TotallyOz Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 It was really very simple to do as mine expired. I had only 6 months left and I have to make some trips to South America soon so I went to the Embassy in Bangkok to renew the passport. First, if you book online and show up at the appointed time there is no wait. They take your paperwork, make sure all if filled out correctly and send you to the cashier. Once finished, you take the receipt over to the window and they take the information. They tell you to have a seat. In less than 5 minutes, I was called over to the window and said I would get an e-mail when the new passport was ready in 2 weeks or so. Seven business days after, they sent an e-mail. I showed up and they took my old passport and changed it for a new one. The gave me the old passport back with holes in it as well as a letter to go to the immigration in Thailand to have the Visa moved over. The pick up was less than 10 minutes. There are certain posted hours for the service and if you show up on time, it is very fast and painless. I went to Pattaya Immigration and was told I did not need to have my visa moved as it was a tourist visa and not a multiple entry. Does anyone know if this is correct? The cost was a bit over 100US for the renewal. They are also now charging for added pages and you are only allowed 3 additions to your passport. There were several I met who were very upset at this as they still have years remaining on the passport but they have had 3 additions and they are not allowed to add more. The officers did tell them they can get a temporary passport but not more pages. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 There were several I met who were very upset at this as they still have years remaining on the passport but they have had 3 additions and they are not allowed to add more. Count yourself lucky that you are allowed any additions. The larger European Community passports give you 44 pages - and that's it. No additions. The size is about the same as US passports, but with many visas now requiring one full page (e,g, Thailand retirement/reentry, China, Indonesia) and the way certain Immigration Officers cavalierly stick their stamps bang in the middle of each page, my last two passports lasted all of 3 years and 4 years respectively. A new UK passport a year ago cost me almost US$250! When I complained about having to renew so regularly, I was told they would permit me a second passport - for another $250! Big deal! Also, the UK Consulate will not allow you to keep the existing passport once you have made the application for a new one. So you are passport-less for about 10 days! Quote
kokopelli Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 It was my understanding that the actual new Passport is renewed in the USA and then sent to Thailand to be given to the holder. Quote
TotallyOz Posted March 11, 2011 Author Posted March 11, 2011 For USA, that is correct. They send your details in a diplomatic bag and returned the same way. Very fast. Even faster than getting it in the USA unless you do the quicker service with an extra fee. Quote
Guest voldemar Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 They are also now charging for added pages and you are only allowed 3 additions to your passport. There were several I met who were very upset at this as they still have years remaining on the passport but they have had 3 additions and they are not allowed to add more. The officers did tell them they can get a temporary passport but not more pages. I hope you do not mean that they allow only three extra pages... If this is the case, then I presume that current Marxists in charge expect Americans will no longer be able to travel as in the former USSR... Quote
Bob Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 Thanks, Michael, for the information. Things have changed a bit. About 10 years ago, I lost a US passport and the new one was available at the Bkk embassy in 24 hours (which makes me think they issued the new passport themselves back then). The new US passport fee is $100.00 (that's what I was charged in 2008 for renewing my about-to-expire passport then, having missed the old fee rate of $60.00 by a single day). [Lord Voldemort: Do you really have to insert your "Marxist" anti-American comments in this thread? And suggesting that a limitation of three extra passport pages somehow translates into the US government restricting citizen travel (as you say "as in the former USSR") is a fairly good example of bias breeding ignorance.] Quote
Guest kjun12 Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 Michael, If you had multiple entries on your old passport they were probably not transferred to your new passport. You must get a new multiple entry stamp in your passport. I got caught with this problem and my retirement visa was canceled when I took a trip to Bali. Quote
kokopelli Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 Bob, yes, back then the Passport was prepared and issued by the USA embassy in Bangkok, but now they are issued only in the USA. The current fee for renewal is $110. I believe the "additions" consist of about 12 pages not three pages. So 3 additions would equal 36 pages +/-. Quote
Guest voldemar Posted March 12, 2011 Posted March 12, 2011 [Lord Voldemort: Do you really have to insert your "Marxist" anti-American comments in this thread? And suggesting that a limitation of three extra passport pages somehow translates into the US government restricting citizen travel (as you say "as in the former USSR") is a fairly good example of bias breeding ignorance.] Dear Bob, May I ask you to address me by my post name. My comment by no means anti-American. It is anti-Marxist. I frankly getting tired of your permanent and unprovoked offences. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 12, 2011 Posted March 12, 2011 UK passports for applications in Thailand are now issued in Kong Kong! Quote
Guest kjun12 Posted March 12, 2011 Posted March 12, 2011 Voldemar, It does seem that you are offended quite easily. You complained about another person offending you and when he did PM you about it you never had the courtesy to reply. When you make political or religious attack posts it will often offend someone else and you should expect a response. So, you are not the innocent party here. You started it. Quote
Guest voldemar Posted March 12, 2011 Posted March 12, 2011 Voldemar, It does seem that you are offended quite easily. You complained about another person offending you and when he did PM you about it you never had the courtesy to reply. When you make political or religious attack posts it will often offend someone else and you should expect a response. So, you are not the innocent party here. You started it. You need to distinguish between discussing contenteous issues and personal attacks. Personal attacks are not allowed over here by board rules. What I ask is to follow board rules and not offend me personally. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 13, 2011 Posted March 13, 2011 Voldemar, It does seem that you are offended quite easily . . . When you make political or religious attack posts it will often offend someone else and you should expect a response. I am not the right person to defend any poster. But voldemar and I did have a lengthy and quite heated discourse last year on an economic/corruption issue. We also had an exchange of emails. Over time, I came to respect his views on a number of issues, especially economic ones. So I think I may know him a little more than some others. As most of us know, English is not his first language. He has also experienced firsthand economic circumstances under different regimes. So, whilst he is clearly at home with English to a large degree, he may not be as comfortable with the subtleties of the language - nor with the use of figures of speech. Whilst his style is far from subtle, I believe he needs a little more understanding. pong is another poster whose native language is not English, yet he has made very valuable contributions to the Board - and long may that continue. Quote
