It’s unclear whether this is actually true, but regardless of its basis in reality, this story is a great lesson in keeping your passport safe, even from your kids.
It’s unclear whether this is actually true, but regardless of its basis in reality, this story is a great lesson in keeping your passport safe, even from your kids.
Apparently, a Chinese man is currently stuck in South Korea because his four-year-old son drew doodles all over his passport with a felt tip pen. As the picture shows, the son apparently gave his dad a new hairdo, fuller lips, and some lovely pictures of animals and flowers to accompany his passport image. Supposedly the man tried to get through airport security with his family, but was not allowed through when the doodles were discovered all over his passport.
The man, who identified himself as Chen, is allegedly stuck in South Korea without a valid passport. He has resorted to social media to try and follow his family home to China.
Unfortunately, this story probably isn’t true. The photo clearly shows that the man’s signature, name, and passport number have been expertly scratched out by his supposed four-year-old. It seems very unlikely that a four-year-old’s doodles would so perfectly cover such important information. Others have commented that the pen doesn’t appear to have made any impression on the passport page, leading some to believe that this is simply a Photoshop image.
That said, this story should strike fear in the hearts of parents traveling with kids everywhere. Your passport is an important legal form of identification, and tampering with it can invalidate it. Even if it’s your own child who has turned your passport into a toy, you could get caught stranded in a foreign country if you don’t treat your passport with respect. Remember to treat passports like you would your driver’s license or credit cards. It’s a powerful form of identity, but it loses all that power if your toddler decides to make you look like a lion in your passport picture.
If your child got a hold of your passport, or if you dropped it in the toilet, ran it through the washing machine, or accidentally set it on fire, contact Swift Passport Services today to begin the process of getting a replacement. We can expedite your application so that you have a new passport in hand in a matter of days rather than weeks. If you accidentally destroy or lose your passport while abroad, contact your nearest US Embassy right away to get a replacement.
