Theoretical Passport Question

Has anyone ever lost their passport on the way down to SXM? If so, what happened?

I hope this did not happen to you Tim. Not a good situation to lose your passport anywhere.

Usually people ask a theoretical question when it's already happened. Hope this is not the case with you.

US State Department

Theoretically, if you arrive in SXM without a passport you will be denied entry, and the carrier which brought you to SXM will be required to remove you, whether or not you have a ticket. That's one reason why airlines check your passport - they don't want to own bringing you back, possibly at their cost.

No. Didn't happen to me. Just curious. Probably a dumb question because they do check it before you board so you would have to lose it between there and SXM immigration. But I guess anything is possible.

When mine was expired Airline did not check it when I left from SEA to MIA but when I rechecked into MIA to fly to SXM I was denied boarding. Had to spend two nights in Miami to get it renewed first thing Monday morning so I could fly out that day to SXM.

I read a tip, probably on this forum, to make a photo copy of your passport to keep in a different bag. I don't know if that would do you any good, but i did do it, and luckily didn't need it! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Wouldn't hurt if you carried a copy with you while on the island. You might need it if you are stopped by one of their "controls".

By controls do you mean police, and does that happen often?

Yes, that's what they call a roadblock checking cars and operators paperwork. While it doesn't happen every day, it happens often enough that we have all seen them, especially by the beaches on the French side.

Ok thanks. i have heard about such things, and been there three times now and have never seen it. someone we met there, said they set up right at the end of the Club O main road one afternoon, checking people out.