USA Passport Renewal In Thailand?

[Guest Astrrro]

I assume this is easy to do at the Embassy in Bangkok. Right?

 

Mine expires in early 2012. No need to do it now in the USA, right?

[Gaybutton]

I assume this is easy to do at the Embassy in Bangkok. Right?

At the USA Embassy in Bangkok you fill out a form, pay the fee of US $100, and it takes about two weeks for your new passport to arrive. It shouldn't be any problem.

 

Just make sure that when you renew your passport, it still has at least six months validity.

 

When you receive your new passport, the embassy will invalidate your old passport and give it back to you. You take both the old and new passport to Immigration. They will transfer your visas over to the new passport without a fee.

[Bob]

You can renew it by mail (takes about 3 weeks) if you're doing that from the US or Canada and the cost is only $75.00 ($100.00 if you do it in person at the US embassy in Bangkok).

 

If it doesn't expire until early 2012 (2 and 1/2+ years from now), why not wait until summer of 2011? You seem a bit early with this.

[mahjongguy]

Here's the most important difference:

If you send in your passport while you are in the States, you will be without a passport until it comes back. If you apply at the Embassy in Bangkok, you get to hold on to your old passport while you're waiting.

 

I did that two years ago and it was great. They even noticed that my old passport had been expanded to 48 pages so the new one came already expanded.

[Guest buckeroo2]

Here's the most important difference:

If you send in your passport while you are in the States, you will be without a passport until it comes back. If you apply at the Embassy in Bangkok, you get to hold on to your old passport while you're waiting.

 

I did that two years ago and it was great. They even noticed that my old passport had been expanded to 48 pages so the new one came already expanded.

How often does one need their passport if they are residing in the States?. I just sent mine in to get pages added when I was in the U.S. - I was without a passport for about 2 weeks, but then again I never use my passport unless I leave the U.S. Most residents have driver's licenses or ID's issued by the respective states.

[Bob]

Using the mail system the end of last year, I got my new passport back 12 or 13 days from the date I mailed it. Rather easy. But, if you're already abroad (except for Canada), you can't use the mail-in system.

 

 

[Guest fountainhall]

If you apply at the Embassy in Bangkok, you get to hold on to your old passport while you're waiting

 

Just for information, when renewing UK passports in Bangkok, the Consulate now keep the old passport whilst the new one is being prepared (about 10 working days). In its place they give you a piece of paper to show within Thailand if you are asked for your passport. So don't plan any international travel during that interim period. Also the cost for the 48 page passport is now more than Bt.7,000!