"After nearly 17 hours of air travel, I was groggy, jet-lagged, and excited to embark on a 10-day cruise through Asia for work. I was ready for a few days of relaxation at sea, sipping Champagne and enjoying caviar. So, I was quite surprised when, after landing, I was pulled aside at immigration in Indonesia and escorted away from the arrivals area to a small, windowless room. Turns out, I'd made a simple (but important) mistake with my passport."
"Like several countries, Indonesia requires at least two full blank pages in your passport for entry. However, as a frequent traveler who's been to over 70 countries, mine was filled with stamps and visas. Not a single blank page was left, which meant I didn't have enough space for another stamp and wouldn't be able to enter the country. Instead, I'd have to head back home."
"With no travel budget to spare, I frantically called a friend who stayed up with me all night, helping me purchase an expensive last-minute, same-day ticket home. From there, I spent several more hours sitting on the floor of the airport terminal until I could board my 15-hour flight back to the US. Though my story makes for fascinating dinner party fodder, I'd rather not live through this experience again. After all, I missed my cruise and had to pay thousands to remedy my mistake."
After a nearly 17-hour flight, the traveler was denied entry to Indonesia because the passport lacked at least two blank pages required for entry. Immigration officials pulled the traveler aside and confirmed the passport was filled with stamps and visas, leaving no space for a new stamp. The traveler then had to return home, purchasing an expensive same-day ticket and spending many hours in airports. The missed 10-day cruise resulted in significant financial cost and inconvenience. Since the incident, the traveler now checks country passport page requirements well in advance and has obtained a larger, 52-page passport.
Read at Business Insider
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