couldn't do it, more so with the way that I include a personal approach to it. Maybe others could!? The things that I state in my trip reports and posts could in no way be found in a tourbook. Also, his allegation, at a minimum, is found to be extrememly offensive and not appreciated.

As stated, the stamp was the same but the date was relevant. I have my passport and stamps to prove it... As it had been a few months before the handover, it was special.

Also, if I didn't take part in these travels, why would I waste my time trying to assist my fellow travelers by making up a bunch of BS, which could easily be disproven? sorry for the annoyance to other readers... Michael

Seiple

Mar 30, 02, 9:25 pm

Michael,
I strongly suggest you cease sending me harrassing e-mails.

thanks.

captain_nemo

Mar 30, 02, 10:19 pm

I remember seeing on TV (movie or documentary I can't remember) a guy who buys postage stamps of countries he visited and paste them into his passport to have them stamped at custom.

I wonder if anyone tried that.

Worldtraveler36

Mar 31, 02, 3:29 am

Originally posted by Seiple:
Michael,
I strongly suggest you cease sending me harrassing e-mail(s). (one, and done!)

thanks. 

Dude, chill and get on with life. I will never contact you again. That I promise.

Worldtraveler36

Mar 31, 02, 3:35 am

Originally posted by captain_nemo:
I remember seeing on TV (movie or documentary I can't remember) a guy who buys postage stamps of countries he visited and paste them into his passport to have them stamped at custom.

I wonder if anyone tried that.

>>> Hey. First, I apologize for the hassles with Seiple. As far as I am concerned, I am done with him. So, no more disturbances on here, please Jason.

Anyway, that would invalidate the passport. Seriously. Any marking, tampering, drawing pics(yes, someone did that and it cost her a trip to Brazil) invalidates the passport completely. It is technically the property of the Gov't. However, it would be fun to do that.

Some visas stamped into the passport, France and Egypt come to mind, do include actualy stamps(licked) as a part of the visa.

Seiple

Mar 31, 02, 9:51 am

Originally posted by Worldtraveler36:
>>> Hey. First, I apologize for the hassles with Seiple. As far as I am concerned, I am done with him. So, no more disturbances on here, please Jason.



Thank God you're not going to bother me anymore. Now I can live in peace. On another note, stop calling me childish names in e-mails to people. It all gets back to me and really looks bad on your part. Just leave me alone and start acting the age you claim to be please.

Plato90s

Mar 31, 02, 10:12 am

Seiple

Mar 31, 02, 10:22 am

Originally posted by Plato90s:
Technically, you're not suppose to stick anything into a passport that doesn't belong there [visa, etc..]. Who know what you're covering up undert that stamp....

Gotta be careful with that... Last time I was in Cancun, I overheard an American gentleman next to us in the lobby bar plotting how to cover up his Cuban passport stamp (had gone to Cuba from Cancun that week and was silly enough to get his passport stamped while there, then realized that US Immigration wouldn't like that if they saw it).

------------------
Jason Seiple
JAX

UAL Traveler

Mar 31, 02, 10:32 am

In addition to looking for suspicious immigration stamps, the immigration officer will often flip through the last several pages of the passport, especially in less computerized countries. That is where the big red Persona Non Grata stamps sometimes reside.

Worldtraveler36

Mar 31, 02, 9:28 pm

Originally posted by UAL Traveler:
In addition to looking for suspicious immigration stamps, the immigration officer will often flip through the last several pages of the passport, especially in less computerized countries. That is where the big red Persona Non Grata stamps sometimes reside.

>>> I was in line to depart France, AA at CDG 2A where the African flights go out, le policier des passportes de l'air (aka passport police http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ) looked through every page of the African passports. Needless to say, it took a long time.

My friend from South Africa(she lives here) has to get a visa for just about every country in the world, hence, she has a full passport and it is work to look through(though can be fun http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ).

Worldtraveler36

Mar 31, 02, 9:32 pm

Ah, one more, have to share. My dad ticked off a UK passport officer at Heathrow, long, dreaded story. They wrote a "Z" inside the Heathrow passport stamp. Duh, he came back and picked up a new US passport and then the next year we flew into Ireland(then no passport check from Ireland to the UK).

Nothing ever happened after that. Not a fun experience, I can assure you.

SMessier

Apr 1, 02, 12:03 am

Originally posted by Seiple:
... had gone to Cuba from Cancun that week and was silly enough to get his passport stamped while there, then realized that US Immigration wouldn't like that if they saw it. 

Over a period of about 3 years, I entered the US about 2 dozen times with my (Canadian) passport which featured a Cuban stamp. Though I was almost always asked, if the agent happened to see it, why I had gone there, it never seemed to matter a great deal.

Seiple

Apr 1, 02, 6:16 am

Originally posted by SMessier:
Over a period of about 3 years, I entered the US about 2 dozen times with my (Canadian) passport which featured a Cuban stamp. Though I was almost always asked, if the agent happened to see it, why I had gone there, it never seemed to matter a great deal. 

True, but that was a Canadian passport, not a U.S. passport (and U.S. citizens aren't supposed to go to Cuba).

------------------
Jason Seiple
JAX

kanebear

Apr 1, 02, 9:19 am

Originally posted by lalala:
Greg,
My partner renewed her passport at the DC passport office. She ended up expediting it, but bought the incorrect envelope for return. The passport agency sent it back regular USPS mail to Seattle. So, they do still send things back using the mail- 5 day turn around too.

I hope the mail gods are kind to you and you enjoy your VIPOWs (assuming they cleared) an d the cherry blossoms -lala is very envious.

lala

O/T but the cherry blossoms are GORGEOUS! I thought I'd seen beautiful blossoms in DC when I was there in college... no way, they're EVERYWHERE in Tokyo!

AAPlatinum

Apr 1, 02, 12:25 pm

GregL, glad to hear that you got your boyfriend's passport fiasco cleared up. Perhaps you can post something in the GLBT forum upon your return re: how it is traveling in Tokyo as a gay couple. As I'm going in May, I'd be especially interested to read your report.

lalala

Apr 1, 02, 2:43 pm

Okay,

You are all making me look at May availablity to NRT (cheap ticket and VIPOW) avail.

Never been, wanna go, need some Japanese strolling garden slides and some plastic sushi http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

lala

AAPlatinum

Apr 2, 02, 12:44 pm

come on lalala, go to NRT! I'll be there with Gabriel (from the AC boards), we can have a mini-flyertalk NRT meeting.

Non-NonRev

Apr 2, 02, 7:04 pm

Originally posted by Steve M:
Also, the next time you renew your passport, if you anticipate needing one, you can request a 48-page passport instead of the regular 24-page one.

SteveM, what is the proper way to do that? When I renewed in early 1999, I called because the renewal form did not have a checkbox or any other place to request the 48-page size. I was told to "just put a note in with the application asking for 48 pages". About 15 days later, the new PP shows up, with 24 pages.....

Did they just lose the note, or is there another (correct) procedure? Thanks!

Worldtraveler36

Apr 2, 02, 9:29 pm

Originally posted by Non-NonRev:
Originally posted by Steve M:
Also, the next time you renew your passport, if you anticipate needing one, you can request a 48-page passport instead of the regular 24-page one.

SteveM, what is the proper way to do that? When I renewed in early 1999, I called because the renewal form did not have a checkbox or any other place to request the 48-page size. I was told to "just put a note in with the application asking for 48 pages". About 15 days later, the new PP shows up, with 24 pages.....

Did they just lose the note, or is there another (correct) procedure? Thanks!

>>>If I may!?, I very much second this request. thanks.