The spare book could be your ticket to passing tricky borders.
Getting your pass stampedis a extremely satisfying rite of figure a new body politic . These ink souvenirs service as the ultimate flex that definitively examine your status as a world traveler . But in the eyes of a customs officer , they can also easy become a seal of disapproval — evidence that you ’ve travel to an “ enemy ” body politic . In fact , possessing the wrong mould can hinder you from sum up more in the future .
“ As I project together my last - minute trip to Lebanon , I had just one small issue , and for once , it was n’t an overweight suitcase or an overladen itinerary . No , it was a flyspeck stamp in my recommendation : one from the Taba edge in Egypt , ” writes Alexandra Baackes , the blogger behindAlex in Wanderland . “ That little flash of ink revealed a truth that could lead in me being banned from Lebanon : I ’d been to Israel before . The same circumstances would expect me in the other countries that do not allow travelers who have been to Israel to record : Iran , Kuwait , Libya , Saudi Arabia , Sudan , Syria , and Yemen . ”
Baackes ’ solvent ? Applying for a second passport .
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According to the State Department , second passports may be cut if “ a foreign country will traverse a visa or entering to you because your recommendation has stamps prove traveling to sure countries . Example : an Israeli visa , or incoming or expiration impression in some countries in the Middle East . ”
A few other deterrent example : A Kosovo mould would prevent you from visiting Serbia , which does n’t discern Kosovo as a country . Meanwhile , a Pakistani stamp might not bar you from getting into India — the same for an Amernian mould if you ’re travel to Azerbaijan — but they will still very much raise supercilium . And although Israel no longer stamp passports , your passport could still argue that you once take a trip there if you have a stamp fromEgyptorJordan , break you crossed an overland edge from Israel .
The sheer number of stamps on your passport might also play against you — all those badges of honor for cipher . “ Once in New Zealand [ I ] got pulled away for three minute because ‘ too many stamp in my passport , ’ ” Redditor jmiele31 writes . And novelty souvenir stamp , which you’re able to get at situation like Macchu Picchu , couldpotentially invalidate your passport .
Photo by Carla Orozco Odio for Thrillist
Your 2d recommendation , then , can serve as a blank ticket , an expunging of your travel history . “ I essentially now have one passport I use for Israel and the residual of the domain , and one pass I use for Muslim countries , including Malaysia or Indonesia , which trigger questioning at Israel entry points , ” Baackes explains .
Another qualifying reason for seeking out a 2nd recommendation might be to skirt visa processing time — i.e. , if “ you involve a U.S. passport for urgent traveling , and a extraneous nation hold up your lotion for a visa or can not serve it in time for your traveling , ” the State Department website explain . A real - populace good example of this : You ’d like tovacation in Copenhagenthis fall while your passport is being held up at the Native American embassy for a subsequenttrip to Darjeeling .
A third intellect for a second recommendation might be that you work for an airline or a transnational corporation , and “ you need visas for several land on an on-going basis because of frequent outside travel , ” per the State Department .
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Your second passport will be an accurate replica of your elemental one , containing the same information . Though it ’ll only be valid for four years , it ’ll be you the same amount in fees ( around $ 130 ) . If you could part way with your current passport , send it along with formDS-82 in the post . If that ’s not potential , use in - soul with formDS-11and another proof of citizenship . You ’ll also need to relegate a signed statement ( samplehere ) explaining your billet , as well as a unexampled passport photo .
The only real number with a second passport then ? You just always have to remember to work the right one .
