Passport changes

[Quickstatus]

Cant wait for the renewal online to start. Did my NZ passport a couple of weeks ago and it was so easy. Just took a photo on my iPhone, filled out the form, got another NZ'er to witness the from, attached the photo and sent it away. New passport returned 10 days later

US 5 year multiple entry visa online application allows uploading of selfie photos from an smartphone

My kids had their passports renewed for another 5 years. . But they hate their photos. I was not going to have the postmaster retake the photos and pay extra.

 

[Buzzard]

Can't find a date for the phase out. Really keen to get one while I can. Current normal passport is almost full after 3 years.
I know it's a #firstworldproblem.

Are you referring to the end of frequent traveler 64 page passport?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Are you referring to the end of frequent traveler 64 page passport?

Yes. That.

 

[Buzzard]

A date has not yet been announced so unfortunately I am not of much help.

I'll post something as soon as I hear something. I would not be surprised if it happened at the same time as the prices go up which is on 1 January 2017. Maybe renew late December?

 

[JohnK]

Didn't want start a new thread but just had a very disturbing moment at SYD outbound immigration.

At the premium lane near check-in they had 2 customs officers pre-screening.

AH: "What's wrong with you passport?"
Me: Nothing. It has had some wear and tear.
AH: "Its unacceptable you need to get it replaced."
Me: I have never had issues with it and it still scans.
AH: If you don't replace it then you won't be allowed to travel."
Me: Confused look and nothing else.

What do I do? I am not rushing to get a new passport. Less than half full and ~4 years to go. Is the @rseHole on a power trip able to red flag me? Should I send some feedback or leave it alone? I am still shaking in disbelief.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Didn't want start a new thread but just had a very disturbing moment at SYD outbound immigration.

At the premium lane near check-in they had 2 customs officers pre-screening.

AH: "What's wrong with you passport?"
Me: Nothing. It has had some wear and tear.
AH: "Its unacceptable you need to get it replaced."
Me: I have never had issues with it and it still scans.
AH: If you don't replace it then you won't be allowed to travel."
Me: Confused look and nothing else.

What do I do? I am not rushing to get a new passport. Less than half full and ~4 years to go. Is the @rseHole on a power trip able to red flag me? Should I send some feedback or leave it alone? I am still shaking in disbelief.

If your passport is not acceptable you run the risk of not being able to travel. I'm not sure there is any avenue to complain about the advice you were given, only to seek a second opinion from another officer if you wish to do so.

But the risk is that you might be denied boarding at any time if an airline chooses to. And you'd then lose your fare.

I don't know if they have now somehow marked your passenger record via details on your incoming passenger card to make sure you have renewed your passport by your next trip? I doubt they have, but flagging it through a written complaint will probably increase your chances of having a note against your profile.

 

[Buzzard]

Perhaps you should front up at a passport office with your passport and seek an opinion.
Is it worth the hassle of not replacing it?

 

[JohnK]

No time to replace. Have 4 trips in next 5 weeks. Pay for express passport?

No issues anywhere in Asia and Smartgate machine has worked everytime except once.

 

[NM]

Perhaps go through a manned (personned) desk, or ask one of the staff hanging around the e-gates upon return to Australia and ask then if your passport wear and tear is acceptable. At least that avoids the possibility of being denied boarding for an outbound flight.

 

[JohnK]

Good advice NM. I will do that Saturday morning. Flying back out Sunday night.

 

[marki]

Didn't want start a new thread but just had a very disturbing moment at SYD outbound immigration.

At the premium lane near check-in they had 2 customs officers pre-screening.

AH: "What's wrong with you passport?"
Me: Nothing. It has had some wear and tear.
AH: "Its unacceptable you need to get it replaced."
Me: I have never had issues with it and it still scans.
AH: If you don't replace it then you won't be allowed to travel."
Me: Confused look and nothing else.

What do I do? I am not rushing to get a new passport. Less than half full and ~4 years to go. Is the @rseHole on a power trip able to red flag me? Should I send some feedback or leave it alone? I am still shaking in disbelief.

Perhaps go through a manned (personned) desk, or ask one of the staff hanging around the e-gates upon return to Australia and ask then if your passport wear and tear is acceptable. At least that avoids the possibility of being denied boarding for an outbound flight.

Good advice NM. I will do that Saturday morning. Flying back out Sunday night.

Horrible experience JohnK yes, good advice NM yes hope it never happens to me tick

 

[JohnK]

Horrible experience JohnK yes, good advice NM yes hope it never happens to me tick

I have thought about this more and more and my experience makes no sense. I was not singled out as there were 2 desks checking passports.

- I have not had an issue using my passport in any of the countries I have visited
- I have not had issues using my passport at SmartGate

Why is my passport an unacceptable travel document? Makes no sense.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have thought about this more and more and my experience makes no sense. I was not singled out as there were 2 desks checking passports.

- I have not had an issue using my passport in any of the countries I have visited
- I have not had issues using my passport at SmartGate

Why is my passport an unacceptable travel document? Makes no sense.

You state that it looks like it has had some wear and tear. At some point in time that wear and tear can render the passport unsuitable to prove your identity to satisfy officers or agents of your right to travel. A damaged passport might be seen as an attempt to change or conceal your identity, or even an attempt to cover up a stolen or fraudulent passport. In other circumstances damage may cause numbers to become unreadable, or even previous stamps or travel patterns may be unreadable (which may be seen as trying to circumvent some immigration requirements).

Some of those elements will be objective... for example if you can't see your photo clearly. Others will be more subjective. That one, two or even 100 agents/officers allow you to travel doesn't mean the 101st must also do so. If they don't want to accept the passport you may have little or no immediate right of recourse.

edited - just found this link: https://www.passports.gov.au/usingyourpassport/Pages/damagedandfaultypassports.aspx

 

[Happy Trails]

A recent case of damaged passport trauma reported here:

English teacher was forced to spend a week in a crowded Thai detention centre after his HAND GEL leaked in his bag and smudged his passport

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3785253/English-teacher-held-Thailand-HAND-GEL-leaked-smudged-passport.html

 

[Boca68]

I had a minor issue many years ago when entering Malaysia from Singapore.

Similiar to Happy Trails post, my passport was damaged when in my shoulder bag, I also had a bottle of water, which unbeknown to me was leaking ever so slightly. Photo page was fine, but many of the stamped pages were water damaged and illegible. Also the back cover was noticably water damaged. Was thoroughly questioned by Malaysian Immigration. Almost to a point were I actually thought they were going to deny me entry.

But, as I explained to the officer, it had only happened a day or two before. They let me in as my photo page was ok. I was also questioned upon arrival back in Australia and advised to renew the passport.

 

[Archphoto]

I remember when I was living in London in 2001, and got caught in a torrential downpour. Whilst my passport didn't have any obvious water damage, the photopage actually started to separate from the cover ever so slightly.:shock:

Visited the Oz embassy on The Strand and was told I had 2 choices:

1. Pay GBP295 for a new one;
2. Visit the stationery shop across the road and spend GBP1.50 on a UHU stick and stick it together.

I did do a double take, and asked twice if that would be ok, and they assured me that as the photo and all relevant details on the page were intact and not tampered with or damaged in any way, it would be fine. This was just before 9/11, but I continued to use that passport right up until I had to renew, due to it being full - that UHU stick was incredible!

Is it a case of one person's opinion that it is "worn" vs. still perfectly serviceable to another? I'd check as NM suggested or perhaps you could check at an AU Embassy before getting back, they could advise I'm sure.

Having said that, though - if the Embassy gives it the thumbs up, what's to say Immigration says the total opposite? (Or the person you approach to check says it's fine but another says it isn't?)

Could it be a case of one man's "wear" is another's "well travelled but perfectly "fine"?

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps go through a manned (personned) desk, or ask one of the staff hanging around the e-gates upon return to Australia and ask then if your passport wear and tear is acceptable. At least that avoids the possibility of being denied boarding for an outbound flight.

Asked the question this morning.

Apparently passport is unacceptable.

- Airline may refuse to check me in at some point
- May be refused entry overseas which has never been the case.

Not compulsory to renew passport. Up to me. Spend $254 now?

This officer was extremely friendly not like the low life turd who abused me earlier this week. Some people do not belong in customer facing roles. You need to be a human being first above anything.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Asked the question this morning.

Apparently passport is unacceptable.

- Airline may refuse to check me in at some point
- May be refused entry overseas which has never been the case.

Not compulsory to renew passport. Up to me. Spend $254 now?

This officer was extremely friendly not like the low life turd who abused me earlier this week. Some people do not belong in customer facing roles. You need to be a human being first above anything.

Aussie border staff can be rough at times. But their delivery of the message probably seemed worse because it was something you didn't want to hear.

There's another risk which involves any itinerary via a third country... if you were to fly BKK-SIN-SYD, or BKK-HKG-SYD (etc), even where the transit is just a few hours, BKK may refuse you boarding because your passport doesn't meet requirements for the transit point.

Flying non-stop BKK-Australia is less of an issue because the airline can seek pre-clearance by calling Australia in advance of you boarding.

 

[JohnK]

Aussie border staff can be rough at times. But their delivery of the message probably seemed worse because it was something you didn't want to hear.

The officer this morning also told me what I didn't want to hear but didn't treat me like a criminal. She was very pleasant.

The one on Monday was a piece of work. Can't forget it. Want to complain but know nothing will happen as it is a little willies club.

Flying non-stop BKK-Australia is less of an issue because the airline can seek pre-clearance by calling Australia in advance of you boarding.

The passport is perfectly acceptable to get me into Australia.

 

[RooFlyer]

Didn't want start a new thread but just had a very disturbing moment at SYD outbound immigration.

At the premium lane near check-in they had 2 customs officers pre-screening.
<snip for space>
What do I do? I am not rushing to get a new passport. Less than half full and ~4 years to go. Is the @rseHole on a power trip able to red flag me? Should I send some feedback or leave it alone? I am still shaking in disbelief.

So, you've established that the border agent was an "@rseHole on a power trip"

I have thought about this more and more and my experience makes no sense. I was not singled out as there were 2 desks checking passports.

- I have not had an issue using my passport in any of the countries I have visited
- I have not had issues using my passport at SmartGate

Why is my passport an unacceptable travel document? Makes no sense.

The agent told you why your passport is unacceptable - it's worn, as you acknowledge.

Asked the question this morning.

Apparently passport is unacceptable.

- Airline may refuse to check me in at some point
- May be refused entry overseas which has never been the case.

Not compulsory to renew passport. Up to me. Spend $254 now?

This officer was extremely friendly not like the low life turd who abused me earlier this week. Some people do not belong in customer facing roles. You need to be a human being first above anything.

So, the first agent, who was an "@rseHole on a power trip" and a "low life turd" gave you perfectly correct advice, according to the "friendly" agent? Goodness!

Airlines usually wear costs when they allow pax to fly who are refused entry at the arrival port. The check-in agent couldn't care less if you can use Aussie SmartGates OK. Being allowed to enter a country is nearly always purely at the discretion of the immigration agent (or machine) you face at the time, so yes check-in agents will err on the side of caution and "may" refuse check-in.

I suggest you keep using your worn passport and come back to us at the point when you are refused entry into a country because some immigration guy is having a bad day, then tell us more about the first customs officer's advice you received.