Huge Problem HELP! (damaged passport while abroad)
 

Ok. I am an American living in Turkey. My passport got wet and the plastic has seperated from the side of my passport next to my picture. I am going home in less than a month. I am going home to take care of my taxes which I didnt know that I have to do. After I do my taxes I need a name change because I got married here. They give your SSN# The the IRS when you need a new passport. I wanted to take care of the taxes before they came to me (They are easier on you that way). The name on my ticket is my old name and if I get a new passport the names wont be the same. Its a huge mess. What are the chances they will let me return to the US with this damaged passport and I can get a new one there after I take care of the IRS?

Welcome to FlyerTalk!!

If I understand correctly you're concerned about going to get a replacement passport because you're worried about the IRS finding out. Is that correct? The IRS is going to figure out that you messed up your taxes eventually, so I wouldn't worry too much about that, and I do not think that they can deny you a replacement passport for failure to pay.

When I had an old laminated/glued-on picture passport the cover page similarly started pulling apart and one or two agents said something to me, but explaining that it got wet and damaged got me through anyways. But I replaced that passport 2+ years ago so I have no idea how strict they are about that these days.

I'd pay the extra $100 or whatever to get a replacement now and then another replacement after you change your name.

Any recommendations for Turkey? I'm going for a week at the end of the summer. :D

It depends.... do you want to go to where the tourists go?

Can I keep using my old name on a new passport even if my name has changed?

If your tax situation is simple, it might be an idea to download TurboTax from their website and either just submit your taxes electronically from home (TK) or apply for an extension. That way, you might have some time to get the passport issued in your new name.

Its been 7 years since I filed. The last 6 arent important because I didnt work the the first year I didnt file is complicated.

I'm confused on the name change bit. In the original post you mention that you need to do a name change after you file your taxes so I didn't think you had actually changed it yet with the US or state governments. If you have to get the new passport issued in the new name you should get to keep the old one. You also can try calling the airline to see if they'll change it for you, though chances of that are lower than not.

And we're looking for 3-4 days of stuff to do not in IST. We were thinking of heading in to the north central Anatolia region to see some of the ancient ruins but aren't sure since the infrastructure there seems rather limited.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia
try here. Its a tourist spot so most people speak english

On the passport form the ask about other names you have used and if you are married etc. I am thinking lying would be a bad idea.

I understand not wanting to lie, but I still can't figure out which jurisdictions you've actually changed your name in. If you've only changed it in Turkey but not in the US then I would think that you really still have your old name as far as the feds are concerned.

My name change has only happened here. There is just something about signing a government paper stating that all facts are true etc. when they arent. It makes my hands sweat.

I assume that the form you are referring to is the DS-64 or the DS-82. In both cases there is a place where you need to indicate that your name has changed due to marriage, but I have no idea if the State Department considers marriage in a foreign country as sufficient grounds for a name change or not. Looking at this page from the embassy it looks like if you got married legally in Turkey the Feds probably already know about your name change, so that could make things harder. At this point I think you'll have to call the embassy and get an answer there as to how to approach the name change situation. If they invalidate the passport and let you retain possession of it (which they normally do when it is invalidated) you might be able to check in with the old one and clear immigration and customs on arrival with the new one, since they don't look at your ticket at that point. But the airline may give you trouble trying to check in with an invalid passport and refuse to carry you.

So after all this I'm not so sure I actually gave you any useful information. Sorry.

Thanks for the Cappadocia suggestion. Looks like the same type of stuff we were looking for but with a bit more infrastructure to support it. Quite helpful. ^

Taxes cant hold you from getting replacement passport
 

Taxes can't hold you from getting a replacement passport.
I've sent you a PM (Private message) on that issue.

As for the replacement US passport--

Get your replacement passport in your new name;
have old passport ready to surrender and other supporting documentation such as marriage license available...doubt they'll aske for birth certificate, but can't hurt to have it at hand) -- US dept of State will cancel your old passport and issue the replacement in your married name.

Contact one of the following for help and to explain your situation.--

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara is located at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, tel.: (90) (312) 455-5555, fax (90)(312) 468-6131. Visa information is also available at (90) (212) 344-4444.

The web site is http://turkey.usembassy.gov/. Non-emergency e-mail messages about consular matters may be sent through the web site.

The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located at Kaplicalar Mevkii Sokak No. 2, 34460, Istinye, Sariyer, tel.: (90) (212) 335-9000, fax (90) (212) 335-9102.

Istanbul-specific information can also be accessed via the Consulate General's web site http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov/. Non-emergency e-mail messages about consular matters may be sent to email: [email protected].


The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at Girne Bulvari No. 212, Guzelevler Mahallesi, Yuregir, Adana, Turkey. Tel: (90) (322) 346-6262, fax (90) (322) 346-7916. General information can be accessed at the Consulate’s web site at http://adana.usconsulate.gov.

The U.S. Consular Agent in Izmir can be contacted at (90) (232) 464-8755.


The main U.S. Dept of State website is at:
http://travel.state.gov/

The only issue I can foresee with this is if the ticket is already issued in the old name. That could be a problem with the airline that might make it hard to use the ticket.

You have never called a US Consulate for anything, have you? Well, they are not really kown for picking up the phone, and when they do, they are not really known for their friendly, helpful attitude.

All embassy or consulate staff (such as telephone operators etc are not necessarily US citizens, but rather locals in the employment of the facility so that may well account for your bad experiences.

Never had a problem when I called, and better yet visited in person; then of course, I didn't speak to low-level staff, nor did I on visits ever need an appointment at any hour of the day or night.

And, no I do not work for the US State Department.

Rather much better than that. :D

Oh, and NO, I'm not CIA either. Nor am I "James Bond 007" anything.

That junk is strictly for the movies.

Have you tried to repair the passport yourself?

This is merely a suggestion:
1. Place the picture page of the passport face up on an ironing board.
2. Place a piece of cloth (such as an old towel or hanky) over the photo page.
3. Take an iron (on a low heat setting) and place it on top of the cloth.
4. See if you can fuse it back down.

You might want to try this on something else before doing it on your passport. If all else fails, the US embassy / consuls in Turkey can get you a replacement passport for your journey to the US.

Thanks
 

Thank you all so very much. I have contacted the embassy and they said they will issue me a new passport in 5 days. I am hoping there is some way that I can still use the ticket that I bought. Wish me luck. Thanks again.

bring a copy of marriage certificate (or whatever document you have of your marriage) with you to show the airlines as well as copy of name-change (once again, if such thing exists)

Definitely a new passport is the way to go. If customs even thinks you tampered/altered your passport, it will not be a fun ride.

The travel agency that I used said that I should bring my new passport, my old passport, copies of my old passport and my international marriage certificate. I will fly From Turkey to O'hare on Turkish Airlines and I have a connecting AA flight from O'hare to St. Louis. I will return to Turkey 5 weeks later stopping in the same places and with the same airlines. I am worried about the US side much more than the Turkish side. I have emailed AA and am waiting for their reply. Wish me luck. If I have to change my ticket there is a 500 euro fee.

As long as you have a valid passport, you will be fine on all of your connections.

Well I've only had to do it once (Mrs. sbm12 lost her passport in Ireland and we only discovered it the morning of our flight home :eek:). It was a holiday (President's Day) and yet still a professional and polite person answered the phone, tracked down whomever was on-call for that day and made the necessary calls for us that actually got her admitted back to the US without a passport in hand. I'd say that they can be incredibly friendly and helpful. No guarantee, but certainly worth trying if you need consular assistance.

You should be fine. You will clear US immigrations in Chicago with your new passport. After that, you are good to go. They don't even need to know about your old, damaged passport. All horror stories aside, the Immigration officers are human beings and have no doubt seen people come through who have washed their passports by mistake. It happens.

But will AA let her check in with the new passport having a different name than the ticket? CBP doesn't look at the ticket so they don't care what name is on it.

My new name is my old surname and my new surname hyphenated. I will ask the embassy if I HAVE to change my name since I have booked tickets.

Here is the email I got from AA. I will print it out and take it with me just incase.



Dear Mrs. XXXX,

Thank you for your response.

I apologize for advising you to contact American Airlines when we do not
have a published telephone number for Turkey.

I have been advised by our international department that as long as you
have your new passport and your marriage certificate that you will not
have issues while traveling on American Airlines. However, we cannot
speak for other carriers and we do strongly recommend you contacting
Turkish Airlines. I have documented your reservation (record locator
XXXXXX).

We appreciate your visits to AA.com and we hope you have many pleasant
journeys with American Airlines.


Sincerely,
Barbara Kuebler
AA.com Web Services
American Airlines


What does "I have documented your reservation (record locator
EMXZLA). mean. Thats not my e ticket number.

Your record locator is the 5 letter alphanumeric code the airlines use to track your reservation - as such, I would recommend removing it from this post, as with that and your surname (whichever version ;)) it would be possible to find out quite a bit of information about you!

To translate into english from airline, it means they've added a comment to your booking to say you've informed them of your name change in advance. It should make checking in under your new name and with the supporting documents just a little bit easier.

Because you enter the US on Turkish Airlines, it's up to them to check you have right of entry to the US. As such, I would also check/forwarn them about this if you can - by the time you get to American, you'll already have entered the US, it's Turkish which might baulk when you come to check-in - and it's Turkish which will have to transmit your details to the DHS for clearance. So i'd try and have the same conversation with Turkish Airlines that you had with American Airlines.

This IMHO is bad advice. Almost certainly you will leave evidence (to expert eyes at least) of having tampered with your passport. What happens if someone on arrival somewhere accuses you of a false passport? Could turn out really nasty.

PNRs are 6 alphanumeric digits.