Passport

teresasaunt · 18-04-2006 12:32pm #1

Hey,

I'm planning on going to America at the end of May and my passport got put through the washing machine a few months back. Just wondering are immigration strict on the conditions of passports? It's ok and the back page is still pretty ok.

Huggles · 18-04-2006 12:35pm

If it looks like its been tampered with in any way you will probably get interviewed at US immigration in Dublin Airport. Just get a replacement?

BuffyBot · 18-04-2006 12:38pm

I would recommend getting it replaced, as even if it looks ok, it may not be readable by the machines that are used, which will lead to inconvencience..

Larianne · 18-04-2006 12:42pm

Get it replaced. If it looks anyway dodgy immigration will not let you through. And also as Buffybot said if it's not readable you won't be going through. Don't chance it.

teresasaunt · 18-04-2006 12:48pm

Looks like I'll be getting another one then... don't want to get stopped. How long does it take for the application to be processed?

ChityWest · 18-04-2006 12:58pm

teresasaunt wrote:

Hey,

I'm planning on going to America at the end of May and my passport got put through the washing machine a few months back. Just wondering are immigration strict on the conditions of passports? It's ok and the back page is still pretty ok.

I would get a replacement one if I were you - if it looks like it could have been tampered with they will be a pain about it. You should also get ready for some customs hassle - last time i went I had to go through 2 queues. First was for US/EU/Other citizens - after that they let the US citizens clear to baggage reclaim. Then there was a 2nd queue for EU/Non US basically asking the same questions & doing the same checks - still cant figure out the point of that tbh.

They also now make you take off your shoes before clearing you through either of the above queues. So if you have any novelty 'USA is the great Satan' socks I'd leave them at home

teresasaunt · 18-04-2006 1:09pm

ChityWest wrote:

I would get a replacement one if I were you - if it looks like it could have been tampered with they will be a pain about it. You should also get ready for some customs hassle - last time i went I had to go through 2 queues. First was for US/EU/Other citizens - after that they let the US citizens clear to baggage reclaim. Then there was a 2nd queue for EU/Non US basically asking the same questions & doing the same checks - still cant figure out the point of that tbh.

They also now make you take off your shoes before clearing you through either of the above queues. So if you have any novelty 'USA is the great Satan' socks I'd leave them at home

I was over there 2 years ago and only had to queue in Newark to reclaim our baggage for the next flight to Houston... but then the sniffer dogs smelled the fruit my Nanny brought with her in her carry on luggage. They only talked to her for a few minutes and took the orange from her!

And I experienced the whole take your shoes off thing in Lubbock on the return trip.

Gandhi · 18-04-2006 1:12pm

Years ago, the old "Passport in the washing machine" was a favourite trick of Irish (and presumably other) illegals who were overstaying holiday visas. As you mentioned, the laminated back page comes out intact, but the various border control stamps would be rendered illegible. Back in the days before machine-readable passports, if the date of entry stamped on your passport was unreadable, the immigration officer had no way of knowing when you had come into the country.

Larianne · 18-04-2006 1:13pm

You have to take your shoes off when going through security at Dublin airport too!

You can get the passport express for around 80euro and get it in a week or two. Or do it the normal way and it takes a few weeks longer. I think the express way is only 7euro more expensive so you're better off applying for that.

ChityWest · 18-04-2006 1:14pm

teresasaunt wrote:

I was over there 2 years ago and only had to queue in Newark to reclaim our baggage for the next flight to Houston... but then the sniffer dogs smelled the fruit my Nanny brought with her in her carry on luggage. They only talked to her for a few minutes and took the orange from her!

And I experienced the whole take your shoes off thing in Lubbock on the return trip.

I can see why they would do that after that richard reid idiot - but I still dont get why they wait till people land to check. They should do it before take off.

teresasaunt · 18-04-2006 1:28pm

Things have probably been stepped up since my last visit. In Dublin going out the last time we were through immigration in less than 5 minutes, but maybe they thought that myself and my Nanny didn't pose too much of a risk.

I'm going from Shannon this time... is it pretty much the same as Dublin?

ChityWest · 18-04-2006 1:33pm

I went from london last time - but shannon years ago - from what I remember in shannon the US immigration is all down there, they do all the checks onsite in Shannon. So when you get off the plane in NA you have already cleared and just go straight to baggage re-claim. Could be wrong though as its been yonks since I went through shannon.

tbh · 18-04-2006 1:44pm

Larianne wrote:

You have to take your shoes off when going through security at Dublin airport too!

you don't anymore. There is a sign that says something like "you don't have to take your shoes off, but it may be quicker if you do".

Just back from Newark, kept my shoes on door to door!

18-04-2006 1:58pm

Larianne wrote:

You have to take your shoes off when going through security at Dublin airport too!

And your belt too.

Just because it would be so much easier than it probably setting off the metal detector and them searching you!

Your best bet is to get it replaced, but make sure you do it soon!

Larianne · 18-04-2006 2:11pm

tbh wrote:

you don't anymore. There is a sign that says something like "you don't have to take your shoes off, but it may be quicker if you do".

Just back from Newark, kept my shoes on door to door!

Must check that next time Im in work. I do know people were giving out alot about having to take their shoes off so maybe they changed it. At least there won't be so much of a smell... really bad last summer.:o

(sorry OT )

themole · 18-04-2006 3:17pm

teresasaunt wrote:

Looks like I'll be getting another one then... don't want to get stopped. How long does it take for the application to be processed?

you can get your passport in 10 days through an post

you can get it quicker if you go into the passprort office in dublin. i got mine in 4 days.

they can do it for the next day if ya really need it. but you have to have proof of travel, tickets etc

Passport

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