Passport Cover
May 15, 2006 | 2:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 35
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
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
May 15, 2006 | 2:23 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,353
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.
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.
May 15, 2006 | 2:30 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: AA, BA, AF, Marriott, Radisson, Priority Club (Gold), HHonors
Posts: 388
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
May 15, 2006 | 2:49 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 35
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!
Originally Posted by jpatokal
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.
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.
May 15, 2006 | 7:14 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: rural Indiana - IND
Programs: airline agnostic, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Jelly of the Month, DL defector, formerly NWA Plat (RIP)
Posts: 964
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.
May 18, 2006 | 7:30 am
#6
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 137
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.
May 18, 2006 | 7:37 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt something
Posts: 34,516
Originally Posted by Odysseus
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.
May 18, 2006 | 8:16 am
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
Programs: Former UA 1K, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 5,487
Originally Posted by Odysseus
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.
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.