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Albert Pujols · Jul 1, 2005, 10:10 AM

Yesterday I had to go get my license so I brought my passport along with me as I.D. Today I had to go back to the DMV so I was looking for my passport, and I realized I left it in my pants which went through the wash. My passport is warped and tattered. The blue cover shrank a little bit and it doesn't stick to well with the photopage or the back page. Other then that its in decent shape. All my pages and Visas are intact.

The problem is that I am going to be going to India in less than 10 days..will they accept my passport at the aiport or am I ****ed?

budster101 · Jul 1, 2005, 10:13 AM

Order an emergency copy. Now.

Albert Pujols · Jul 1, 2005, 10:15 AM

If I get an emergency copy will it have the Indian visa? The visa takes 2 weeks to get.

budster101 · Jul 1, 2005, 10:18 AM

I have no idea.

rjenkinson · Jul 1, 2005, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Albert Pujols

If I get an emergency copy will it have the Indian visa? The visa takes 2 weeks to get.

not if it was attached to the passport you put through the wash. you'll most likely have to contact the indian embassy for another one.

-r.

Millennium · Jul 1, 2005, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by budster101

I have no idea.

If the emergency copy doesn't have the visa, then bring both copies. I don't know how much this will help -if at all- but it may increase your chances. At the very least, they'll be more likely to investigate the situation if you actually have a damaged passport with a visa on it, rather than a just a new passport with no visa. If they investigate, they should be able to confirm that you actually do have a valid visa.

If it comes to this, though, then allow yourself several extra hours of time to get to the airport, because if an investigation occurs then it's not likely to be a quick process.

Mastrap · Jul 1, 2005, 10:45 AM

You should be fine. I use my passport an awful lot and it shows. The cover is faded, frayed and cracked, the binding is tattered. As long as the inside pages are ok I wouldn't worry.

But, I am not a custom official. Don't blame me if things go wrong.

Albert Pujols · Jul 1, 2005, 10:51 AM

Right now my passport is almost back to normal. I flattened it out so its not warped any more and the cover and the photopage are stuck back together. The only problem now is the back cover is a little smaller than the page because it shrunk, and there is nothing I can do about that.

Passports with ripped visa pages, ripped bindings, badly peeled laminate, extremely weathered pages or covers, etc. will probably be considered "damaged". The only thing wrong with it is the somewhat "weathered" cover. Right now I'm hoping I won't need a new passport. Although I'm going to bring it to the Post Office and see what they say about it.

KeriVit · Jul 1, 2005, 10:59 AM

This site helped us when we were in a jam a few months back. Though I think we called and spoke to someone directly

http://www.passportsandvisas.com/ind...visa&ovtac=PPC

The Godfather · Jul 1, 2005, 11:08 AM

*invalidated by some post above*

Why would you seek immigration advice from a US Postal worker?

Albert Pujols · Jul 1, 2005, 11:25 AM

You can apply for passports at Post Offices..either way the Department of State website recommended it.

GSixZero · Jul 1, 2005, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

Why would you seek immigration advice from a US Postal worker?

A lot of post offices have a person who's in charge of passport applications. I don't know if this person works for the USPS or if they just have an agreement to share office space with them.

Albert Pujols · Jul 1, 2005, 08:54 PM

I think they work for the USPS.

Randman · Jul 2, 2005, 03:45 AM

What part of India are you going to?

Albert Pujols · Jul 2, 2005, 04:49 AM

Mumbai...and some other places.

Randman · Jul 2, 2005, 05:03 AM

Be hot but fun. Enjoy,

OT: Your sig makes me think goal bert not go_albert.

Albert Pujols · Jul 2, 2005, 04:15 PM

Thanks, hopefully I'll make it there.

Albert Pujols · Jul 8, 2005, 11:57 AM

So I got a new passport! I went down to the Department of State office in Boston, it only took 4 hours to make a new one.

I found out that passports that go through the wash are considered mutilated by the government and countries have different policies regarding visas. My Indian visa is still valid, I have to bring both my damaged passport and my new passport with me on my trip.