Passport Cover
 

Hi All -

I have searched the site for the questioned info, but all of the threads are based on the slip covers for your passport.

Here is my dilemma. I have never put a cover on my passport and it has taken a beating. As a result, it looks a little dog eared and I noticed on my current trip to China, the automated readers don't recognize it.

Can you have a passport "re-covered"? I have alot of visa's that I don't want to lose, nor do I want to have to carry two passports with me.

Thanks for the help.

Jim

You mean actually replacing the cover so that the inner pages stay intact? You didn't tell us what country's passport you have, but I doubt this is possible anywhere.

That said, just being dog-eared or scuffing up the barcodes to the point that they can't be scanned doesn't invalidate the passport. Just get the plastic slip cover now to prevent further damage, and expect to wait a little longer at borders as they hunt'n'peck your passport data into the computers instead.

How about buying a leather cover for your passport? I have a lovely one I got in the UK from Penhaligon, but I found a nice one from Levenger that might be what you're looking for

Replace the Outer Cover
 

Yes - I apologize for the lack of detail. The Passport is of US issue, and would like to have the outer cover, including the inner cover page w/ photo replaced, if possible. I had a Chinese Border guard give it a ,serious once over, then I was handed off to a Supervisor who basically questioned me as if I had made it!

How long until your passport expires? I think your only options are to use a protective cover and live with the wear or have a new passport issued. The picture page has the passport number and it will not be reused. Also, passports issued now have a digital picture printed on the cover page instead of inserting an actual photo.

a while back I went into an american embassy for some administrative issue, and when I handed them my passport through the glass, they punched a hole in it and I needed to get a new one. the reason was that they felt it was too dogeared. it was an extreme inconveninece to have happen in such a manner, and not when it was planned. I would suggest that if your passport is in bad enough shape that people are questioning you about it, order a new one immidiatly. you should be able to keep the old one, to be able to show the visas, although I am not sure that you can do this with american passports, you might be able to. I would also recomend a passport cover, which I had resisted until this happened to me.

That just seems rude. Did they issue you another passport?

:eek: Wow. Were they aware of your travel plans? What if you had had an international flight later that day? This could have cost you thousands of dollars or more.

If you had had a flight to the US, would that passport still have been valid for that, or was this embassy official denying you entry to the US for whatever # of days it takes to get a passport from NH?

Gotta love the gov't.