Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazy_arcade]

Long story short: my apartment flooded yesterday and my passport
took some water damage.

I used a blowdryer to get it dry. It's in pretty good shape. The binding and covers are fully intact, pages aren't coming apart etc. The visas have run a bit but they're still all legible.

The pages are just a bit ruffled. I'm thinking about trying to iron them.
Not sure if it's a good idea though.

[Bibbitybop]

Last year, I needed pages added to my US passport. I keep it in my pocket when I travel and it is has a permanent curve to it. Not a big curve, just a slight one from hugging my leg. The embassy said I should pay $100 for a new one as mine was "mutilated" and countries wouldn't issue a visa in it. "Really?" I told them, "3 countries just did before I came here. Please just give me the additional pages."

The US loves your money.

That being said, you may get flak from an embassy or immigration somewhere along they way.

[crazy_arcade]

The one I had previous went through the wash accidentally.

It was really really bad. I was travelling on it fine but then the Korean consulate refused to issue a work visa citing the fact that it was "dirty."

[sojourner1]

Yea, they sure don't make those passports durable for travel. Just a little sweat or carrying it around in your pocket will damage it.


Do they sell water proof passport protector sleeves in Korea? I need to get one.

[boatofcar]

My passport went through the wash shortly after arriving in Korea. Everything was ok, but my visa was washed completely clean--the visa looked completely unwritten on. I took it to immigration, and they just wrote on it with pen.

[kat2]

My husband washed his 5 years ago. We've gotten 3 work visas, a chinese visa, and several other stamps in and out of coutnries since then. It gets a few good looks and the embassy told us we should get a new one when we got pages added, but we haven't had any serious problems. We keep a plastic cover on it at all times, to keep it from looking any worse.

I wouldn't iron it. it might make it worse. just put a heavy book on top for several days

[Mr. BlackCat]

Sorry, no help. But I do have a sort of related story.

When I applied for a Chinese visa I got it returned with a nice plastic sleeve. Wonderful. Then an agent in the US (I'm Canadian) removed it because it distorted my passport. Really? A clear plastic casing distorted the cover, which you don't need to look at? On top of it, he confiscated it. This after going to Japan, Canada and several re-entries to Korea.

So, let me get this straight. A 'Communist' country gave me the sleeve. A 'Free' country took it away.

I hope that man got laid for his power trip, otherwise nothing was accomplished.

Good luck with yours.

[chris_J2]

Use a flattened towel, between the passport & the iron. Try a low setting first, & gradually increase the setting, until the wrinkles go.

[tzechuk]

Argh, too late!

If you had asked what to do before you blew dry it, I would've told you to just stick the whole thing in your visa and it would come out good as new!

Seriously, we saw a programme about this once on TV - some Japanese were crazy enough to experiement on it.

If you leave a book to dry on its own after soaking it, it cringles... same if you blow dry it or manual-dry it in any way, shape, or form. The only way it came out good as new was when they left the book in the freezer.

I tried it and it worked.

Obivously it's too late for you now.. but it's good for future references.

Also, I echo what everyone else's said- mine is also not in a pristine condition because of my daughter... I still use it and they let me use it, too!

[crazy_arcade]

[crazy_arcade]

aha~

I found this:

http://theepicenter.com/tow05166.html

Anyways, I ironed each page with a towel between the iron and the passport.
It's looking pretty good. Now I have a massive pile of books on top of it.

Thanks everyone.