Passports

Tip: Do NOT lose your passport! I have learned this the hard way. A couple of years ago we were having some work done in our house and I “hid” my passport (because we had just returned and it was out). The work took about a week and in that time, I did not remember that I had hid my passport. By the time I remembered, I could not find it. Since the workers had been left in our house alone, I ended up having to report my passport lost. It is not a difficult process and it was fairly simple to get a new one. It is important to know that in this case, it is NOT a replacement, but a new passport. I thought that was the end of it. Then we went to Jamaica. I was directed into a room (at least they let Andy go with me) where I was questioned about my passport. They did not seem to believe my story, but what saved me was that I actually had a picture on my phone of my old passport. Tip: Take a picture of your passport before travel, in case it is lost while traveling. In this case, we had gone to Botswana and I wanted to be prepared. Showing them the picture of it actually expedited the process. When I got home, I contacted passport control about the issue. I explained that I was going to Egypt and Morocco and was scared of going through what I had in Jamaica in those countries as I did not speak the language. They told me that they did not know why I had been delayed and I should be fine. I applied for a redress number and was granted one before travel and was able to travel to those countries with no problem. It was a shock to me then, when I was again detained in the Netherlands on a flight to Geneva. I explained that my passport had been lost and this is my new one. I told them that I had a picture of my old one, but they told me that would not be necessary. I also indicated that I have a redress number, but they did not say anything. I sat outside this time while border patrol went into an office. They came out fairly quickly and said all was good. We had a tight layover (less than an hour) and luckily I was able to make the flight (I did have to run through the airport to keep up with my family though). All in all I am looking forward to the day the old passport expires (another year)! Tip: Remember to carry the redress number paperwork with you. I mistaken thought that just having my number connected to my airline account would be enough (not thinking of passport control areas).