thatmanagain

Hi folks,

I applied for my new British passport about a month ago, when the process was to courier everything directly to Liverpool (i.e. before they brought in the new process where you apply at the Visa Centre at the Trendy building in Nana). My existing UK passport still has years left to run, but I'm down to a single blank visa page remaining, hence the renewal.

I'm in-country on a single-entry 60-day tourist visa right now, which expires on April 13th. I can extend that by 30 days at immigration, but have not yet done so, as I was hoping my replacement passport would arrive before then.

My worry is that apparently when the replacement passport is finally issued, my existing passport will be electronically cancelled, and I will no longer be able to travel on it. Trouble is, I'd imagine there's going to be a few days between that happening, and me actually receiving the replacement.

A few questions, if anyone knows the answers:

1. Is there any way I can track the progress of my renewal? The application arrived in Liverpool in early March, which I can see by tracking the EMS number. The UKPA took payment by credit card as soon as they received it, so the money's gone from my account but I haven't heard anything since. I don't have any kind of reference number for the application itself. Is there anything I can do, beyond checking my mailbox every day?

2. If I still don't have my replacement by the end of next week, can I go to immigration and get the 30-day extension on my existing passport, in order to avoid overstay? I don't want to get into trouble if Immigration check my passport and discover that it's already been cancelled by the UK.

3. I'm booked on a domestic flight next weekend, to head up north for Songkran. Can I still use my existing passport as ID, even if the UKPA have already cancelled it?

Thanks in advance, much appreciated.

""For the "Name and address evidence" I offered a copy of my current lease, but was told this wouldn't be acceptable either. I pointed out that "visa or resident permit" were listed and ought to be allowed, but he said that this would NOT be accepted if it doesn't bear my full address.

He suggested sending a utility bill, but my bills are in the name of the owner of the condo that I rent."""

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As someone else already pointed out, a utility bill (or bank statement for that matter) is not on the list. But if you do try it - and of course it should work if there sentient beings at the other end - they would probably need a certified translation into English, wouldn't they..........

Yes, I should have mentioned that - he was very clear that any supporting documentation in Thai language would have to be accompanied by a certified translation into English.

After reading a few replies I think I'll go ahead and try applying from here in Thailand - "send us what you've got" - I guess they can only say no.

Having said that, a minor worry is that part of the renewal process apparently consists of Liverpool automatically cancelling my old passport (which I'll be keeping here in Thailand).

I asked the chap on the phone if there was any danger of them refusing to issue a new one, but still managing to cancel my existing one. He said that was a "good question". Not very reassuring!

I only sent a copy of my current extension of stay and the data page of my current full PP, and got my new pp back from the UK 2nd Jan

Their courier is DHL and yes the pp will arrive safely, my last visa for Thailand was some 9 years ago and have been on extensions for employment...so dont panic,

talking to somebody else i know, the table A, covers a multitude of sins including new applications not just renewal, and the table assumes someone is resident in the UK, hence the references to school records/baptism certificates, in other words some sort of evidence of your connection with UK, if they choose to check, to ensure new applicants are entitled to a UK passport....basically they have cut and pasted this table from somewhere else, it hasnt been drawn up for oversea's applicants

With a renewal, you have already been vetted and in the system, so a copy of your full or expiring PP fullfills the photo evidence, and the visa or extension of stay fullfills the name and address evidence it appears

This is very interesting, as I was told the opposite when I phoned up the helpline recently.

Since we're required to keep our passports with us at all times, I was told I'd need to send full-colour photocopies of each page of my current passport - all 48 pages! I am not allowed to send the original passport itself.

So under the "Photo Evidence", I wasn't able to offer anything that they'd accept.

The guy on the phone explicitly stated that the colour photocopies would NOT be accepted as ID, that I am not allowed to post my current passport as ID, and that they can't accept a previous expired passport as ID.

The only other photo-ID I have is a UK photo card driving license, which expired in November because it's illegal for me to renew it while living abroad. He said they can't accept that either, as it's expired.

For the "Name and address evidence" I offered a copy of my current lease, but was told this wouldn't be acceptable either. I pointed out that "visa or resident permit" were listed and ought to be allowed, but he said that this would NOT be accepted if it doesn't bear my full address.

He suggested sending a utility bill, but my bills are in the name of the owner of the condo that I rent.

So it looks like I have to fly back to the UK in order to renew. What a joke.