Why A Damaged Passport Must Be Replaced

by garrett on February 9, 2012

A passport is a federal document. It is used as identification for any individual traveling in or out of a country. This is why the document must be free from any damage such as tearing, watermarks, or discolor. If an immigration of customs official cannot view your document in its intended capacity then it could lead to major problems. This is why it is necessary to replace a damaged American passport.

Protect It

Why should keeping your passport safe be so important? Nobody is going to notice a coffee stain, are they? Then again, maybe they will and maybe they will be an immigration inspector. Native immigration agents may wave you off happily but their foreign counterparts have a vested interest in sending you immediately home if they are not satisfied with your travel document.

Importance

While you may know full well that you are not in danger in the nation you are about to visit, the people sworn to protect their fellow countrymen from harm must be assured you pose no danger. Having a passport that is acceptable will be part of the clearance process. This assures a country that the people they let in are law abiding citizens in their own respective countries.

Fake Passports

Immigration inspectors know there are people who, in the process of duplicating a valid passport for nefarious purposes may sometimes make them look like they have been innocently torn, worn or washed. The flimsy lamination that is starting to curl down the page may be the result of pulling it out of your pocket time after time to prove your age to be allowed into a nightclub. To the passport inspector, it could mean a botched job of changing a photograph.

Play It Safe

It is better to play it safe and get a passport renewal rather than risk traveling on a damaged one. Some countries may allow admittance with a damaged passport, but others may not. You may end up stuck in a foreign country until proper documents arrive. Why not save yourself the hassle and get a replacement.

Foreign Rules

If a passport is damaged while traveling it is important to get it taken care of right away. Say, your passport falls into the water on gondola ride in Italy, or some homemade Greek wine is spilled on it Athens, then your passport is damaged. When damage or loss occurs reports it as soon as possible and go through the necessary procedures to obtain a new one. This way your travel will not be inhibited and you will not be caught with damaged improper documents.

So whether your passport has a tear in it, is watermarked, or went through the washing machine it is essential to get a replacement for your damaged pasport. Replacement passports are easy to get as long as the damage is reported and all documentation is filled out correctly, no matter where you are, you should get your replacement in the timeframe in which you need it by. Depending on the dates on your passport you may be able to apply for a U.S. passport renewal. Be sure to ask a passport service agent what your best option is regarding your damaged passport.

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