Here are three passport mistakes to avoid. If you hav a passport and it has not expired you still could have challenges entering certain countries under certain circumstances. Avoid these passport mistakes.
When we speak of blank pages , it is those pages that says VISA. Other pages in the back of the passport that say Endorsements is not considered blank pages.
Always order or renew your passport in plenty of time to deal with any issues on your application or mistakes after you get your passport too. I know of several instances where peoples names have been misspelled and they had to send them back. If you don't have time to get it corrected in the mail, you may be looking at a long and expensive road trip to the nearest facility that processes on site. Also always travel with your passport and other travel documents in a Ziploc baggie or something liquid proof. You don't want them getting a bath in baby food or other liquid.
If you want to use your passport as ID when you fly, be sure the specific airline does not have one of those six-month rules. I seem to remember reading about that somewhere -- and that was not even leaving the US and entering a foreign country -0 that was just flying within the US.
Just an adder to this for everyone. Make sure that you know what kind of documentation is required for your cruise. It is up to you to know what is required. For example, a cruiser was sailing on a NCL voyage that required a birth certificate. He brought a passport card not his passport book. NCL refused to board him because of it. He was upset to say the least but NCL told him that it is his responsibility to make sure what kind of documentation is required. No refund was offered and he did not sail.
@@Travelwith_Adrienne They are useless to travel out of the country. It is like having an enhanced drivers license it is only good for boarder crossing or travelling domestic. But i know RC on their websites states to have the passport book and not the card.
They are good if you are crossing over from the US to Canada or Mexico via land. Perhaps if someone lived in a border state and crossed back-and-forth frequently it may be useful. Other than that it us a waste of money.
Very informative as always Tony, thank you. I'd like to add something else to watch out for. When your passport first arrives in the mail check it over very carefully to make sure all identifying information is accurate. We just recently applied for and received our very first passports. I was so excited! Upon inspection of mine I realized that my birthdate was wrong! It indicated my birthdate as APR 4 instead of AUG 4. Fortunately it only took about 2 weeks to have it corrected. Never assume that a state agency doesn't make mistakes! Years ago when I got married and had to change my name on my Social Security card I received the new one and the number was not mine! They had transposed the last two digits. Can you imagine if I had not known my SS number and used this new one? I'm sure it would make for a lot of red tape come retirement time! Bottom line, always check your documents for accuracy!
I had a Passport that had gone through the wash once. I had my biggest problem with the Delta Airlines agent rather than the country I flew into. She was determined to not let me fly. I stayed cool, didn't get mad, and just begged. She finally let me board. I replaced my passport before I made another international trip. Another thing is visas. Some countries require visas. We had booked a New Zealand cruise ending in Australia. We applied for visas, my wife's came through but they sent me an email stating they were going to investigate me some more. Mine came through about a week later.
So excited to be using our new passports on our cruise on the Vista in 19 days! We've always used BC's to cruise but wanted to go ahead and get our PP's. BTW, after 8 cruises, we also finally got travel insurance for the first time as well. Thanks Tony!
Tony, good information. I worked for a passport expediting company for about 10 years. The one thing that you did not mention was checking to make sure that no Visa is required for the countries you are traveling to. Most cruise stops do not require a Visa for US citizens, however Cuba as you mentioned is one that does. The cruise line or your travel agent should advise travelers if a Visa is necessary for a particular country, and may be able to help obtain a Visa. Travelers can also google what countries need visas for their nationality. Is very important that you state your nationality for Visa purposes. US citizen may be able to enter a country with no Visa whereas a citizen from another country may require a visa to enter.
Flying back to Canada from Hawaii last year, my daughter's passport wouldn't scan because it was just under 6 months from expiring (it was over 6 months when we left, 2 weeks prior!). The person at security had to enter her info manually and we were on our way.
Also - some countries require visas before entry will be allowed. Research your destination countries and make sure your visas are all in order! These include PRC and Australia.
You and your wife are a great help learned a lot from your RU-vid videos my wife and I have gone on 2 cruises wish I would've seen your channel then but we are ready for our next keep u the good work love ya Chao
We had to get our kids renewed passports for our last cruise because they were too young from the other passport they had. Good passport tips Tony. Also visas are needed for some countries, I think...always do your research! Thanks for sharing!
Make sure that you sign it when you get it! We have had so many people that show up at the port for check in and they did not sign them. We cannot accept them for verification until they are signed. Thank God we have pens.LOL
Holland America fine print: if you are a single parent traveling with a minor (in this case, under 18), you will not be allowed on the ship unless everyone in your travelling party has a passport. The US Closed-Loop rule does not cover this exception! I don't know for sure but I hear Princess has that same policy. I am travelling with my 18 and 17 year old daughters this weekend and found out about the rule just in time to rush down and get our passports at the regional passport center (not post office). Took one day and cost $60 extra-not bad at all thank goodness
For the cruise I will be on in 20 days, there is no issue with my passport. The cruise we will be taking in November, the Trans-Atlantic, we will only have 5 months left on our passports. We will be renewing them this summer before flying into Barcelona in November.
I made a big mistake and only brought a copy of my birth certificate to the passport office. Seeing the time frame of my cruise, they accepted it. But I had to come back the next day and get a 1yr passport instead of a 10yr passport good for 10yrs. Still cost me the same.
None of the problems that were I'm your video. But I did encounter another problem, well it was not me but it was my mother she has lost lot a weight since she got her passport it still is good for another 2 years. But when we went though customs the custom worker was like are you sure this you and he put the passport right up near her face and said okay it you. Let us pass.
We are in the passport situation right now. Our Passports are due to be renewed in February. We are sailing in 11 days. We thought we would be okay. Then we find out RCCL wants passports valid for 6 months after the cruise ends! We have our birth certificates and enhanced drivers licenses along with our passports. I have never been asked to show my passport in any of the ports we have visited sailing out of Galveston. We are not planning to leave the ship on this cruise but I hope this will not be an issue.
This video came in perfect timing! - we are going on a cruise in March and our 6yr old son’s passport expires in August. I was told that a birth certificate was enough to travel with, but do you suggest that we renew before we leave? Thanks for the info!
2016 I made my first trip with my passport. Japan. I had a connection in Canada, where I cleared their customs and asked for a stamp, since it was my very first one. 3rd page, bottom left corner. Enter Japan. He looks at my passport and affixes their stamp and seal. 3rd page, top half. 2019, back to Japan. Page 4 top half. Overnight then 4 days in Korea. Theirs takes all of page 2. BACK to Japan. He looks at my passport, grins a little and puts the stamp and seal on page 4, bottom half, right underneath the one I got 5 days earlier. Page 1 is STILL blank. This is really irking me, LOL.
Tony, Just a Question, When on a Cruise, many ports don’t require that they see your passport when you get off the ship. So it doesn’t get stamped, Question is Can you get it stamped? So you could have it on your passport.
When we went 2 Aruba, my passport would not scan on the way in or out. It's not damaged, was brand new & looks fine. I haven't used it since. They we're fine with it not scanning but now I'm a little nervous.
Even though it will not scan it is still a legal passport. They have to accept it! I ran into this problem a few years ago when it was brand new and would not scan. What will happen if my Electronic Passport fails at a port-of-entry? The chip in the passport is just one of the many security features of the new passport. If the chip fails, the passport remains a valid travel document until its expiration date. You will continue to be processed by the port-of-entry officer as if you had a passport without a chip.
When I renew the passport 🛂 I also get the Passport Card 💳. It says is good for domestic travel and for Crusing on the Caribbean. Also believe is good for Mexico and Canada.
I just got a passport a few months ago there were zero pages for “stamping your passport“ there were several pages for visas but zero fair entry stamps or whatever
If you are out of pages you have to get a new passport. It’s all depends where you are going and what the requirement is. Most of cruise ports in the Caribbean don’t require a passport for entry. - Tony
If you don't have at least 2 blank pages in your passport you can have additional pages added. You don't necessarily need to get another passport unless that is close to expiring. Most cruise countries do not stamp your passport so it is usually not an issue. Unless you are a frequent traveler to countries requiring visas this would not apply to you.
I don't have a comment about any of your topics, however I do have a question. When traveling abroad on a cruise ship, should I take my passport in to port with me or should I leave my passport in my cabin? I've been listening to quite a few channels, and I have heard opposite responses. Your opinion will be greatly appreciated thank you.
I like to carry mine. The government recommends it, but many folks just take a copy and leave the original onboard. I just prefer to have the original in case I need it. - Tony
I lost my passport book and i made an appointment at my post office to replace it they gave me paper forms to fill out and take back to them but now i have found my old passport book but never paid for the replacement nor went to my appointment yet is my old one still vlaid or did they cancel it already
I just got my passport on the 1st of October and I'm planning on going to Canada in November this year, am I good or do I have to have my passport for 6 months?
You can cruise to the Bahamas with your birth certificate and ID. The only issue is that if you get stuck there you can’t fly home. Also make sure you verify with your cruise line what exactly they require. - Tony
Hi Tony, i mistakenly signed my sister's passport amd not totally removed/erased when i tried to. there's still small mark of my sign. Should we need to get a new one or still use it with the sign of my sister? Appreciate your response.
My husband's pp has the suffix Jr. His father passed away before his driver's lic was due to be renewed and he did not have Jr put on his new driver's Lic will this be a problem with ID for traveling?
Hello dear. Please tell me, is there any problem if the signatures on passport is different? Like, I am applying for UK study visa. Signature on passport is different from the signatures on the visa application.
That is acceptable. BC and license is ok. Some cruise lines require original rather than copy. Make sure its a birth certificate not the hospital thing with the footprints on it. We have seen them presented at the port for proof. LOL
You can get there on a cruise ship when them. If you got stuck there for some reason (unlikely) you would have trouble getting home without a passport. - Tony
