My Gf Just Washed My Passport!

[motoyen]

My girlfriend just washed my passport and my current visa expires on Saturday. If I dry it out will I be able to use it for now? Can I get a new passport from the Canadian Embassy by Saturday? Am I fokked?

Edited January 2, 2008 by motoyen

[swain]

Dry it, open it to the page that has the visa stamp so it doesn't run as much as possible when drying. Unfold your arrival and departure card as well. This happened to me and I was ok because some of it was readable. In fact I still use the same passport today. Its hit or miss.

Though it happened to a friend as well and his passport was a pile of pulp but he was from Germany and their passports are not as well made.

I will leave it to others to talk about going to the US Embassy to get a new one as I have never done this.

[lopburi3]

Last I heard Canada was not a part of the US but suspect the Canadian Embassy can issue some type of passport/travel document to allow you to return to the north country if required but doubt a full passport could be obtained that soon. If everything readable you can probably use it to return to Canada but I would get a new one before trying to use for travel elsewhere.

[corkscrew]

My girlfriend just washed my passport and my current visa expires on Saturday. If I dry it out will I be able to use it for now? Can I get a new passport from the Canadian Embassy by Saturday? Am I fokked?

Try a brief encounter with a microwave oven....this should help dry it.

[swain]

Last I heard Canada was not a part of the US but suspect the Canadian Embassy can issue some type of passport/travel document to allow you to return to the north country if required but doubt a full passport could be obtained that soon. If everything readable you can probably use it to return to Canada but I would get a new one before trying to use for travel elsewhere.

Ahh yes I keep forgetting that we haven't annexed Canada yet. Tsk Tsk the things we forget about doing!!!

[Naam]

Dry it, open it to the page that has the visa stamp so it doesn't run as much as possible when drying. Unfold your arrival and departure card as well. This happened to me and I was ok because some of it was readable. In fact I still use the same passport today. Its hit or miss.

Though it happened to a friend as well and his passport was a pile of pulp but he was from Germany and their passports are not as well made.

I will leave it to others to talk about going to the US Embassy to get a new one as I have never done this.

perhaps he used a well made german washing machine?

[threelegcowboy]

Go to the Canada Embassy and apply for a temp passport. Should not take long. Also apply for a new one. Get your backup paperwork and go down to the Thai Immigration in BKK. Have your existing Visa transfered to your temp passport. Go ahead and apply for that extenion or whatever on the temp passport. When new passport arrives go back to Thai Imm BKK and transfer new visa into new passport.

See how easy getting these things replaced. Note I have not actually done this.

Edited January 2, 2008 by threelegcowboy

[chiang mai]

Last I heard Canada was not a part of the US but suspect the Canadian Embassy can issue some type of passport/travel document to allow you to return to the north country if required but doubt a full passport could be obtained that soon. If everything readable you can probably use it to return to Canada but I would get a new one before trying to use for travel elsewhere.

Canada is in the Commonwealth and the UK is most clearly a part of the US, ergo Canada is a part of the US also!

[thaiman]

Go to the Canada Embassy and apply for a temp passport. Should not take long. Also apply for a new one. Get your backup paperwork and go down to the Thai Immigration in BKK. Have your existing Visa transfered to your temp passport. Go ahead and apply for that extenion or whatever on the temp passport. When new passport arrives go back to Thai Imm BKK and transfer new visa into new passport.

See how easy getting these things replaced. Note I have not actually done this.

What is the difference between a temp passport and a new passport?

[chiang mai]

Go to the Canada Embassy and apply for a temp passport. Should not take long. Also apply for a new one. Get your backup paperwork and go down to the Thai Immigration in BKK. Have your existing Visa transfered to your temp passport. Go ahead and apply for that extenion or whatever on the temp passport. When new passport arrives go back to Thai Imm BKK and transfer new visa into new passport.

See how easy getting these things replaced. Note I have not actually done this.

What is the difference between a temp passport and a new passport?

A temp passport is issued by the Embassy and allows you to travel between two points on a specific date for a specific reason whilst a permanent passport is being prepared.

[motoyen]

I showed Claudio of ThaiVisaService my passport and he thinks that it won't be accepted in Cambodia. I went to Thai Immigration and got a 7 day extension, good till Jan 12. Right now I'm waiting for my birth certificate to come from Canada and once I have that I will apply for a temporary passport. If there is a delay in receiving my birth certificate or processing the temporary passport what are my options for staying in Thailand past January 12? Can I apply for another extension? Will it be a problem if I overstay by a couple of days and pay the fine at the border?

[Crossy]

I showed Claudio of ThaiVisaService my passport and he thinks that it won't be accepted in Cambodia. I went to Thai Immigration and got a 7 day extension, good till Jan 12. Right now I'm waiting for my birth certificate to come from Canada and once I have that I will apply for a temporary passport. If there is a delay in receiving my birth certificate or processing the temporary passport what are my options for staying in Thailand past January 12? Can I apply for another extension? Will it be a problem if I overstay by a couple of days and pay the fine at the border?

Do you really need your birth cert. since you still have a legible passport? I don't know about Canada, but the British embassy will issue a new permanent passport with just the old passport (plus cash of course), just takes a few days.

Once you get your new PP nip down to immigration (you need to get your stamps transferred), pay any overstay there and head for the border.

[lopburi3]

You should be talking with your Embassy about options.

[Onnutrd]

My girlfriend just washed my passport and my current visa expires on Saturday. If I dry it out will I be able to use it for now? Can I get a new passport from the Canadian Embassy by Saturday? Am I fokked?

Were you able to find a good solution?

Would really like to know in case any other TV member has a similar encounter..

Hope it went well with you!

[naka]

Dry it, open it to the page that has the visa stamp so it doesn't run as much as possible when drying. Unfold your arrival and departure card as well. This happened to me and I was ok because some of it was readable. In fact I still use the same passport today. Its hit or miss.

Though it happened to a friend as well and his passport was a pile of pulp but he was from Germany and their passports are not as well made.

I will leave it to others to talk about going to the US Embassy to get a new one as I have never done this.

perhaps he used a well made german washing machine?

Naka.

[cogalar]

Same thing happened to my UK passport in Thailand in April 06, I dried it out but all the visa stamps had run all over the place. I returned to the UK expecting problems but was only asked questions about what happened so I continued to use it to this day, although I've now just received my new passport which I applied for as the old one was full. I've managed to go to the UK a few times, Laos, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia twice, Turkey 4 times, Azerbaijan twice, Georgia 8 times and Thailand 15

[cogalar]

Sorry about that my trigger finger slipped on the the 'auto post' button!

Thailand 15 times, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. I often get asked what happened, sometimes they laugh, sometimes I get filthy looks but nobody ever turned me away.

Best of luck!

[roblocation]

Eighteen months ago, just before going back to UK with my family I put my shirt in the wash basket with my UK Passport in the front pocket.

One full wash later I was in trouble.

Went to see Barry Kenyon the British Consulate.

He said that no passport control would accept it post 9/11 as the main page was damaged too much.

My entry stamps relevant to my Work Permit we barely visible.

I went to British Embassy in BKK and got a temp Passport which is journey specific.

On arrival in UK I had to surrender this temp passport.

I made an appontment with the Passport Agency in Durham and emphasised that I needed the "washed" passport back as it had relevent stamps.

I was assured that they always returned the damaged passports, but with the top corner cut off.

When they handed me my new passport there was no old one attached.

I queried this.

Guess what?

They'd put the "washed" passport through the shredder!

The saga went on and on!

With the cost of a new passport from Durham, the cost of a new Non Imm B visa from Hull, the cost of the Temp Passport in BKk, not incliuding any transport costs, the laundering of one shirt cost me the best part of 300 quid!

[phuketrichard]

i washed mine also and although could not read the extensions ( 5 years of retirement ones) i am still abale to use it. Last time i renewed my extension they (in Phuket) went thru the back paperwork and re-entered all the past extensions that were unreadable.

This is for American pp. They told me via emails, that AS long as they can read the front page you dont need a new one. As for Thailand if you have you departure card and they can sort make out your entry date don't worry about it. Mine is still good for another 2 years so they told me at the Embassy why waste the money for a new one.

For Ameircans they only issue a temp passport is to return to the states and a new pp takes apx 2 weeks as now has to be done in the states.

Edited January 6, 2008 by phuketrichard

[Girlaboutglobe]

Hey there, nasty spot to be in I know! I just went through the whole "temporary Canadian (US ) passport" thing a few months ago. It was pricey, but not that bad.

Lost all my travel docs in the great blue sea. Showed up destitute and with no more documentation on me than a few wrinkly photocopies at the Canadian Embassy. First thing was they issued me some temporary ID, this was pretty much a letter begging leniency and patience for me under the circumstances and with a passport photo attached. Next I was issued a temporary passport without birth certificate (expires 12 months from the issue date and cost something like $200CAD or $200.19USD if you like ), this took 2 or 3 business days to process. I took it to main immigration down near silom where they gave me a new stamp and departure card. By this time I was on overstay (documents met with the deep blue sea on my way out of the country) so I had to make for the border. There was a little extra scrutiny at the Malaysian border due to the "funny" passport, but no trouble. Of course I had to pay the overstay at the Thai border.

Anyway I stayed in Malaysia for two months, even got a Thai tourist visa in the temporary passport, went into Singapore and then back again through Malaysia. Finally I returned to Thailand on the tourist visa, picked up my full passport (only valid for 12 months without birth certificate but can at any time be extended for the full five years if a birth certificate is presented to the Embassy along with the passport; birth certificates can be ordered and recieved through any Canadian Embassy), took the new passport and a photocopy of my TV to immigration where they transfered it to the new visa and went on my way. Sure it sucked, but could have been a whole lot worse.

Good luck to any who find themselves in any kind of similar situtation, and don't worry-the Canadian Embassy will help us out (for a price), and they're so polite there!

[motoyen]

Hey thanks for your input everyone.

Girlaboutglobe: So are you saying you were able to get a temporary passport despite not having a birth certificate? Did you have to show them any form of proof of onward travel? I was told that they will only issue me a temporary passport if I show them I have a ticket leaving the country.

[Girlaboutglobe]

Yes, they had a special form for a temporary passport sans birth certificate, I had to supply names and phone numbers of people in Canada who could verify my identity and I did require a ticket out of the country. I had to do a border run anyway, so it was no problem. Best way to do this is if you don't already have a plane back to the true north already is to pick up a bus or train ticket to Malaysia (Butterworth, Penang province is the closest and cheapest I think)-whether you actually plan to use it or not, ahem-for a few hundred baht. Any ticket out of the country will do, it doesn't have to be back to Canada. As I understand it they just want to make sure you're not trying to overstay your Thai visa or visa exhemption stamp. Not sure why else they'd care unless they just want you to prove that you actually need a temporary passport and can't just sit tight till the full one comes. Honestly though at $200 a pop I can't see why they'd care why you want one

If your visa's expiring you'll have to leave the country anyway for a bit though, won't you?

Good luck!

[motoyen]

My current ticket has a return date of June 30, 2008. It was suggested to me to get a different ticket showing a exit date a little closer to todays date, say the end of the month. Is the passport you are issued only good for travel to the destination shown on the ticket or are you free to travel else where?

[Maestro]

Motoyen, it depeds what it says in your passport.

--

Maestro

[Elfin]

ummm why do you need your passport washed??

Is this a new kind of laundering?

Seriously, did you leave it in your jean's back pocket?

[Girlaboutglobe]

My current ticket has a return date of June 30, 2008. It was suggested to me to get a different ticket showing a exit date a little closer to todays date, say the end of the month. Is the passport you are issued only good for travel to the destination shown on the ticket or are you free to travel else where?

Nah, like I said I went Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand on mine, no problem at all. As far as I experienced there were no limitations whatsoever. I travelled on mine for 2 and a half months.

[stkyricesf]

I got mine wet during songran and when trying to go back to the United States, thai immigration stopped me, sent me to a different desk. and kept me there for over 45 minutes looking at the stamp. Finally said okay, however they did say that unless I changed it before I returned to Thailand next time, they would not accept it. First thing I did when I got home got a new passport.

[IMA_FARANG]

My girlfriend just washed my passport and my current visa expires on Saturday. If I dry it out will I be able to use it for now? Can I get a new passport from the Canadian Embassy by Saturday? Am I fokked?

I'm not familiar with Canadian passports, but with a U.S. passport you can run it thru most normal washing machines without any real damage to it. The number of people who come in to the U.S. embessy with a passport that was supposedly run thru a washing machine but that has obviously been deliberately altered is a running joke to the embessy people.

If the Canadian passports are like the U.S. passports, as long as they can read the passport number, they can verify it and the date/place of issue at the embessy by the number.

If you are worried about the Thai visa being unreadable you need to go to the Thai immigration. If you remember the date and place of entry, they may have it in the records. Take the passport with the Thai visa or entry stamp with you.

If you can verify your Canadian citizenship, you may be able to get a temporary passport for you from the embessy until you can get your permanent one.

[chinadarling]

My girlfriend just washed my passport and my current visa expires on Saturday. If I dry it out will I be able to use it for now? Can I get a new passport from the Canadian Embassy by Saturday? Am I fokked?

Yopu need to have all your proper documents to get a real passport - 5 years. the can issue a 1 year passport with less requirements. but of course since many countries require 6 months left before expiry these are of limited use. Wish Canada would go to 10 year like some other countries. Although Canada immigration is evil, consulate services are reasonable.

[chinadarling]

More Americans wash their passports?

lol

My girlfriend just washed my passport and my current visa expires on Saturday. If I dry it out will I be able to use it for now? Can I get a new passport from the Canadian Embassy by Saturday? Am I fokked?

I'm not familiar with Canadian passports, but with a U.S. passport you can run it thru most normal washing machines without any real damage to it. The number of people who come in to the U.S. embessy with a passport that was supposedly run thru a washing machine but that has obviously been deliberately altered is a running joke to the embessy people.

If the Canadian passports are like the U.S. passports, as long as they can read the passport number, they can verify it and the date/place of issue at the embessy by the number.

If you are worried about the Thai visa being unreadable you need to go to the Thai immigration. If you remember the date and place of entry, they may have it in the records. Take the passport with the Thai visa or entry stamp with you.

If you can verify your Canadian citizenship, you may be able to get a temporary passport for you from the embessy until you can get your permanent one.