It was 2017 and I had eight years of traveling esperience and thirty-three countries on my resume, and with such one would think I'd have figured out some of the basics. Things such as: having the correct visa, or a valid passport. Well, welcome to the endless bewilderment of my travels. To say that my passport isn't valid wouldn't be accurate, but apparently when it expires in less than six months (five months and one week to be exact) it becomes an issue, even if you have a return flight within that six month time frame.
Of course this happens when I'm flying to Perth, Australia, the furthest possible point on the planet I could go from Toronto. To make it more worrisome, it's the first time I've actually planned my trip ahead of time, and with other people. Usually I take off solo and enjoy figuring it out as I go. That way there are no plans I can bungle up or people I can disappoint. Australia, at least on the west coast, can be a bit tricky to travel in my preferred fashion, and more expensive for sure. Therefore, this time myself and two friends planned to meet in Perth where we have a van rented for a month to road trip Western Australia (WA). We end in Broome where Katrina flies home to Sydney, and Kate and I fly to Tasmania for a week. After that I fly home from Melbourne.
For all those diligent planners out there, this is the problem with laying out every detail ahead of time; if anything goes awry it can create a hazardous domino effect. Although, I assume you itinerary makers probably wouldn't overlook such an important piece to the puzzle such as a visa. Alas, this is how my adventures usually play out; wandering through a maze and having the lights go out. I hadn't even left my apartment and the first domino was already wobbling.
I only became aware of my possible impending doom when I tried to check in online and was refused because of the passport issue. I was redirected to IATA to verify that I met all requirements. I had a valid travel visa that was issued from Australia that clearly stated my passport's expiry date and the date of application, which was with in the six months. One would think that if this was an issue it would have been mentioned at this stage. Needless to say I was surprised that the flag was only raised twelve hours before my departure. My mother on the other hand was not surprised that I found myself in such a situation, and she reminded me thoroughly that I should know better and that there must be someone I could call. I assured her I would be let into Australia, but then her worry switched to whether or not I'd be allowed back to Canada, to which I replied, "That's okay." I love Canada and wear it proud, but that wouldn't stop me from enjoying a forced extension to my travels. What it came down to was with such little time before my flight there was nothing that could be done except hope for the best and not stress about the worst case scenario.
When I arrived at the airport I was immediately warned of my situation by a Cathay Pacific employee. I explained my stance and all the documents I had. The gentleman told me he'd get his manager to see what he could do. I'm going to pause the story for a moment here. Does anyone else find it a bit odd? It felt as though I was about to debate a bar tab, "No sir I did not have that many tequilas, if I did you would know because the proof would be on the floor." When it comes to issues such as visas and passports, should it not be a binary rule, black or white, yes or no? At the very least it should be left to the immigration officers, not a front desk airline manager. And what do they care if I don't get let in the country? I paid my fare so at least let me go for the ride. The taxi driver doesn't make sure I have my house keys when he picks me up. If I have to climb through a window in a tequila haze that's my problem, not his. I was in a similar situation last year on my way to Australia with a stop over in Fiji, but that's another tale. Although these things only seem to happen on my way to Australia. For a law abiding commonwealth citizen why don't they want me?
Back to the story. I waited in line for thirty minutes which felt more like thirty hours. The thought of being turned away made my heart pump a bit too much blood to my head. I was feeling hot, my forehead dotted with perspiration, and I must have looked guilty. If I was denied I had no clue what my next move would be, or how to tell the girls the bad news. Instead I concentrated on appearing calm and confident, presenting all the proof and rehearsing my speech for the jury. In my favour I had a valid travel visa, a return flight, a van rental, an address and person in Australia, and a passport that is technically still valid.
It was my turn to approach the counter and handed over my passport. She swiped it, raised an eyebrow; I was ready for it. I had organized in a photo album on my phone all my artillery. It was at my finger tips and I was ready to fire.
She asked, "Are you going straight to Perth?"
"Yes I am." I replied confidently.
"Okay, have a great flight."
What? That was it? But I had so much more prepared. No manager or secondary questioning? All my worrying nerves was for naught. I took my boarding passes and everything continued on normally.
Let's fast forward through a fifteen hour flight to Hong Kong with the cliche crying babies. Believing I was in the clear I looked forward to an afternoon in Hong Kong exploring the Kowloon area since I had a ten hour layover. The last time I flew through Hong Kong I had a similar layover and spent it touring Hong Kong Island, it didn't even feel like a layover. This time around it was not to be and I understood my one and only question back in Toronto had more implication than I understood at the time. "Are you going STRAIGHT to Perth?" Meaning, no Hong Kong for you.
Upon landing I was ushered through to Immigration and Transfers. At that point I was sent directly to Departures. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, do not leave the airport. And that is where I sit now, in the Hong Kong airport with three more hours to kill in one of the most boring airports I've ever passed through. Although, I seem to be in the clear now there is still a stitch of uncertainty since I still have to get through Australian immigration in Perth and I know how strict the Aussies can be with their policies. They're definitely more binary, black or white, yes or no, welcome or go home. I work in film and there's an understanding within the industry that no project is a go until you're on set and the director calls action. Similarly, until I'm driving away from the Perth airport I'm not going to assume I'm in the clear. All this because my passport was three weeks inside the six month period of my passport expiring.
