Guest buckeroo2 Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 There was some discussion on this forum last summer about the length of time the "proof of income" letter one gets from his embassy to satisfy Pattaya Immigration is valid. When the U.S. Embassy did an outreach in Pattaya in July 2009 I went and received a proof of income letter needed for the renewal of my retirement visa. I went this week to renew the visa at Pattaya Immigration and I used the letter obtained last July. It was accepted and there was no mention of its date of issuance. I arrived at Pattaya Immigration at 1:00 PM and I was out the door at 1:15 PM with a pick-up of my update passport the following afternoon. I always make a complete copy of everything Immigration requests . Invariably they always ask for something they did not ask for the previous year. This time they wanted copies of the original Non - Immigration O stamp and a copy of my original retirement visa stamp from 2006. This was in addition to a copy of the retirement stamp that is expiring which they always request. My passport expires in 2011 - I wonder if I will need to keep my old passport forever as it will be the only source of these original stamps from 2006. Quote
Gaybutton Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 I wonder if I will need to keep my old passport forever as it will be the only source of these original stamps from 2006. No, you will not need to keep it. They have all of that on their computers. I know that for a fact. A couple years ago I managed to lose my passport. When I received the new one I went to Immigration with it. There was no problem. They replaced the stamps and even were able to issue a duplicate of my arrival-departure card and staple it into my passport. Actually, you probably won't be able to keep your old passport whether you want to or not. I don't know how it works elsewhere, but at the USA Embassy they require you to turn in your old passport when they are ready to issue you a new one. If your old one was lost or stolen, you are required to submit a police report. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 I don't know how it works elsewhere, but at the USA Embassy they require you to turn in your old passport when they are ready to issue you a new one. For some time now, the UK Consulate has required the old passport to be submitted and then retained when the application is made. So for about 10 days you have no passport - only a letter from the Embassy to show to any Thai authority which might ask for your passport. I believe that very soon passports will no longer be issued here, but in Hong Kong, and so the period you are without one will be about 14 days. Quote
Guest RichLB Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 Actually, you probably won't be able to keep your old passport whether you want to or not. I don't know how it works elsewhere, but at the USA Embassy they require you to turn in your old passport when they are ready to issue you a new one. If your old one was lost or stolen, you are required to submit a police report. Actually, they DID return my expired passport - but they punched several holes in it to invalidate it. But, when I went to renew my expiring retirement visa I was asked for nothing it contained, even though I brought it with me. Apparently all required stamps had been duplicated in my new passport. Quote
Gaybutton Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 they punched several holes in it to invalidate it. Aha! Until now I never knew you were Swiss . . . Quote
2lz2p Posted February 13, 2010 Posted February 13, 2010 It is my understanding that the proof of income letter is valid up to one year prior to renewal. I went through the US Passport renewal process about 3 years ago. When I renewed my extension at Immigration, the passport had about 8 months validity. My extension was granted to the expiration date of the passport. Immigration told me to bring in my new passport and they would change everything over to the new one. I went to Bangkok and made the application and payment to the American Citizen Service (ACS). They took my passport briefly, completed some paperwork, and then returned my passport to me. They said to pick up the new one in two weeks as it had to be sent to US for issue. It so happened they scheduled an outreach visit to Pattaya a few days after I was told to come back and pick up the new one -- I emailed them and asked if they could bring it with them and let me pick it up here in Pattaya. They responded with a "can do." When I picked up the new passport, they gave me a "letter" for Thai Immigration (I recall it had some verbage advising that a new passport was issued). They also took my old passport, punched holes in it, and gave it back to me. I went to Immigration and gave them the old passport, the Embassy letter, and the new passport. Immigration put in several stamps (not like the originals, but in essence a history of the same information starting with information from my original Non Immigrant O visa and all the subsequent extensions, etc.) There was no fee involved in the changeover. At the time of the changeover, Immigration then extended my stay from the old passport expiration date for the additional 4 months to the regular one year expiration date. Since then, I make a copy of the two pages that has all those stamps plus my subsequent extensions, etc, This seems to be sufficient as they have not asked to see anything from the old passport. Personally, I have found the Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration office to be very efficient. My last renewal took about 10 minutes with a "pick up tomorrow" comment. Quote
pong Posted February 14, 2010 Posted February 14, 2010 Actually, you probably won't be able to keep your old passport whether you want to or not. I don't know how it works elsewhere, I do-we (EU) have the choice of leaving it-what most do, or asking to get it back-it will then have 3 or 4 big holes in it-they used to cut of 1 corner before. 1 of these holes should go through the pasptfoto. In future-with those chip-embedded bio-things, I suppose they will also destroy that-as these types of paspt have only been issued since 2 years-it will take another 3 for those to expire. Quote
Guest buckeroo2 Posted February 14, 2010 Posted February 14, 2010 No, you will not need to keep it. They have all of that on their computers. I know that for a fact. A couple years ago I managed to lose my passport. When I received the new one I went to Immigration with it. There was no problem. They replaced the stamps and even were able to issue a duplicate of my arrival-departure card and staple it into my passport. Actually, you probably won't be able to keep your old passport whether you want to or not. I don't know how it works elsewhere, but at the USA Embassy they require you to turn in your old passport when they are ready to issue you a new one. If your old one was lost or stolen, you are required to submit a police report. I thought I would get my old passport returned once the new one is issued. I plan to apply for a new passport while I am in the U.S. If I do not get the old passport back, how will they see my re-entry permit when I arrive at the BKK airport? I understand that after I arrive I can go to Pattaya Immigration to get my stamps updated, but I have a concern that if my re-entry permit is not stamped when I arrive in BKK I might have to start the whole retirement process all over again. Please do not advise me to apply for my passport at the U.S. Embassy in BKK. I want advise on what to expect if I apply for my U.S. passport staeside. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted February 14, 2010 Posted February 14, 2010 For some time now, the UK Consulate has required the old passport to be submitted and then retained when the application is made. I should have added your old UK passport IS returned along with the new one, but with diagonal cuts at the top of all pages except those with current visas. This is vital for the subsequent transfer of those visas (e.g. at my last renewal, I still had much of a 3 year China multiple entry visa remaining). Quote
Gaybutton Posted February 14, 2010 Posted February 14, 2010 how will they see my re-entry permit when I arrive at the BKK airport? Very good question. I don't know. I am guessing it would show up on their computers. Also, since people are saying you get your old passport back, but invalidated, your reentry permit will still be stamped inside. I think the best thing for you to do is go to Immigration and ask. Quote
Guest Oogleman Posted February 14, 2010 Posted February 14, 2010 Aha! Until now I never knew you were Swiss . . . hes one of those tax exiles obama is after lol Quote
Gaybutton Posted February 15, 2010 Posted February 15, 2010 hes one of those tax exiles obama is after lol "Only little people pay taxes." - Leona Helmsley Quote
Guest joseph44 Posted February 17, 2010 Posted February 17, 2010 I thought I would get my old passport returned once the new one is issued. I plan to apply for a new passport while I am in the U.S. If I do not get the old passport back, how will they see my re-entry permit when I arrive at the BKK airport? I understand that after I arrive I can go to Pattaya Immigration to get my stamps updated, but I have a concern that if my re-entry permit is not stamped when I arrive in BKK I might have to start the whole retirement process all over again. Please do not advise me to apply for my passport at the U.S. Embassy in BKK. I want advise on what to expect if I apply for my U.S. passport staeside. It's like your passport has been stolen. Just make a copy of the old passport and apply for a visa-transfer once you're back in Thailand. If you really want to be sure about how to take care of this, visit Immigration before you return to the US. Quote
Guest RichLB Posted February 18, 2010 Posted February 18, 2010 If you really want to be sure about how to take care of this, visit Immigration before you return to the US. Assuming you're in the US now, how about just calling the Thai consulate there and asking them how to handle this? Quote
Guest buckeroo2 Posted February 21, 2010 Posted February 21, 2010 Assuming you're in the US now, how about just calling the Thai consulate there and asking them how to handle this? I am still in Thailand - I leave on Feb 28 provided there is no disruption at the airport by some colored shirts. A Thai friend told me that he heard on the news that the red shirts said will not take over the airport as did the yellow shirts in Nov 2008 but they may stage protest rallies blocking the access to all roadways leading to the airport. That would mean no one could get to or leave the airport - so in effect same same as taking over the airport per se. If that happens, I guess I will just have to stay in Pattaya longer than planned. Quote
