cheekysailor
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Posts posted by cheekysailor
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Received an email from VFS yesterday stating that my passport was now ready for pick up. A little over three weeks from start to finish. Panic over!
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Stupid question time. Do you receive a different DHL tracking number for the return leg of your passports journey? If so will that be sent to you via email?
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8 hours ago, Saltire said:
Yes I did, they hand-wrote it at the bottom of the A4 document receipt checklist they give you when you leave.
I was not given a number, but after a couple of emails I have finally been able to locate one. Documents received and signed for in Liverpool just awaiting my passport return journey.
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Just now, cheekysailor said:
Strange. They said that K-Bank was perfect at VFS as long as it is a debit/visa card, (which I think is the standard type of card). I paid and funds were taken from my account by the passport office a week later.
5283,56 was the princely sum I paid.
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13 minutes ago, tingtongfarang said:
i tried to pay with a k bank debit card... it got declined so went to the bank they checked it had been opened for foreign transactions so i tried again and it got declined,
friend paid for me with his uk credit card.
Strange. They said that K-Bank was perfect at VFS as long as it is a debit/visa card, (which I think is the standard type of card). I paid and funds were taken from my account by the passport office a week later.
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On 6/18/2020 at 4:34 PM, ubonjoe said:
Many Thai bank debit cards will work. People have used them already.
Agreed, I used my K-Bank debit card and funds were deducted.
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On 6/19/2020 at 10:33 AM, Saltire said:
I went this week (16th), DHL shows papers arrived Liverpool yesterday.
No payment taken yet as of today.
Were you given an ID number for DHL tracking? I was not given such information at the office.
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Yes, I applied for a passport the first day that VFS opened on the the Thursday. Funds were subsequently taken from my Thai bank account the following Thursday. Hopefully, my passport in the process.
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7 minutes ago, blackcab said:
Keep an eye on the statement from your payment card provider. That's the next indication your application is progressing.
This was my thought. How long does it usually take before they take funds out of your account? The lady at VFS also said that if they have any difficulties they would contact me via email.
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5 hours ago, blackcab said:
Yes, you get a tracking number from VFS to HMPO as well. During your submission the VFS staff complete a Document Receipt Checklist by hand. This lists all of the documents you have submitted. You sign this document, as does the VFS staff member. You are given one copy of the checklist to retain. The DHL tracking number is written on the bottom of this checklist.
When you collect your passport from VFS you need to take two things: The Document Receipt Checklist you were given when you submitted your application and your original passport (if your application is a renewal).
I handed all my documents to VFS this Thursday. Although I was given the checklist it does not contain a checking number.
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Finally, I have received an appointment date for the renewal of my passport. I guess it is just perseverance.
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4 hours ago, pontious said:
Just sent an email to make an appointment next week and only received an auto generated reply.?
Same here. Even though it is a few hours drive to BKK I will make the trip this coming Tuesday. That's unless my appointment booking gets answered either today (unlikely) or Monday morning. (probable)
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Do booking still require you to email suggesting the three dates and times or can we just rock up at Trendy building?
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Zero help, but VFS Malaysia has just opened today. Looks like things are starting to move in the right direction. It's pleasing to see the BE are keeping us abreast of the situation.
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Great post. You may also want to address it to. abigail.tierney@homeoffice.gov.uk as well not just Abi. I will also be sending an email shortly with words to similar effect.
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10 hours ago, ImageDude said:
PM Sent.
Thanks
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Any name specific emails that you have within the HMPO please PM them to me. I would also like add me 'two-peneth' into the mix.
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Get on the phone Monday and tell the boss of HMPO
I wish I could find the boss of HMPO. I just get pushed round from 'advisor' to 'advisor' who then 'advise' the wrong advice.
By the way it's a bank holiday in the UK this Monday, so you can expect diddly squat.- 1
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It has become glaringly obvious that both the consular and HMPO do not know how passport renewals in Thailand are operated. One HMPO 'advisor' asked me to apply for an overseas passport and then same advisor was not aware of VPS. If anybody has any specific email addresses for HMPO, (I have used the generic ones to no avail) it would be greatly appreciated.
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On 5/23/2020 at 3:37 PM, pontious said:
The BE cannot tell those people to fly back to the UK to sort it out. They do NOT have a valid passport for travel.
You know I am in the same boat, so please don't think I'm having a go. However, I would like to bet in this scenario they will say that you will have to apply for ETD and then go back to the UK to sort it out.
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Further news.
Dear xx,
Good afternoon, thank you for your reply regarding my passport which is set to expire on the 26th of July. Although, I understand your rationale in saying that this is an HMPO problem I do not accept that the Bangkok Embassy are clearly wiping their hands of this situation and thus stating that 'the British Embassy is unable to assist' As a 'partner' of HMPO, should the embassy not be consolidating all the info and be developing case-by-case study in order to develop a pragmatic solution to solve this matter?
Furthermore, by making such a sweeping statement and not looking into the personal circumstances of each individual is inept and foolhardy and a clear indication that presently personal responsibilities are not an issue and the British Embassy Thailand. Preferring its ex-pats to be 'returning home' thus passing the responsibility on to another department in the Home Office.Obviously, I understand that you are just passing on information from the powers that be. Hopefully, you will be so kind to do the same and pass this email and the many others that I am sure you receive through the chain of command in order to put mine and thousands of other ex-pats minds at ease.
Yours sincerely,RESPONSE
I can assure you that the British Embassy is not “wiping its hands” of the situation. We have been speaking with Her Majesty’s Passport Office for many weeks to escalate the severity of the situation that is being faced by British Nationals in Thailand.
The British Embassy currently has no authority to deal with passport renewals unless a decision is made by Her Majesty’s Passport Office which states we can do so.
Unfortunately, we are also beholden to Ministry Of Foreign Affairs in Thailand with regard to any solution that is found. Until both Her Majesty’s Passport Office and Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Thailand can agree on a solution for British Nationals to renew their passports in Thailand whilst VFS is closed, this facility will be unavailable.
As the renewal of passports is owned by Her Majesty’s Passport Office, you should contact them directly with any complaints you have.
You can contact Her Majesty’s Passport Office directly on:
Telephone: 0300 222 0000
From outside the UK: +44 (0)300 222 0000
Textphone: 18001 0300 222 0222You can also use the online enquiry form for general advice or to make a complaint.
I am sorry that I cannot be of more assistance.
Kind Regards
This email is intended for the addressee(s) only. All messages se -
Finally, I have a couple of emails: One for specific person with in the consular in BKK who handles these issues. In addition, I also have a higher tier email address for HMPO. Due to forum rules I will not be posting them here. Although, if you would like them please PM me, hopefully they can help your pursuit in this dire situation rather than going around the bazaars and voice mail services several times like I have done.
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Furthermore, did you know that VFS office would close. After all, we have been hit with several epidemics in the past from Ebola to Bird Flu, all of which have sent elements of panic through the world in their own way. As I was advised by the HMPO do not worry about the situation too much, we can see services will resume prior to your passport expiring. I am slightly paraphrasing by the last quote, as I honestly can not remember the exact wording, however with their quip remark and tone it sounded like it was more 'a flash in the pan' rather than an epidemic.
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2 hours ago, pontious said:
An outrageous reply. For those that will be affected by the above why not wave the 'travel requirement' or allow a fictitious travel plan be accepted for an ETD - they are valid for 1 year I believe. In these abnormal times the fact that is not ''normal procedure'' should not be a consideration.!! If they had started this 8 weeks ago there would be a solution by now. They obviously did nothing until the phone calls/ emails from UK citizens overwhelmed them. Too little - too late. Substitute the first 'Too' for 'nothing'.
Unfortunately, the ETD cannot be used as a form of ID and therefore cannot be used to validate the 90 day reporting, VISAs or WPs.
UK Passport issues during COVID-19
in Visas and migration to other countries
Posted
I emailed VFS and eventually they sent it to me.