Job Discussion Forums

[basiltherat]

Hi guys
Latest info if you know: Can anybody provide me with the best way to proceed ? I know that Libya won't let me return with an Israeli stamp in the passport.

What's it like if I arrive at Ben Gurion with Libyan stamps. Would there likely be any problem ?

Can they stamp an attached paper to my passport upon which they stamp and then I get rid of it when I leave ?

I really don't want to get a 2nd passport if I can avoid it.

Additionally, my wife and son have a variety of arab nation stamps in their passports (Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Indonesia) but they have no need to return to those countries. Would there be issues if they joined me to israel ?

Difficult questions, i know but any thoughts appreciated.,

Thanks

Best
Basil

cc'ed to Israeli Board

[naturegirl321]

I have heard that the best thing to do is get a paper stamped. I've had it done before in Africa and a friend of mine visited NOrth Korea and the same thing happened. Another alternative would be to get a second passport. In the US, I believe you can get one for a year due to reasons like this. The UK might have something similar.

Have you checked with the Thorn Tree forum on the Lonely Planet site? they might be able to help you out.

[PattyFlipper]

A little late coming to this thread, but I do have fairly pertinent first-hand experience of your situation, albeit somewhat dated.

I don't think the Israeli authorities care about stamps from Arab states. I entered the country with several in my passport (though not Libyan) and they didn't bat an eyelid. Israel now has low-level diplomatic relations with all the GCC States except Saudi and Kuwait, but still not with Libya (despite apparent negotiations in that direction in 2004) and the other countries you mention. Nevertheless, I'm fairly sure that stamps from any of these countries are not a problem from the Israeli perspective.

Asking the Israeli immigration officer to place the entry stamp on a piece of paper is an available option UNLESS you happen to get a particularly malicious official who decides to 'accidentally' stamp your passport ("Whoops, sorry. Slipped!"). This happened to both myself and a former colleague in Saudi (on separate occasions), and I have also heard of it happening to others. I had finished my contract, so it didn't particularly matter, but my American colleague was royally scr*wed for returning to his job in the Dunes. Israeli security personnel can be obnoxious, obstructive, and aggressive, and are a virtual law unto themselves.

Naturegirl is right when she says that the British Passport Agency will issue a second passport (I got the impression they were well aware of the 'accidental' stamping scenario outlined above), or at least they used to. I had two passports for many years -the first time was given a regular 10 year passport, and the second time one which was only valid for a year. I believe, however, that you have to apply while in the UK, as British legations abroad are unable to issue, or even renew, them. I suggest you phone one of the passport offices in the UK (I found the one in Liverpool to be very helpful) for more and updated information.

[basiltherat]

thanks for the advice. clearly a second passport is the safest and most sensible way to go then.

best
basil