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Rosina Visomi, 27, a British national, ran into trouble with her passport as she prepared to return from Koh Pha-ngan, Thailand, where she had stayed since April after completing a yoga certification in India. She never imagined that a small tear in her passport could cause so many problems.
During her time in Southeast Asia, Visomi used her stopovers to further explore her passions and engage in volunteer activities. When she decided to return to Norfolk in early July, she embarked on a lengthy journey through Bangkok, India, and Türkiye before arriving in London.
A British tourist got into trouble because his passport was torn by 1cm.
However, on July 4th, at the Thai capital's airport, IndiGo Airlines staff refused her boarding after discovering a 1cm tear on the photo page of her passport. They claimed that India would not allow her entry and advised her to book a direct flight from Bangkok to London.
Visomi had previously used this torn passport on flights to the US, Jamaica, and Thailand without any problems. However, this incident caused her to miss her flight and cost her approximately $470 in airfare. Furthermore, Thai authorities informed her that her visa had expired even though she had renewed it just days prior.
She said that Thai immigration authorities also warned her that she could be fined £320 (approximately $410) for her expired visa.
A female tourist from England burst into tears due to a series of problems.
Visomi contacted Thai immigration authorities and the British Embassy in Thailand for assistance, but this process cost her hundreds of pounds. She admitted that she is currently penniless, unemployed, and did not factor in this expense.
Visomi's sister initiated a fundraising campaign to help her cover travel expenses. Thanks to this support, Visomi was finally able to fly home from Thailand on July 9th.
Despite the difficulties she faced, representatives from IndiGo Airlines insisted that they had followed proper procedures. They explained that the airline had complied with regulatory guidelines and provided the necessary support to the customer. Customers were advised to be understanding of these guidelines, as they may vary from country to country.
