Chet Hanks, son of Hollywood stars Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, has found himself in an unexpected predicament while travelling in Colombia. In a recent Instagram video, the 35-year-old actor revealed that he is currently unable to return to the United States due to passport complications, sparking both concern and amusement among his followers.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/chet-hanks-colombia-030226-9cd34847fa1c4803a10c305e2ab9f72a.jpg)
Hanks, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Greece, disclosed that he opted to travel with his Greek passport for a recent trip. He explained that he avoided taking his American passport because it is about to expire. “Sometimes they don’t let you in the country even if it hasn’t expired, but it’s about to expire,” he remarked in his social media post.
The actor initially flew to Puerto Rico to celebrate the birthday of a friend, Max. While enjoying his time there, he decided to fly to Medellín, Colombia, to visit another friend, Taylor. However, things took a turn when he attempted to check in for his return flight to the U.S. At the airport, Hanks was informed that, as a U.S. national travelling with a foreign passport, he needed a green card to re-enter the country. Hanks was surprised by this, stating, “I don’t have a green card because I’m an American citizen,” leaving him “stuck in Colombia.”
Chet’s video conveyed a mix of humour and frustration as he navigated the confusing immigration regulations. “I don’t have my American passport with me. So I’m literally stuck in Colombia. I’m stuck in Medellín,” he lamented. Despite the seriousness of his situation, he acknowledged, “there’s worse places to be stuck,” but admitted he was uncertain about how to resolve the issue without travelling to Bogotá, where the U.S. embassy is located.
Under U.S. regulations, citizens—including dual nationals—are required to use their American passport when entering or leaving the country. The U.S. State Department advises individuals to visit their nearest embassy or consulate in person to address any passport-related concerns while abroad.
As the situation evolved, Chet took to his Instagram Stories to further communicate with his followers. In a light-hearted update, he shared a gym selfie along with the caption, “Estamos bien, no te preocupes,” which translates to “We’re fine, don’t worry.” His followers appreciated the update and continued to engage with him in a comedic fashion, with one user jokingly suggesting, “The one time you should’ve pulled the ‘my dad is…’ card.”
Despite the challenges he is facing, Chet Hanks appears to be maintaining a positive outlook. While stranded in Colombia, he is looking for a solution to facilitate his return home. The actor’s predicament serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in international travel, particularly for individuals holding dual citizenship.
As he continues to update his followers on social media, fans are hoping for a swift resolution to his passport woes, while he seeks to navigate this unexpected chapter of his travel story.