Chet Hanks stranded in Colombia due to passport issues

Chet Hanks, the 35-year-old son of actor Tom Hanks and musician Rita Wilson, found himself stranded in Colombia after travelling with only his Greek passport. Hanks, who has dual citizenship following his parents’ naturalisation in Greece in 2020, had been in Puerto Rico for a friend’s birthday before deciding to visit another friend in Medellín spontaneously. He explained on Instagram that he had not brought his U.S. passport because it was nearly expired. Upon attempting to return to the United States, he was informed he required a green card to enter with a foreign passport, despite being an American citizen. The nearest U.S. embassy capable of assisting him is in Bogotá, around 250 miles away or a one-hour flight from Medellín. Hanks expressed frustration on social media, asking to be ‘freed’. Fans responded with mixed reactions, many referencing his father’s role in ‘Cast Away’ or suggesting he could have used his family connections. Tom Hanks has previously defended Chet against accusations of nepotism, emphasising that all their children must put in work to create authentic projects. Chet’s predicament highlights the practical complications of dual citizenship and travelling without proper documentation.