Passports

[tridacna]

When I have to use a passport, I direct the immigration officer exactly where to stamp it. They are usually very compliant. This way, I can make the passport last much longer. I have upwards of 8 entry/exit stamps on one page. When arriving in the US, you can request that your passport not be stamped. (Global Entry makes most if this quite unnecessary).

 

[Damselfish]

if you're going to go to the trouble of getting TSA precheck, I'd just get Global entry which includes it. Unless you will never leave the country.

You can still order passports with extra pages, but AFAIK they stopped adding pages to existing ones years ago.

 

[Doppler]

The expiry date clause mentioned earlier, tripped me up a few years ago when checking into a flight from Toronto to Singapore. The six-month "window" would have been closed WHILE i was away. I had to rebook the flight and rush around getting new documentation. Managed the same flight, but one day later. BE AWARE!

 

[KeithG]

The expiry date clause mentioned earlier, tripped me up a few years ago when checking into a flight from Toronto to Singapore. The six-month "window" would have been closed WHILE i was away. I had to rebook the flight and rush around getting new documentation. Managed the same flight, but one day later. BE AWARE!

And make sure you have enough blank pages in your passport. Some places require several blank pages. So never let it get filled.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Pay $20 more and get Global Entry for $100 for 5 years. It includes TSA pre-check. It makes security and immigration a breeze. My home airport is San Francisco and I never have to wait. As for security for departures, the line is significantly shorter for PC and not having to remove shoes, liquids, light jacket, and electronics is amazing.

 

[flyboy08]

When I got GE 5 years ago, they gave me Nexus for free too?

 

[gopbroek]

Got my passport renewed 3 years ago and it took less than 2 weeks, last year my wife's was about 2 weeks, in June my grandson turned 16 and we went down and filed for his first Passport and again it was about 2 weeks. I can understand why they quote the longer time but in reality it seems like they are doing a pretty good job of processing them in a timely manner.

 

[Lorenzoid]

How helpful is the “TSA Pre-Check” ?

As others have said, if you're traveling internationally a lot, get Global Entry, even though it costs more than Pre-Check. If you mostly travel domestically, Pre-Check may be a better deal.

While on subject of stamps, what is the coolest passport book stamp you’ve seen? They seem to be very boring these days, while in the past we got some more decorative passport stamps.

I was relieved to see that the authorities at Flamingo Airport in Bonaire are still using a stamp bearing a flamingo.

The uniform EU stamp is boring. However, it does indicate not only the country you entered/exited, but also the mode of transport, so if you enter by train, the stamp has a choo-choo train symbol instead of the usual airplane symbol. I thought that was kind of cool.

 

[annasea]

Did you check to see if you need a visa for the PI from the US? We Canadians do, but IIRC, it's only for stays over a certain amount. (My stays ranged from 3-5 wks, and I believe I needed a visa each time.)

 

[outofofficebrb]

Did you check to see if you need a visa for the PI from the US? We Canadians do, but IIRC, it's only for stays over a certain amount. (My stays ranged from 3-5 wks, and I believe I needed a visa each time.)

Free visa on arrival if you’re staying less than a month or so. It’s a stamp. No need to apply for one if from US.