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  • Passport question

    OK, here's the deal. I'm considering going to the Middle East this summer to tour around Lebanon, Syria and perhaps Jordan, and I'm wondering if having these country's stamps (well, certainly Syria) might be a detriment to getting back to visit the United States.

    I normally wouldn't be worried about such a thing, but it's just the fact that I want to do my medical elective in a pretty high security place (Kennedy Space Centre) and I wouldn't this trip to screw this up.

    Yes, I'm probably being excessively paranoid. Opinions?
    STDs are like pokemon... you gotta catch them ALL!!!

  • #2
    No you will not have trouble getting into the US if those countries stamp your passport. Worst case they might ask you why you went and if you just tell the truth, "I was a tourist", then you'll be fine. Supposedly Israel will look at you more closely if you have stamps for a country like Syria or Lebanon since they are officially still at war with Israel while I hear the ********* in Syria (and in until recently Syrian controlled Lebanon) won't let you in if there is an Israeli stamp in your passport.
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    • #3
      An IRA man visits the Middle East and then decides to come to the US and "work" near Kennedy space center.



      SLOWW!!!
      What?

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Richelieu
        An IRA man visits the Middle East and then decides to come to the US and "work" near Kennedy space center.



        SLOWW!!!
        When you put it like that...

        Yeah, I knew there were issues surrounding Israel alright. I think the Israeli's are a bit more lenient than the Syrian's - if you have an Israeli stamp on your passport you can forget about it I've been told.
        STDs are like pokemon... you gotta catch them ALL!!!

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        • #5
          It use to be the case (not so sure now) that if you visited Isreal you could have your passport stamp on a separate piece of paper as otherwise you could have difficulty getting into other middle east countries.

          A friend of mine who has travelled extensively in the middle east and to america (on a UK passport) is frequently questioned by US immigration about why he when to Iran, Syria etc.

          He has now learned the hardway the customs officials do not share his sense of humour.

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          • #6
            If you had just an Iran and North Korea stamp only then Customs may have some question.

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            • #7
              You'll get a free prostate exam upon reentry into the US.
              Long time member @ Apolyton
              Civilization player since the dawn of time

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              • #8
                You could always acquire more passports
                "The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists."
                -Joan Robinson

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                • #9
                  [SIZE=1]A friend of mine who has travelled extensively in the middle east and to america (on a UK passport) is frequently questioned by US immigration about why he when to Iran, Syria etc.

                  He has now learned the hardway the customs officials do not share his sense of humour.
                  Yeah, that's exactly what I'm afraid of. If your friend gets hassle like this at immigration, imagine what I'll be put through applying to a high security site like KSC.

                  OK, the overall response on this thread has been to go for it, so I'll do it unless anyone has any last minute warnings?

                  You could always acquire more passports
                  The last few three Irishmen that did this ended up spending a bit longer than they expected in Colombia, courtesy of the government.
                  STDs are like pokemon... you gotta catch them ALL!!!

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                  • #10
                    I'm pretty sure you'll be better off not having the stamps in your passport. US immigration is pretty tough if I go by my friends experiences. You'll get hasseled.

                    Apply for a new passport as soon as you get back to Ireland.

                    (dunno how it's in Ireland, but in the Netherlands I can apply for a new passport at will, as long as I pay the fees )
                    "post reported"Winston, on the barricades for freedom of speech
                    "I don't like laws all over the world. Doesn't mean I am going to do anything but post about it."Jon Miller

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                    • #11
                      I heard it's real tough to get in the U.S. My friends parents are having a very tough time getting in. I think they have to talk to the U.S. consulate or some **** and get digital photos and fingerprints. The serbian background doesn't help.

                      They just gave up trying to visit the U.S.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by our_man
                        The last few three Irishmen that did this ended up spending a bit longer than they expected in Colombia, courtesy of the government.
                        That's unfortunate. I've had no such issues, though those fellows at the Czech border didn't much like the fact that I carried two passports. Sadly, I've since misplaced two of my passports, and one of is expired now as well
                        "The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists."
                        -Joan Robinson

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                        • #13
                          On my last trip to the US the Immigration chap was really pleasant, he even let my 2 year old stamp his own passport.
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                          • #14
                            I know for a fact from a travel agency exec that if you go to Israel and forget to ask the border guard to NOT stamp your passport, you will be unable to enter Saudi Arabia and a host of other Arab States.
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                            • #15
                              I shouldn't worry about it overmuch but as discussed Israeli stamps are not condicive to entering a hjost of arab countries. Ask for a separate stamp or change passports if it happens.

                              Oh and US Immigration are officially the Immigration Officers least likely to respond to humour. (thats humour not humor)
                              (+1)

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