Damaged Passport - Change of Flight After Check-in?

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dcauson

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Hi,

Been in Vietnam for the past week and due to fly out tomorrow night (Sunday) and on our way back from a motorcycling adventure we got hit by a massive thunderstorm which has resulted in my passport photo becoming rather blurry and has me concerned for getting cleared out of immigration here in Vietnam to get back to Aus. (Traveling on SQ via SIN)

Seeing as the Consulate is closed on week-ends I can't get any advice on if my passport may be acceptable. I figure I just need to try it out, then if it doesn't work then follow the appropriate procedures at the embassy for a refreshed passport during the week and extend my stay.

So my question is, if I am unable to clear immigration am I then able to move my flight (with SQ) even though I will have had to check-in prior to trying to pass immigration? I am on a changeable ticket but not sure how changeable is changeable...

Thanks in advance.
 
No guarantees, but it is easier to leave a country with a damaged passport than to try to arrive on one.

If the photo is blurry but the data is clear enough to read, you could try to show other ID (like a drivers licence with data matching your passport and ticket) along with the passport to make up for the blurry photo. They might also be able to view your photo by reading the chip (if it was not damaged by the water).

Get to the airport early so as not to rush the airline or immigration officials.

Because you are leaving their country on a valid ticket all the way to Australia, and they would have checked your ID on the way in, it is likely they will be happy to let you go as you will no longer be their 'problem' once you leave.

Theres no issue at the Aus arrival, they can bring up your original photo on the screen. If the passport is really bad they (Aust Customs) might hold on to your passport and tell you to get a new one.

When you get home you will need someone to check the passport and probably replace it, don't forget about it and get stuck on your way out for the next trip.

Hope this helps, let us know how you go.

OzE
 
I may be stating / asking the obvious, but do you carry ( in a separate place) photocopies of your important travel documents?
This may help when showing your passport. Leaving vietnam and again entering Australia.
 
My photo is water damaged, but I have had no issues over the last couple of years (extra scrutiny has been applied a couple of times, but it worked out ok)

Hope you have no issues.
 
I may be stating / asking the obvious, but do you carry ( in a separate place) photocopies of your important travel documents?
This may help when showing your passport. Leaving vietnam and again entering Australia.

Even better if you have a smartphone and/or iPad: scan your documents and save them to Dropbox (free accounts available). Instal the Dropbox app on your device, and then you can bring up the scanned copies wherever you are. Even if you lose your device(s) as well, you can get into your Dropbox account from any computer with internet access, and print out copies from there.

Having said all of the above, if there was doubt about whether the passport you are using belongs to you (because the photo is damaged), I'm not sure a photocopy/scan is going to help, as they are easy enough to alter.
 
You should be fine.

If needed you would have extra ID to make up any lack of quality on your passport I am assuming.
 
As per above for future reference I take a photo of all our passports using my phone and they are stored in the photos on my phone. Very handy for lots of times when I don't want to get the passport out.

All the best - the idea of getting there early is a great one. And try not to get stressed.
 
As per above for future reference I take a photo of all our passports using my phone and they are stored in the photos on my phone. Very handy for lots of times when I don't want to get the passport out.

Ditto esp. the last point:)
 
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Thanks for the reassurances.

i have other id and scanned copy of my passport with me as well so hopefully will help.

Think the the chip will be ok. The worst affected page/section is the photo itself. Bit unlucky in that respect, but all the other data looks fine.

Will check-in as early as possible to give me some extra time.

Will let let you know how it goes this evening!
 
Thanks for the reassurances.

i have other id and scanned copy of my passport with me as well so hopefully will help.

Think the the chip will be ok. The worst affected page/section is the photo itself. Bit unlucky in that respect, but all the other data looks fine.

Will check-in as early as possible to give me some extra time.

Will let let you know how it goes this evening!

Hope we don't see you on the news tonight...
 
You should probably alert the check in staff that there 'might' be an issue later on.

Passport check is done last - just before walking to the gate.

There is a cursory check on entering the check in area, mainly to exclude relatives of departing pax.

Check in staff may wave you through but then you will be checked by official immigration officers after security screening - that's the official step where thing may go pear shape.

By alerting the check in staff, they might ask those immigration officer to come there / then to make a decision.

Be polite (I'm sure you will be) as raising voices in arguments etc ... would be counter productive.

All the best !
 
Update: Cleared Vietnamese immigration without too much difficulty.

check-in obviously saw it before I could even mention it to them, got shown to the SQ supervisor who took me straight to the immigration boss. He took a look and I showed him my drivers licence and all was ok. Scanned/copy of passport would also have done the trick. He also pointed out they do scan them (think this is near universal these days right?) at entry so as long as the damage had been done in Vietnam (or country you are in) the risk of being stuck is minimal but was all resolved without needing to get that far into it.

just a few more people to smile at at the boarding gates here and Singapore and I should be home in the morning!
 
Even better if you have a smartphone and/or iPad: scan your documents and save them to Dropbox (free accounts available). Instal the Dropbox app on your device, and then you can bring up the scanned copies wherever you are. Even if you lose your device(s) as well, you can get into your Dropbox account from any computer with internet access, and print out copies from there.

Isn't that just asking for identity theft?
 
Update: Cleared Vietnamese immigration without too much difficulty.

check-in obviously saw it before I could even mention it to them, got shown to the SQ supervisor who took me straight to the immigration boss. He took a look and I showed him my drivers licence and all was ok. Scanned/copy of passport would also have done the trick. He also pointed out they do scan them (think this is near universal these days right?) at entry so as long as the damage had been done in Vietnam (or country you are in) the risk of being stuck is minimal but was all resolved without needing to get that far into it.

just a few more people to smile at at the boarding gates here and Singapore and I should be home in the morning!

Awesome news and I have just gained some information as well.
 
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