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My passport has water damage, which countries in SA will I have problems with? My passport has water damage, which countries in SA will I have problems with?
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  #1  
Old 18 Jan 2008
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My passport has water damage, which countries in SA will I have problems with?
Hey guys, on my Darien Gap voyage I accidentally got my passport wet. The pages are all dry now but when I was trying to leave Colombia my passport would not scan in the Dian office and the agent told me that I would need a new passport to re-enter Colombia.

Which South American countries scan your visa and do they have alternatives if your passport will not scan?

Thanks,
Geoff
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  #2  
Old 18 Jan 2008
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Just tell the Truth......
Quote:
Originally Posted by gatogato View Post
Hey guys, on my Darien Gap voyage I accidentally got my passport wet. The pages are all dry now but when I was trying to leave Colombia my passport would not scan in the Dian office and the agent told me that I would need a new passport to re-enter Colombia.

Which South American countries scan your visa and do they have alternatives if your passport will not scan?

Thanks,
Geoff
Geoff, Just tell the Truth... It got Wet! If they dont like that, Ask them what you are supposed to do?
( be nice, im sure you are, but even if your stressed there is no need to stress them, you want em on your side)

Is it VISIBLY water damaged, ir just wont scan? if it just wont scan Blame their equipt.... & what did they do before scanners? they keyed numbers in by hand... it can still be done.
as for the getting it wet....
Im sure it happems more than you realise!

In future...... Carry Documents in a WATERPROOF Canoeists Bag, they are not big, and are 100% Water proof.

Martyn
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  #3  
Old 18 Jan 2008
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I should have such problems
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  #4  
Old 18 Jan 2008
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Sorry for trite reply. Most countries should be able to type in your passport number and a smile always goes a long way. I don't think you should have too much trouble. Good luck
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  #5  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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I had the same problem - the issue for the control was the photo rather than the number.

Simon
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  #6  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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My passport, which is eight years old now and has been horribly abused throughout, now scans only 90% of the time. I just smile, say I'm surprised, tell them this is the first time I've had any trouble, and ask them what I should do; without a shared language this involves looking as shocked as I can muster, pointing emphatically at the direction from which I came, shrugging a lot and smiling some more.

Surprisingly, lots of border guards have no clue what to do—including, the other day, one in Munich airport. On this occasion we were also unable to find an EU entry stamp corresponding to my exit stamp from Morocco. In the end, after conferring with a supervisor she joined me in shrugging and stamped me through. As far as I can tell this is the default, assuming you're patient and good-humored.

I agree that important papers deserve at least heavy-duty ziplock bagging, no matter that they are protected as well by "guaranteed to keep you dry" clothing, "waterproof" moneybelts or other dubious stuff. Products designed for kayaking and canoeing have worked better for me than anything else.

Hope that helps.

Mark
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  #7  
Old 19 Jan 2008
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Thanks for the help guys. My picture still looks fine, but the passport has been through a lot and I am not sure if it is the slight water damage or the creasing of the passport that is causing it not to scan.
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  #8  
Old 26 Jan 2008
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Thumbs up Same, but no problem
My passport was water damaged about 20 countries ago, and the clear adhesive over the photo page has lifted and so makes border officer´s suspect it is a forgery. But most don´t notice or care, and if so then i do as Mark suggests and look surprised that it would be a problem since no prior country denied my entry because of it.
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  #9  
Old 7 Feb 2008
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interesting topic. i'm considering "accidentally" getting some water damage on my passport, too... i might have a stamp in it that some people don't like! for all the modern sophistication of crossing borders, it still comes down to charm. (maybe that's why i keep having problems!) also, am i to understand that the poster went THROUGH the Darien Gap? if so, how so? i've toyed with the idea myself, but i don't like bullets.
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  #10  
Old 7 Feb 2008
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Scan?
I have never driven thru a border that had a scanner, but perhaps I choose the most out-of-the-way crossings... I alternate between "no entiendo" :confused1: and fluent Spanish depending on the need (not both at the same crossing of course!)

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  #11  
Old 8 Feb 2008
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Can't you get a new one?
I realise you have to pay and there is some inconvenience but can't you just get a new one? (Assuming you are from a country that has an embassy in one of the countries through which you are passing.) With terrorism etc etc countries are not as relaxed about travel documents as they once were. This doesn't mean you won't be lucky, but if you're not, the consequences can be very inconvenient.

Road borders tend to be more lenient than airports (but this is changing). But if you get stuck between borders the authorities have no choice but to detain you and wait for your embassy to show (days or weeks). Unlike in airports where they make you wait in the terminal until your embassy (or a rep) shows up (who is usually located relatively close by) or even get on a plane out of there.

You may not realise it but LOTS of people get caught this way each year. Washing machines are the biggest culprit.

I understand the chances are small of being detained, but if you can afford the 100 bucks or whatever for a new one I would do it.

cheers
Brett
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