From the news: dog ate passport, couple's honeymoon ruined
Nov 1, 2018, 2:49 pm
#16
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Nov 1, 2018, 8:05 pm
#18
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What's interesting, is that I'm pretty sure the first time I read the article, travel insurance wasn't mentioned.
But then later, I think their friend is quoted as saying something like "and the insurance won't cover this".
Which actually leads me to the insurance questions:
Let's say you *did* buy Travel Insurance:
1) Would a destroyed/damaged passport in "short-term" (ie, like 30 days or less before you have to travel) be covered?
2) Would ANY destroyed/damaged passport situation be covered (regardless)?
3) If so, would you need certain coverage (Cancel for Any Reason vs. say: Comprehensive)?
I no longer have my doggie anymore, so I don't have to worry about that. Although my sister apparently threw out all their passports when they moved into their new house (or rather I should say they were never found), and had to get expedited replacements, and the plane tickets went up like $200 each by the time they arrived (they were flying Frontier and you needed the passport info to even book). LOL!
But then later, I think their friend is quoted as saying something like "and the insurance won't cover this".
Which actually leads me to the insurance questions:
Let's say you *did* buy Travel Insurance:
1) Would a destroyed/damaged passport in "short-term" (ie, like 30 days or less before you have to travel) be covered?
2) Would ANY destroyed/damaged passport situation be covered (regardless)?
3) If so, would you need certain coverage (Cancel for Any Reason vs. say: Comprehensive)?
I no longer have my doggie anymore, so I don't have to worry about that. Although my sister apparently threw out all their passports when they moved into their new house (or rather I should say they were never found), and had to get expedited replacements, and the plane tickets went up like $200 each by the time they arrived (they were flying Frontier and you needed the passport info to even book). LOL!
Nov 1, 2018, 8:39 pm
#19
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Nov 2, 2018, 5:30 am
#20
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Nov 2, 2018, 9:07 pm
#21
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Nov 3, 2018, 7:46 pm
#22
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I've traveled successfully on some fairly mangled passports, though never one with the corner missing. Nowadays immigration officials at major airports seem to not even glance at it, they just place it on their chip reader and view the details that way.
Closer examination tends to happen at land or train crossings where such technology isn't available, though I always chuckle thinking back to a Polish immigration officer at Terespol who opened my passport on the page of my Russian visa, thought it was the ID page and flipped back and forth between the cover ('Canada') and that page several times as if he was having an out-of-body experience.
Closer examination tends to happen at land or train crossings where such technology isn't available, though I always chuckle thinking back to a Polish immigration officer at Terespol who opened my passport on the page of my Russian visa, thought it was the ID page and flipped back and forth between the cover ('Canada') and that page several times as if he was having an out-of-body experience.
Nov 4, 2018, 2:57 pm
#24
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It didn't look all that damaged to me- just a corner missing- but knowing the chances of ending up in front of the ONE Immigration or Border Control official who might object to it, and the likely consequences, I'd never take the chance of trying to get by with it.
Nov 5, 2018, 6:26 am
#25
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The moral of the story is keep your passport in pristine condition. I would not have traveled in the passport shown in the picture and gotten a replacement immediately. Some border officials are quite particular about condition including some in the U.S. and Canada.
Nov 5, 2018, 6:30 pm
#26
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Passport Canada, for instance, will replace any passport that has been refused by an immigration officer, but if you've merely been hassled by Canada's own border agency (which of course cannot deny entry to Canadians) for a well-worn passport, they won't replace it unless it is eligible for renewal.
Nov 5, 2018, 7:33 pm
#27
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Good advice but a bureaucratic nightmare can ensue when one party (be it an immigration official or an airline employee) refuses a particular passport for damage, but then the passport authorities deem it insufficiently damaged to warrant replacement.
Passport Canada, for instance, will replace any passport that has been refused by an immigration officer, but if you've merely been hassled by Canada's own border agency (which of course cannot deny entry to Canadians) for a well-worn passport, they won't replace it unless it is eligible for renewal.
Passport Canada, for instance, will replace any passport that has been refused by an immigration officer, but if you've merely been hassled by Canada's own border agency (which of course cannot deny entry to Canadians) for a well-worn passport, they won't replace it unless it is eligible for renewal.
Nov 6, 2018, 7:32 am
#28
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My passport went through the wash when I was in Australia (forgot it was in my pocket). When I got back to the US, they didn't give it a second look. I asked if it was OK, and the immigration guy said it didn't matter to the US passport control people, since they could just look me up in the computer, but other countries might have a problem with it. He suggested I get a new one, and I did.
Nov 6, 2018, 8:05 am
#29
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At SCL I got pulled aside because of a very faint moisture stain on the top right hand corner of the front of my passport. I got a really good scolding and was asked a bunch of questions. For a spit second I thought I was going to be detained, but they let me go after what felt like 15-20 minutes.
Now when I travel with my passport, I place it in a plastic bag or ziploc bag.
Now when I travel with my passport, I place it in a plastic bag or ziploc bag.