OK I am stuck. I have a Israeli stamp in my US passport
from a number of years ago. I am trying to get a VISA to
Lebanon, but can't because of the stamp in my passport.
What do I do? Lie to the US government and tell them I lost
my passport and get a new one? I would like to tear the
page out of my passport, but suspect I can't do that.
[There are 16 posts - the latest was added on Wed 26 May, 1:03]
Use the form at the end of this page to add your own post.
Topics
| Thorn Tree
| Home
Tell the US authorities that you want a new passport and
why. Your passport doesn't need to be full or outdated to
be replaced. As long as you are willing to pay and the
previous passport is sent so that it can be cancelled there
should be no problem getting a new one.
Q:I am trying to get a VISA to Lebanon, but can't because of
the stamp in my passport. What do I do?
A:Lie to the Lebanese government and don't tell them you
have a new passport that doesn't show that you are a typical
US passport holder who supports Israel.
I am a US passport holder, and I don't support Israel. I
doubt that most US citizens who have passport are staunch
Israel-supporters. You're confusing Congress and the
"typical" US citizen. Sure, Congress, most of Washington
and Clinton himself have to appear to support Israel
because of the political power Jews wield in the US, and
you need votes to get reelected in this country, unlike
some others. There was once the tendency to support "pro-
US" Israel versus the "pro-Soviet" states like Syria, Egypt
and others, but that's all in the past, and it's the rare
US citizen who thinks we should expend even one dollar to
aid and arm Israel. Most are apathetic and uninterested.
To answer the writer's question, just get a new passport
and go. Reason for new passport? Exactly your situation.
If you say you "lost" it, you'll wind up with a new
passport number, etc. which makes it a bit more of a hassle
for the passport agency to issue a new one. "Tezza"'s
comment is actually ungrammatical and makes little sense.
Barring tourists because they have been to Israel is the
behavior of petulant children. Lie to them...absolutely.
They don't deserve the truth. Incidentally, the rules in
Lebanon/Syria/Iran etc don't say you can't get a visa if you
have been to Israel. they say you can't get a visa if there
is any evidence of a visit to israel in your passport.
That's different. No one asks you if you have been to
Israel. Well, actually, the Iran visa form wants you to list
every country you've ever been to. Oh well, you might forget
a country or two.
Or tell them the truth, I don't think you'll have any
trouble getting a new passport.
You can also join the Israeli armi and travel Lebanon for
free :)
A country has the right to refuse entry to any person
it feels is either dangerous to the country or it's people.
An American who has visited Israel can be considered
problematic on both counts.
Keep in mind how strongly most Arabs feel
about America's ties to Israel.
When you turn up at passport control remember
that all they are seeing is an American who has visited the
occupied territories and they don't give a shit
who you voted for in the last election.
Is that gramatically correct enough for you?
This "I'm an American citizen and I'll go wherever I damn
well want" stuff is really just too much.
Living here it's funny how you all turn maple leaf at the
first sign of someone talking politics...
...to beat the regulations in every way they can, when they
have contempt fot the government's maturity or its judgement
of what is dangerous. It's a variant of Gandhi...you can
refuse to obey laws imposed by governments whose authority
you don't accept. I went to Israel before I went to Iran,
Syria, lebanon...but there is no Israeli stamp in my
passport. As most readers on this apge know, Israel will
leave your passport unstamped if you ask them, precisely
because of the silly behavior of some Muslim countries. So
the rule is useless, and ewveryone knows it; it' just a
temper tantrum.
Alpha Omega, first of all, as I'm sure you know, Lebanon and
Israel are both in a state of war with each other.
Considering the historically "less than civilized" behaviour
of the Israelis and their hatred and arogance towards the
Lebanese and lack of respect for it's territorial integrity
(occupying more than 10% of Lebanon), nobody is surprised
that the Lebanese government would prefer that nobody
associated with Israel enter the country for security
reasons. ...secondly, Lebanon is not a "muslim" country, as
you write, infact, Lebanon has 19 officially recognized
religions and is the only country in the region not to be
associated with one religion (ie: "jewish", "muslim" etc.
state.).
...not to be associated with one relegion?
are you joking?
"...not to be associated with one relegion"?
are you joking?
She said "the only country IN THE REGION..." She's right,
unless you define 'region' differently and count Turkey,
which is secular. Within the Arab world, it's Lebanon,
although not for much longer at this rate. In any case
Israel's war is with the Muslim extremists in Lebanon, so
the distinction is not as profound as it might seem, it's
the Muslims in Lebanon who are driving the hostilities with
Israel and who insisted on the silly travel restrictions.
.
If these restrictions are so logical, try the following
hypotheticals:
(a) India and Pakistan bar travellers who have
passport stamps from the other country
(b) China bars travellers who have been to the US, because
of the bombing of their Belgrade embassy
(c) Iran bars travellers who have been to the US
(d) Cuba bars travellers who have been to the US (not so
wacky...the 'Land of the Free' prohibits its citizens from
going to Cuba, and harasses citizens of other countries who
have gone to Cuba)
(e) Israel bars travellers who have been to an Arab country.
.
There's a reason they don't do this. It's moronic. it's
called shooting yourself in the foot.
The only difference is that none of the scenarios you have
listed above include one country occupying another, against
all international laws. Otherwise, I agree that travel
restrictions are stupid.
Why look at everything from one point of view (email
#11)? The US is one of those "moronic" countries (perhaps
the most moronic) which ban (or have banned) their citizens
from travelling to or doing business with, Iran, Libya,
Cuba, Lebanon etc. etc. On top of that, they want other
countries to follow suit and threaten to sanction and/or
fine/freeze assets of any foreign company which deals with
their "black listed" countries. Meanwhile, none of those
countries ban Amerians. Logical?
I wouldn't go so far as saying that the restrictions between
Lebanon and Israel are one sided. Although Israel may not
have restrictions, on paper, on people who have travelled to
Arab countries, those who have (especially those who have
just arrived from an Arab country including Cyprus) can be
questioned for hours on anything, heavily searched (with
possibility of films, tapes, cameras etc. being confiscated
for "security reasons"), (most) possibly harassed and
heckled and generally belittled and treated like a criminal.
And it's worse if you are dark skinned or of Arab origin or
simply have a sirname which sounds like or has Arabic
origins. There is always the possibility that they will not
let you in for any of the above reasons. Otherwise, if you
are an Arab (minus those countries with a peace agreement),
you will not be allowed into Israel at all (this is
offcourse recipricol to the other Arab countries as well).
This usually affects Palestinians that have been displaced
through the creation of Israel and wish to return to
Palestinian territories to visit any relatives. Their only
way in is a complicated procedure across the border through
Jordan and then, if let in, they are only allowed to stay
within the prison, called the Palestinian territories.
Harassement goes without saying. I suppose this is as good
as a "travel restriction" as it gets.
...yeah and it's really "logical" that Israel try to ban any
foriegn diplomat from making an official visit to the Orient
House in the Palestinian territories (or from visiting
Palestine at all for that matter). And if one does, they
start pouting and complaining and making threatening
comments in the media.
Re #12, you are wrong. Pakistan (and China) occupy large
chunks of Indian territory. And the US occupies Cuban
territory (Guantanamo Bay).
.
Re. #13, didn't I already say that?
.
Re. #14 and #15, I agree.