Passport - how damaged is damaged?

[potplant]

Just looking at renewing the DCs passport and noticed that my DH's is looking a bit scruffy (sadly not from overuse). On the photo page the plastic bit has started to come away at the edges. The photo and data bit are still firmly covered, but it is coming away at the top of the page and at the barcode bit.

It still has 2 years left to run on it, so I don't want to change it unless I have to. Is this damaged enough to have problems travelling to US? Anyone had problems with scruffy passports before?

I had problems with mine. It looked like your DH's. I was coming back from Germany and I was flying off to US 2 weeks later. The German border officials told me there was no way I'd be let into the US with a passport like that, so I had to change it.

Thanks - I think he will probably have to get a new one. Last time we went they sent us to the back of the queue because I didn't fill in the box about how much money I had with me on the waiver form. And that was before 9/11.

Just looked at the website and I can't believe how expensive it is. £50 for a child's passport .

My sister was once held for questioning for hours and hours when she tried to enter the US on a passport that her dog had chewed!

She was wrongly advised that as long as the passport number was readable, it would be OK.

If I were you, I'd fork out for a new one.

OK my mind is made up, will get a new one.

Thanks all.

Definitely get a new one, its not worth taking the risk.

We went a few years ago and when they ran DH's passport through a machine to read it it left a tiny black smudge on his passport and then when leaving he got a really hard time about it even though they had done it and we had to get a new passport as they said they wouldn't accept it next time.

I'd fork out for a replacement passport in these circumstances.

I have also seen people sent to the back for incorrect or incomplete forms so can relate.

BTW each passenger no longer has to complete the visa waiver form for travel to the US!. The ESTA (electronic travel authorisation) is done online instead and that has to be completed online for each passenger prior to travelling to the US. After September 8th of this year the US will start charging each passenger $14 (US so this is around £9 sterling currently) for each ESTA application made.

Thanks all - have googled and it have only seen horror stories so wont take any chances.

Attila - Thanks for the tip off on the VISA.