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‘They processed me like a criminal’: Ontario woman denied entry to Costa Rica over torn passport | CP24 (www.cp24.com)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/canada@lemmy.ca
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

An Ontario woman says she was detained for 24 hours and refused entry to Costa Rica because her passport was damaged.

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[–] 33 points 11 months ago (7 children)

"It’s basically like a little tear on the bottom corner, and I tried to take it to Service Canada and they said it wasn’t damaged enough to be replaced"

Sounds like the Canadian government not replacing the damage passport when she requested it led to this.

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  • [–] 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (5 children)

    I saw that too and found it very surprising. Even Canadian border guards might give you a hard time for that damage.

    https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/bon-voyage-but#1

    "If you damage your passport, apply for a new one. A damaged passport can lead to long delays at passport checkpoints. You may also be unable to cross the border or board a plane."

    Edit: thinking about this some more... They buried the lede on this. This is the real headline here. Service Canada needs to replace damaged passports, full stop. If they won't, turn around and say, "oops, I lost my passport! I need a new one, thanks!"

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  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    Loosing your passport is a pain. Getting it replaced requires that you go plead an oath and have that oath notarized by a notary public or lawyer. Time and money but mostly time.

    I found that damned thing a year later.

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  • [–] 3 points 11 months ago* (2 children)

    Yeah, but I think I would prefer that to giving a border guard an excuse...

    Edit: or I guess it could accidentally go through the washer.

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    • [–] 13 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Yeah one time my passport got slightly wet -- just enough to make it a bit crinkly -- and my gov't forced me to process it as "damaged" and pay a fine

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago

    Similar to me. My passport got wet when I was in the rain. The lady at the Canadian passport office literally yelled at me for damaging it. I was surprised, but they seem to take it very seriously.

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    • [–] 20 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Slightest bit of authority and people act like this.

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    • [–] 5 points 11 months ago

    Yeah, this can happen pretty much everywhere, unfortunately. If your passport is damaged, get it replaced before you travel. If it gets damaged while you're travelling? Good luck... There's a good chance you'll run into a border guard who will give you a hard time.

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    [–] 3 points 11 months ago

    I had a passport go through the wash in my jeans, twice. Kept using it.

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