What should do I should do about a possibly water damaged passport?

Will you be spending time in Paris or just transiting thru?

Just changing planes there. I just don’t know how closely the passport control people check. So,estimes it seems that just to board a plane, the airlines themselves scan passports electronically. It’s impossible to know always by a physical or visual inspection if a passport has been actually damaged enough to make it unusable. I can only imagine what a nightmare it must be to be in limbo, not being to return to one’s home country or really to legally stay in the country one is now stranded in. Besides, it’d be pretty hard getting a new passport in another country. And it would take weeks.

You need to go to the US consulate in Florence and wait your turn. Let them tell you if you need a new passport. If you do, they can issue a temporary one that will get you home. Usually the same day.

The airlines don't scan your passport. You've already given your passport information when you checked in. They will look to make sure your have a passport.

As Frank said you should go to the consulate in Florence and get them to take a look at it.

it’d be pretty hard getting a new passport in another country. And it would take weeks.

This isn’t correct. I accompanied an elderly family friend to the Consulate in Paris maybe about 18 months ago — she had her emergency replacement passport in a matter of hours, A visiting friend had a similar occurrence.

So you just need to appear in front and explain the situation? Wonder how long it’ll take to line up, wait, and then be seen.

Yes, that’s what you need to do. Two very experienced travelers told you the same thing. Nobody here can tell you how much time the consulate will

Your passport is needed at border control in Paris. If you have an automated scanner, your chip needs to work. If you go to an agent, it needs to be readable.

Wonder how long it’ll take to line up, wait, and then be seen.

Probably less time than if you show up at US immigration with a scuzzy questionable looking passport and have to go through whatever 'extra' processing it takes.

If the Consulate in Florence says its "OK", get it in writing.

Have you reviewed the US Consulate in Florence's Website. I would suggest that you review it and get the necessary items together in advance. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLWuGesPk2WL0BbQkNjyJjpC3yFyGzaG-sJawC-C8qGhpzcg/viewform?fbzx=1793018434584494479. There website does give you contact hours and how to make an appointment.

Good luck!

There are numerous ways to read a passport. If the computer chip is unreadable--as mine was for a couple of years--an agent can scan the bar code.

However, to use a automatic machine, the chip needs to be readable.

The consulate will be able to tell.

The problem is going to be if the passport shows damage and the computer chip is unreadable. An agent, especially a US immigration officer, will be skeptical and will probably spend extra time checking it out.

Go to the consulate and let them sort it out. They see passport problems every day.

Denny, I agree that you can get a temporary passport in a matter of hours. I lost my passport many years ago in London, and had to get a temporary one. I was at the embassy by 1 pm and around 2+ hours later, I had my new passport (good for 3 months). There shouldn't be much of a line, and the time above included having to get a new passport photo taken. And that was in 1996. I'm sure it's even quicker these days.

Honestly, it's a very simple and streamlined procedure. It happens all the time in embassies, so they are quick at getting people through.

I went yesterday and there was no line. An employee came out and told me that there was no problem whatsoever with my passport. What a huge relief. In the future, when out and about abroad, I will not carry it in my cross shoulder bag. And I will get a plastic cover for it as well. I was lucky this time that not that much water leaked through not my passport. But that was not because The water was absorbed by a paperback that was between my water bottle and my passport (in a nylon waist holder).

There was no other way the man told me than a visual inspection. He could not run it through a scanner or use any technical means to ascertain its degree of damage, which he said was nil.

Yeah sorry my first thought when I first read this post. was it is always asking for trouble carrying a passport or money in a bag of any kind

I got caught in a heavy downpour on my way from the bus station in Ubeda, Spain (northern Andalucia), to my hotel. I had an umbrella, but it wasn't large enough to protect my cross-body purse completely. My passport was inside the purse and was beginning to get damp by the time I reached the hotel. I think I was mere minutes away from a waterlogged passport. I now keep my passport inside a zip-top sandwich bag.

So glad that you stopped by and got your definitive answer. Now you don't have to worry about it any more !

And a bonus, you didn't have to wait!

Enjoy your last day tomorrow.

Glad it all turned out well!

Thanks all. Acraven: great suggestion!