“Ma’am, you cannot board this flight”. For a second, I felt my heart stop. With my eyes glued to the flashing red screen, I stood there paralyzed. Motionless. What just happened?

Sydney Airport’s new processing points are supposed to provide a seamless minimal contact process – promising a quick way for passengers to cross the border. Basically, you open your passport to the photo page, place it into the scanning device, and wait for the scanner to process your passport data before returning your passport to you. Seamless… In theory.

Never seeing the new processing points, my grandmother asked me to go first. I opened my passport to the photo page and placed it into the scanning device (keyword: into). My passport made it halfway into the machine before it started making strange noises. Moments later, the screen started flashing in red. The Australian Border Force officer yelled for me to pull my passport out. I gently tugged at it. Nothing. It was jammed. Two officers walked over to help remove my passport – one tugged as the other disassembled the machine. Eventually, I got my passport back. But, with the photo page torn in half.

Staring at the flashing red screen, I passed my passport back to the officer for processing. To my disbelief, I was told that I could not pass through passport control with a damaged passport. I just about lost it. Australia was the first stop on my three week trip – I had two weeks left to explore New Zealand and Fiji on a demanding itinerary.

I never travel with two passports. For the first time ever, I decided to pack my other passport to take with me on this trip. Who knew that I would actually need it? I quickly handed over my Polish passport to the officer and had the airline rebook my reservations using my other passport. This way, at least I could continue my trip and contact the United States Embassy in New Zealand upon arriving.

Note: The following is directed at U.S. citizens.

Emergency Passport
If you ever find yourself in my situation with a damaged, lost or stolen passport, do not panic! Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy using the emergency number or email address. The embassy will provide you instructions on what you need to do – in my case, the embassy emailed me forms to complete and bring with me to my appointment. Emergency passports are issued on the spot and are only valid for a limited time – for only months after the issue date. Surprisingly, emergency passports cost the same amount as new or regular passport renewals. Although annoying, the emergency passport will get you back into the United States. After arriving, you will have to apply for a new passport (at no additional cost).

Second Passport
Just last year, I learned about obtaining a second passport – which I had no idea was even possible. Second passports are issued at the discretion of the U.S. Department of State to frequent travelers that do not have time to acquire visas between trips or for security reasons. How convenient.

I was a bit skeptical about the “discretion” piece of the process. To my surprise, getting a second passport was just as easy as replacing or renewing an ordinary passport. You basically have two options: 1. Use a passport and visa service, such as Travel Visa Pro or VisaHQ, or 2. Take care of it yourself.

I decided to use a passport and visa service due to my apprehension about the whole “second passport” thing. Plus, I saved myself a trip to the interview. Although I am partnered with VisaHQ, I used Travel Visa Pro because they were cheaper (they charge a $99 USD service charge versus the $129 USD VisaHQ service charge). Here is what is required, per Travel Visa Pro:

• Your current, actual, and valid 10-year passport
• Second Passport Request Form (a form that you will have to print and complete)
• Two identical, recent passport photographs
• Two original signed Letters of Authorization (forms that you will have to print and complete)
• U.S. Passport Renewal Form (#DS-82)
• Payment to the U.S. Department of State ($170 USD at the time of this post)
• Copy of Evidence of Immediate Travel (contact me)

Although I paid for the Budget Passport 15-20 business day service, I received my second passport in the mail within one week.

If you travel often, you should strongly consider obtaining a second passport. The second passport is valid for up to four years (versus ten years), but it ensures that your back to back trips requiring visas are not interrupted. This way, you can apply for visas for two countries at once – versus applying for one visa, waiting to get it back, and then applying for another visa, and waiting again to get it back.