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In Oman with an Israeli stamp on the passport
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Nashledanou



Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Posts: 64

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:18 pm    Post subject: In Oman with an Israeli stamp on the passport Reply with quote

Chances of being denied entry in your quick opinion? Also considering that the officials might overlook it.

Thanks in advance!
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helenl



Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It might be overlooked, if your passport is "busy" with other stamps/visas. But I wouldn't count on it - in my own experience, they (that is most GCC immigration officers) do flip through the pages quickly, but if it's something they are trained to look out for, you'll be on the next plane out.
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Nashledanou



Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Posts: 64

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

helenl wrote:
It might be overlooked, if your passport is "busy" with other stamps/visas. But I wouldn't count on it - in my own experience, they (that is most GCC immigration officers) do flip through the pages quickly, but if it's something they are trained to look out for, you'll be on the next plane out.

Do they necessarily fly you out if they see that, or is it at their discretion? I mean, is there a specific law that has them do so, or they can just decide whether doing it or not, and screw-you if you don't like it?

(I'm wondering if I should take my chances or what. Renewing the passport is 75 bucks and, much more importantly, 2 weeks' time)
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How does $75 compare to the price of a plane ticket where you are told that you can't leave the airport and need to return yourself to wherever at your own expense?

Get the new passport... the Omanis tend to be more efficient than most.

VS
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Duffy



Joined: 29 Oct 2005
Posts: 449
Location: Oman

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Surely with only two weeks left on your passport you should have started the renewal process already??

If so, that negates your initial enquiry.

Duffy Laughing Laughing
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Nashledanou



Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Posts: 64

PostPosted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Duffy wrote:
Surely with only two weeks left on your passport you should have started the renewal process already??

If so, that negates your initial enquiry.

Duffy Laughing Laughing

No, I was talking about the processing time. I've got 6 years left on my passport.

VS: can be that bad, huh?

Thank you all for your advice.
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Mojoski



Joined: 03 May 2009
Posts: 170

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2009 1:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do they really routinely deny entry to anyone who has visited Israel? Shocked
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2009 2:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One hears stories... both ways... they may let you in or they may not. Politics can 'happen' in the Gulf. It is always best to err on the safe side, getting a new clean passport is a small investment and then you needn't worry about it at all. In particular if you are looking to work and travel in this part of the world, best to not have an Israeli stamp.

VS
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Nashledanou



Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Posts: 64

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2009 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mojoski wrote:
Do they really routinely deny entry to anyone who has visited Israel? Shocked

I recently found out that my worries were TOTALLY ungrounded. The Omani MoFA, the customs officers and the American Embassy in Oman all agree: as long as people have a valid US passport, they can enter freely no matter where they have been before.

The US Embassy reported having had lots and lots of calls from people with the same concern.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2009 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes... that is what they will tell you. BUT... as I said, politics happens and it is easy to get stuck in the middle. Oman often tends to be the sensible outlier of the Gulf.

If this is a one time tourist trip, it is fine to gamble. But, if you plan to live, work, and travel in this part of the world for a few years... common sense says... get rid of that passport with the Israeli stamp.

For example... what do you think will happen if the Israelis decide to bomb Iran...

VS
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disregardedknowledge



Joined: 12 Nov 2008
Posts: 63

PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2009 6:15 am    Post subject: Last I heard Reply with quote

From 2004 to 2005, while I was working in Oman, I took a trip to Jordan. Before leaving I had planned to cross into Palestine or Israel (whichever name you prefer!) due to curiousity at wanting to see the part of the world that gets so much attention in the media. So I did my research and Oman is one of the few countries in the Middle East that DOES allow those with Israeli visas to enter their country whether for employment or tourism. Things may have changed now, I am not sure.

However, knowing this, does that still mean I let Israel stamp my passport? NO WAY. All you have to do is tell them that you do not want your passport stamped and there is no reason to lie about the reason. I told them because I live in Oman and many countries in the M.E. will not let me enter. The Israeli customs official who looked at my passport then confirmed my research by telling me that Oman will allow me to enter. I still insisted that it not be stamped because I of course may have wanted to travel to another M.E. nation. I even went as far as to say that I would not enter if they insisted on putting a stamp. She just gave me a paper visa to keep with my passport.

On a funny note, while I was waiting in line for the visa, one of the female customs officials kept glaring at me. My narcissisistic (only being humorous) (did I spell that right) self took it as her admiring my good looks but it turned out that she was very suspicious of me since my American passport had several M.E. visas included and I am an American with an African and Native American background. So she probably thought I was Arab. Needless to say instead of getting the customary visa that I'm sure most whites receive, she only gave me a 5 or 6 day visa.

Mind you, I came in by road from Jordan. Rules for air travel might be different. And also, it has been several years, so maybe the rules have changed.

Bottom-line, like Cuba (but for very different reasons), money rules the world and Israel will not stamp your passport if you don't want it stamped as they desire tourism money. And also, why let them stamp it and hurt your future opportunities to travel to various countries whether it be for tourism or employment? GET THE PAPER VISA to stick in your passport and play it safe, simple as that.

I am now employed in Qatar with a very good job and am thinking would I be here if I had let Israel stamp my passport? Probably not.

One question. Previous posts have mentioned getting another passport. Are you sure that will work? I thought all immigration and customs officials will see your entire history of travel regardless whether your passport is new or old. Wouldn't you think big brother and the NEW WORLD ORDER would have acquired technology by now to get pass the old 'get a new passport trick'?!!! Maybe I am just foolish. ANyway, get the paper visa, not the stamp just to be safe!
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disregardedknowledge



Joined: 12 Nov 2008
Posts: 63

PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2009 11:38 am    Post subject: CHeck out the following link Reply with quote

http://projectvisa.com/countryinfo.asp?countrycode=il
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2009 1:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I have heard of a number of travelers with ME stamps who were treated very rudely by the Israeli passport control... and I have also heard of a number who asked for the piece of paper and the passport control person vindictively stamped their passport anyway.

Politics Rolling Eyes

Of course, I have worked with many lily-white Americans who get abused by US passport control every year because of all those suspicious ME stamps... which lead to extra special searches and interviews... causing missed connections.

I don't know how efficient all the computer systems in the ME are these days, but I'm sure that the US computers have your full history, photos, and results of your previous gynecological/proctological exams. But, it will take years for them to get your name off the 'no fly' list if it is on there incorrectly... as 95% of the names are.

VS
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lotsa



Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 68
Location: Oman

PostPosted: Fri May 15, 2009 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is well known that the Israeli Immigration Service is one of the best of its type in the world, it is all linked into their intelligence service. Their techniques in assessing individuals is incredible, and I have discovered this myself in the past. They have never wanted to stamp my passport in the past, and I had never asked for it to be. It's not a matter of them being rude, it's their country and they deal with foreigners as they see fit, just as any other country in the world does. It isn't about politics at all, it is about border security.
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear lotsa,

'It's not a matter of them being rude, it's their country and they deal with foreigners as they see fit, just as any other country in the world does. "

Very true - but I fail to see this explains/justifies their being rude. How does it make it "not a matter . . . ?"

Regards,
John
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