PatsWillWin
Footballguy
So I live in Australia. We're coming for a visit to the US in about two weeks.
A couple of nights ago, someone broke into my car. My passport was in my car. So too was a partially still-filled mug of coffee. The ##### didn't take my passport, but while rummaging around looking for valuables, he did pretty much soak it in coffee. The passport is mostly dried now, but it has a brownish tinge to it, and there are clearly water marks and whatnot all through the whole thing. The photo page looks fine I think, but I've looked up the standards for a "damaged passport" and it sounds ominous.
Getting a new passport takes 10-15 business days in Australia. This cannot be rushed when doing from overseas. Also, there's no consular in my city, I'd have to fly to another city to do it, which if it comes to it, I will. But I don't have 10-15 business days. I barely have 10, and obviously I don't have an appointment or anything started like that.
Changing the flights would be extremely expensive, almost the cost of a new ticket.
I'm Googling about trying to get into the US with a damaged passport and hearing horror stories of people, citizens, not being allowed in, and being put on a plane back out at your own expense. I'll be with my 3 year old son, so obviously this would not be tenable.
So I don't know - anyone ever traveled with a damaged passport like this? I'm not sure how much of a gamble it is, or if I should just start contemplating eating the costs up front to order a new one.
Ugh.
A couple of nights ago, someone broke into my car. My passport was in my car. So too was a partially still-filled mug of coffee. The ##### didn't take my passport, but while rummaging around looking for valuables, he did pretty much soak it in coffee. The passport is mostly dried now, but it has a brownish tinge to it, and there are clearly water marks and whatnot all through the whole thing. The photo page looks fine I think, but I've looked up the standards for a "damaged passport" and it sounds ominous.
Getting a new passport takes 10-15 business days in Australia. This cannot be rushed when doing from overseas. Also, there's no consular in my city, I'd have to fly to another city to do it, which if it comes to it, I will. But I don't have 10-15 business days. I barely have 10, and obviously I don't have an appointment or anything started like that.
Changing the flights would be extremely expensive, almost the cost of a new ticket.
I'm Googling about trying to get into the US with a damaged passport and hearing horror stories of people, citizens, not being allowed in, and being put on a plane back out at your own expense. I'll be with my 3 year old son, so obviously this would not be tenable.
So I don't know - anyone ever traveled with a damaged passport like this? I'm not sure how much of a gamble it is, or if I should just start contemplating eating the costs up front to order a new one.
Ugh.
