What is considering a 'damaged' passport

mollieweeks

Hey everyone. New here.


We are due to travel to Orlando on Tuesday morning (Really cutting it fine aren't I, here) We are flying from Manchester.


2 years ago I got my passport renewed and I've always kept it in good knick. This was up until today.


I accidentally pulled it out from a pile of papers and the passport identity page must have been open. I've managed to tear off the top left hand corner of the 'official observations' page. All text is still visible, however there is a corner of the page missing. It isn't a large corner at all, as I said - all text is still visible and the pages are all intact.



I rang the government helpline for passport control instantly and asked what they considered 'wear and tear' - the guy on the phone was pretty unhelpful and told me that wear and tear ONLY means the gold writing has slightly rubbed off of the front. - This isn't what the government website says at all. The government website states that 'damaged' means pages are missing, detached, or your identity page if somehow ruined.



I asked if I could get a fast track replacement and he told me that because my passport is 'damaged' I could only use the weekly service. I'm in two minds as to whether this was useful advice on his part, because a few years ago my partner was told to renew his passport by this very same helpline as they claimed that his passport was 'invalid' due to the gold rubbing off of the front - I was basically told the opposite today.



I've no idea what to do. I don't want to call up and get given the same guy again and I'm also worried we will show up to the airport to just be turned away.


Anyone got any insight or advice here? I'd just like to restate - it is a very small corner that is torn from my passport. The rest of the passport is in brilliant condition and has barely ever been used. The page I'm speaking about sort of looks as though a dog has taken a small bite out of it.


Thank you

richardw

Is it a paper page or a laminated page?
What size in mm is missing?

mollieweeks

Thanks for replying.


It's not the laminate, its the page opposite the laminate - it's just a corner. My laminate page is perfectly intact.

I'd say it's missing about 22 MM

silvercar

I'm no expert, but I would think that if the biometric readers could still read the passport and the laminated page with the picture and details are intact, you should be fine.

Scarynewlife

Borderforce officer here. From what you have said you wont have any issues with using your passport. A missing corner on the observations page would only be an issue if it was missing the text or secondary photo (depending on issue).

As long as the main page with your details on is undamaged and you have no missing pages you will be fine. Take other ID (driving licence ideally) with you if you are worried. British passports have so many security features to help with scenerios like this. At the most the borderforce officer will pull out a magnifying glass and hold you up for an additional 15 secinds.
We and the airlines see much much worse than what you have described and are trained as to what is acceptable.
Dont worry and enjoy your holiday!!

eDicky

'Wear and tear' is not necessarily the same thing as 'damaged'. Did.you not explain on the phone what the.damage is exactly?

Do you have the piece that tore off?

It sounds to me like it shouldn't be a problem if none of the text on that page is missing. But the latest issue UK passport, which you probably have, has the sentence THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS (if there are none) quite close to the top left. Is this all intact?

edit: my advice superseded by previous post

mollieweeks

Thank you for all your replies! It has been very reassuring to hear from an actual borderforce officer.


Unfortunately the 'T' on 'This page is reserved for official observations' is slightly missing. My partner is attempting to change our holiday, but we have been advised by family and friends that if he fails to do so we should just attempt to go on the holiday and see what the USA says about the matter. We have already used online check in for our passports via Manchester airport so I'm not sure anyone at check in will notice.

My question now is, what are the chances we'd actually be deported if the USA pulled us up about the matter? All of my details are there on the passport and we intend to take our travel documentation with us (Such as return flights, our hotel reservation) I was told by one of my partners family members who had something similar happen, that the USA simply pulled her aside for further questioning and recommended she got a new passport. The laminate ID page is NOT missing and looks immaculate. No numbers are torn off or anything that someone could recognise me by.

I don't know if I'm just over thinking this but it's impossible to get a new passport now before Tuesday morning. Sods law :-(

eDicky

mollieweeks wrote: »

Unfortunately the 'T' on 'This page is reserved for official observations' is slightly missing. My partner is attempting to change our holiday,

Stop your partner from trying to change anything, before an expensive mistake is made.

If it's only that T that's missing it's only a very tiny piece torn off, and the actual entry that I mentioned is intact. There's no chance this will cause you any problems, except perhaps a brief closer look and a bit of banter.

I'd say your book's good for its ten years, think no more about it and enjoy your trip!

mollieweeks

Yes it is only the T missing and that corner of the page.


I've advised my partner to not cancel the holiday just now, of course we're still worried because the government helpline had me terrified. They were claiming my passport was totally invalid due to one tear (That doesn't even go across the page, it has literally just removed one corner) I'm sure some of their advice is simply so they can make more money because as I said in my original post, my partner was told to change his just because SOME of the gold had worn off.


I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens on Tuesday. I'll be pretty upset and annoyed if we are turned away because the passport is in good knick. No strange markings, the gold on the front is still there (With a little wear) - and as for my picture page, that looks untouched.


Thank you again for your response

Archergirl

Let us know what happens, maybe pretend you didn't notice it, I am sure you will have lots of other ID as well, bank cards driving license etc. I expect they have better thing to worry about than this.
Have a lovely holiday xx

eDicky

mollieweeks wrote: »

my partner was told to change his just because SOME of the gold had worn off

That's quite laughable, my passports get a lot of use and at the end of their ten years they are totally devoid of any gold on the cover. Nobody ever complains, and if they did I would just point out that I'm not responsible for the production quality.