This is a very serious article for many reasons. If you can’t get a passport, you can’t leave the country. If you don’t have the right visas for the country you’re traveling to, that country won’t let you in. Either scenario – or others, would obviously ruin your honeymoon.
Let’s start with something that might seem obvious, but has happened to us more than once, so it bears discussions. There are reasons that you might not be able to get a passport, or that your fiancée might not be able to get a visa. Do not automatically assume that either one of you are “sure things” in the passport and visa department.
We once had a couple that had booked a honeymoon to Tahiti. Three weeks before they were supposed to leave the bride called in tears because they had just found out that the groom could not get a passport – and hence, could not leave the country to travel to Tahiti. Evidently he had some issues surrounding child support and child custody issues from a previous marriage that were significant enough to prevent the Passport Agency from issuing him a passport.
Another bride booked an Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver. They were Canadian and thought they’d spend part of their honeymoon driving across Canada and then take the cruise. Again, just a few weeks before their honeymoon cruise, she called in tears because she just found out that due to a past criminal record and current probation issues, her groom-to-be was not allowed to leave Canada (and/or enter the US!). Although the cruise began in Canada, it left Canada as soon as it entered the US Waters of Alaska. Their cruise had to be cancelled.
Now if I were a marriage counselor, I would definitely advise both of these brides to take a good hard look at the men they were about to marry. Seems to me there are some red flags here! But I’m not a marriage counselor; I’m just a “honeymoon counselor”. But as a honeymoon counselor I can say, be sure to get all the issues out on the table. Anything out of the ordinary, anything that could possibly prevent you from having the honeymoon of your dreams – such as your fiancée not being able to get a passport!
Another issue that has arisen is when either the bride or the groom is not a US citizen and are traveling to a country outside the US. Be sure to check thoroughly the restrictions on your fiancées US visa. Can they leave the US and return?
Do not assume that the requirements for a US citizen to enter a country are the same as your fiancés if they are traveling under a different country’s passport. You may not need a visa, but they might, or visa versa.
From time to time we have honeymooners traveling or leaving the country with children from a previous marriage. Be sure you have all the legal documents you need to be able to take the children out of the country with you. You may need to show your custody agreement of a notarized letter from the other parent granting permission for the kids to leave the country.
We had once had a honeymoon registry couple that booked their own travel package on line to Brazil. They were not aware, nor did they read the fine print, that they need a visa to enter Brazil. Brazil did not issue visas at the airport. When they arrived in Rio, they were not allowed out of customs because they did not have a visa! The authorities wanted to put them immediately on the return flight back to the US. (Technically, the airlines should never have let them board the aircraft without the visa to begin with.) However, after much begging, pleading and tears, they were told that they could take a flight to Buenos Aires and they could be issued an emergency visa there. Not wanting to miss their honeymoon completely, this is what they decided to do. 48 hours later and several thousand dollars later, they entered Brazil with visa in tact. Despite their attempts to receive compensation from both the airline and the tour company, they ultimately bore the expense (and the lost honeymoon time) on their own. This is because no matter what, it is the traveler’s responsibility to make sure ALL their legal documents and requirements are in order!
THIS IS IMPORTANT!! It is ALWAYS the traveler’s responsibility (that means you!) to make sure that you have the appropriate legal documents, visas and immunizations for your destination. Travel agents, guidebooks, and tour operators do their best to provide accurate information. But it’s always a good idea to check with consulate or tourism board of the country you will be visiting yourself to be certain what is required. Laws change and travel agents and tour operators sometimes can provide misinformation – but they are not responsible – YOU are.
OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES: Most countries also require that your passport be valid for at least six months after your travel completion date. Be sure to check the expiration date on your passport and be sure it will be valid for six months after your dates of travel.
Make sure your tickets and visas are issued in the same name as your passport (or ID/Driver’s license if you are traveling within the US). If everybody knows you as Star, but the name on your passport is Elizabeth, your tickets MUST be issued under the name on your passport. Brides traveling immediately after your wedding date will need to have their passport and / or tickets issued in your maiden name. You cannot legally change your name to your married name on your driver’s license of passport until after you have your marriage license.
APPLY FOR YOUR PASSPORT EARLY!!!
www.honeyluna.com honeymoon registry
