Medellín, Colombia – Chet Hanks, son of actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, remains stranded in Medellín after attempting to return to the United States on a Greek passport, according to a series of social media posts and reports from Colombian authorities. The actor and musician first revealed his predicament on Instagram Friday, February 27, detailing a travel complication stemming from an expired U.S. Passport.
Hanks, a dual citizen of the United States and Greece – granted Greek citizenship in 2020 following his parents’ advocacy for victims of the 2018 Attica wildfires – had traveled to Puerto Rico for a friend’s birthday before deciding to visit a friend in Medellín. He opted to use his Greek passport for the trip, anticipating potential issues with his soon-to-expire American passport. “The reason I didn’t use my American passport is because it’s about to expire, and sometimes they don’t let you in the country, even if it hasn’t expired, but it’s about to expire,” Hanks explained in his initial Instagram video.
Upon arrival at José María Córdova International Airport on February 27, airline officials informed Hanks that re-entry into the U.S. With a foreign passport required a U.S. Green card, a document he does not possess as a U.S. Citizen. “I don’t have a green card, ’cause I’m an American citizen,” Hanks stated in the video. “I don’t have my American passport with me, so I’m literally stuck in Colombia.”
The U.S. State Department generally requires U.S. Citizens to enter and exit the country using a U.S. Passport. Whereas dual citizens can use a passport from another country to enter a foreign nation, returning to the U.S. Typically necessitates a valid U.S. Passport.
Hanks’ situation is further complicated by the location of the nearest U.S. Embassy, situated in Bogotá, approximately 260 miles from Medellín. He expressed reluctance to travel to the capital to resolve the issue, stating, “I literally have no fucking idea what I’m gonna do…I don’t want to go to Bogotá, so, yeah, free me.”
Since his initial plea for help, Hanks has continued to document his time in Medellín on social media. On Tuesday, March 2, he posted to his Instagram Stories tagging the Clínica Antienvejecimiento wellness spa . The previous day, he shared a video discussing insomnia, sobriety, and the recent legal issues facing actor Shia LaBeouf.
Hanks, who has previously described himself as the “black sheep” of his family, began his acting career in 2007 with a role in the film Bratz. He has since appeared in television series such as Shameless, Empire, and Your Honor, as well as the film Greyhound alongside his father. He also performs music as a solo artist and as part of the duo Something Out West.
Colombian migration authorities acknowledged Hanks’ situation, clarifying the requirements for entry and exit from the country. As of March 3, Hanks remains in Medellín, awaiting a resolution to his travel complications.
