personchester

Question if anyone can answer? why when you pick up your new passport at the trendy building does it not come with the letter sometimes required by Thai immigration, why do we then have to go too or write to the British Embassy to get the letter? any thoughts on this

Your new passport doesn't come with the pro forma, many countries do provide this service, but not the UK.

Why? As always, it's undoubtedly to save money.

HMPO have all the information (old passport new passport and visa details) to produce the pro forma, the only problem is that they would have to figure out which country you were in (not difficult!) and what permission/visa status you have (this could easily be supplied on a form by the applicant).

HMPO does not provide a pro forma about the new passport in order to help applicants to get matters sorted at immigration offices.

Therefore, when collecting the new passport from Trendy perhaps we could and should ask them to confirm the correctness of the new UK passport via a letter signed and stamped by Trendy and that would be alright then.

Yes, matters are improving due to the fact that the Home Office has taken control of HMPO.

It might also be possible that the Home Office will make expats passport application procedures via the F.C.O. as was the case in the past.

When expats make the appointment via email to the Trendy Office to provide the requested "3" different application dates, how soon can the email be sent to Trendy in order to get the "1" confirmation date from them ... can it be done 10 -12 or 14 weeks prior to the outlined "3" application dates.

If anyone knows this ... please advice.

Some one recently tried to book an appointment next July and was told that trendy's booking system doesn't go out that far (>30 weeks), but no actual limitation was provided.

The poster in question was going to 'try' some earlier dates (starting back from May 2015) so as to not imperil the required appointment in July (flights already booked) whilst attempting to find out the forward booking limit

How soon can one apply for a visit date to Trendy, could it be about 2 months prior to the outlined "3" visit dates sent out to them via email.

Fellows that have completed the Trendy booking procedure, please let us know the sending time factor, thus to be able to sent the application form at the correct time in order to avoid a time rejection from the Trendy office as some fellows have received and thus have to wait several months to start again.

Currently trendy are accepting requests for appointment dates at around 1-2 weeks in the future.

Not precisely sure what you are referring to in your second paragraph, but if you reject the offered appointment (due to it not exactly matching your list of 3 dates/times) then you should not be given an 8 week time out (this is the trendy penalty for missed appointments).

We need to sent via email 3 appointment dates, and we can now start the email application 9 months before the ending of the existing passport.

The email 3 visit dates could perhaps now be sent in the first month of the acceptable 9 months in order to ensure that the new passport arrives not too late.

The Trendy office is busy about applications procedures and may not be able to accept the outlined 3 visits dates and send in reply a different appointment date.

Personally, I would not reject their outlined appointment date, and many other applicants will not object either, because everyone is interested to get their passport application sorted quickly, hence accepting Trendy's different appointment date.

Nevertheless, some fellows due to personal matters might not be able to accept the received new application date, therefore they must respond within 3 days in order to ask them for a new date otherwise the application will be cancelled and will reject it for 2 months

The question is .... will Trendy accept those email 2 months prior to the proposed visiting dates, or is it just 1 to 2 weeks before the proposed dates.

Does anybody know the system about it ...

From the initial application--made by someone on my behalf--to collection,again by helper, the time was just over 9 weeks.

Delay occured because my photos were rejected--bit of a smirk and specs reflection. Got email from UK about the problem and mailed them new ones--was pleasantly suprised to recieve a "Thank you" email back when I advised them that the new pics were on the way.

So only 9 weeks despite the photo hassles, then. I have to concede that HMPO do seem to be finally getting their act together performance-wise if other similar recent reports on here are indicative of a positive trend in this regard.

Now if only they could do something about the need for 2 trips to Bangkok from every far-flung corner of LOS at passport renewal time....

Yes, matters are improving due to the fact that the Home Office has taken control of HMPO.

It might also be possible that the Home Office will make expats passport application procedures via the F.C.O. as was the case in the past.

When expats make the appointment via email to the Trendy Office to provide the requested "3" different application dates, how soon can the email be sent to Trendy in order to get the "1" confirmation date from them ... can it be done 10 -12 or 14 weeks prior to the outlined "3" application dates.

If anyone knows this ... please advice.

Some one recently tried to book an appointment next July and was told that trendy's booking system doesn't go out that far (>30 weeks), but no actual limitation was provided.

The poster in question was going to 'try' some earlier dates (starting back from May 2015) so as to not imperil the required appointment in July (flights already booked) whilst attempting to find out the forward booking limit

How soon can one apply for a visit date to Trendy, could it be about 2 months prior to the outlined "3" visit dates sent out to them via email.

Fellows that have completed the Trendy booking procedure, please let us know the sending time factor, thus to be able to sent the application form at the correct time in order to avoid a time rejection from the Trendy office as some fellows have received and thus have to wait several months to start again.

From the initial application--made by someone on my behalf--to collection,again by helper, the time was just over 9 weeks.

Delay occured because my photos were rejected--bit of a smirk and specs reflection. Got email from UK about the problem and mailed them new ones--was pleasantly suprised to recieve a "Thank you" email back when I advised them that the new pics were on the way.

So only 9 weeks despite the photo hassles, then. I have to concede that HMPO do seem to be finally getting their act together performance-wise if other similar recent reports on here are indicative of a positive trend in this regard.

Now if only they could do something about the need for 2 trips to Bangkok from every far-flung corner of LOS at passport renewal time....

Yes, matters are improving due to the fact that the Home Office has taken control of HMPO.

It might also be possible that the Home Office will make expats passport application procedures via the F.C.O. as was the case in the past.

When expats make the appointment via email to the Trendy Office to provide the requested "3" different application dates, how soon can the email be sent to Trendy in order to get the "1" confirmation date from them ... can it be done 10 -12 or 14 weeks prior to the outlined "3" application dates.

If anyone knows this ... please advice.

I had an appointment yesterday at Trendy to renew my UK passport and was in and out in 5 minutes with every thing approved. Now just have to wait for 6 weeks or so for an email to go collect.

Quite easy really!

BTW for the proof of my address I used a copy of my last P60 from my pension provider and a copy of each of my Thai driving licences.

UPDATE

I have just received a phone call (14.30) from HMPO at Trendy to say that my new passport is ready for collection and to bring my old passport and the document I was given there with me.

That's just 2 weeks to the day after making my application.

How's that for service!!!

What means ... 'and the document I was given there with me'

This was time-wise a very good passport production procedure from HMPO in Liverpool, and this seems to indicate that the passport application procedures might now be getting better.

When sending a message to Trendy when making the appointment application, what type of reply does one receive ...

Do they only confirm the appointment date, or do they also sent additional information about the Passport application procedure.

Fellows that have received their reply, please let us s know about it.

I had an appointment yesterday at Trendy to renew my UK passport and was in and out in 5 minutes with every thing approved. Now just have to wait for 6 weeks or so for an email to go collect.

Quite easy really!

BTW for the proof of my address I used a copy of my last P60 from my pension provider and a copy of each of my Thai driving licences.

A Driving Licence, as well as the Yellow Book, are only any good if less than a year old.

And you need to get them both translated as well, I believe.

It is well known that in order to proof "address" it can not be later than one year and must be fully translated into English.

The P60 address statement is alright, but the Thai driving license is not alright, Trendy may accept it, but when you application reaches HMPO the may reject it and contact you for a new outline.

It is alright to receive your "address" confirmation from UK banks, tax office, and pension providers.

It was good that your passport application procedure at Trendy was completed in about 5 minutes.

It is not 1. 2. and 3. it is chiefly (1) the reason being "financial benefits "

The Thai girl will get money weekly from her farang husband, she does not have to work anymore, (just do house keeping)

Her farang husband will purchased a car, she will drive the car, and will also be able to buy first class clothing's

The farang will also (might also) by a house and she will legally be the house owner.

She might also be able to travel with her farang husband sometime to his home country abroad, US, UK, EU, etc ... and she will also be able to help her family a little financially.

Thus Thai girls like to marry farangs due to the financial benefits, the house ownership, and a general better life due to the farangs available money.

So why can't we just mail our applications directly to the UK ?

The last time I renewed my passport I mailed the application direct to Hong Kong where it was processed and that system had been in place without problems for a number of years. It took 4 weeks to get my new passport.

There was no need for a photocopy of every page in my passport, they don't need this unless it's for surveillance purposes.

D

I think why you can't just mail your application direct to the UK is because some head of chaos civil servant

Who is most likely sunning himself on a exotic Kuoni freebie holiday decided to give the Trendy a nice little earner.

When this chaos first started you were given no option but to travel, if you lived in the far reaches of Thailand to the Trendy office to present your documents that takes 5 minutes to process.

I have 2 emails from the HMPO Newport stating that even if you are in a wheelchair you must make a possible 2 thousand kilometre journey to present your documents and then make the same journey again when your passport was ready.

It was only because of the branded as whingers posters on this thread,that common sense seems to have prevailed

They have adopted the UK mentality due to their total lack of experience and flexibility - this works ok in the UK as distances are small and the offices are spread around if you need to attend.

They washed their hands of the situation quite deliberately.

They would have seen this coming well before it happened yet did nothing to prevent it which to me suggests it was a deliberate act.

This situation is more likely born out of pure incompetence rather than out of a conspiracy per se.

The main motivation for moving overseas passport issue to HMPO from the Foreign Office was in fact ostensibly 'for cost saving and increased efficiency of issue'.

The need for 2x round trip journeys to the capital is specific to Thailand and just a few other countries; most overseas UK Citizens in other countries can apply on-line and get the replacement passport couriered direct to their home address.

What is worrying however is that the 'new' HMPO integrated within the Home Office may come up with even more stupid ideas to further save money and 'increase efficiency'.

I am not personally filled with hope that things will continue to get somewhat 'better'.

We may yet end up as fourth class citizens, I pray not.

The GOV. UK ... outlined updated procedures in the "Overseas British Passport Applications" dated 22.10.2014 and stated the following about applicants travel to Bangkok.

> "if you are unable to, "someone else can go on your behalf" <

Thus fellows that a physically unable to travel to Bangkok for the passport application can therefore sent someone else for the application either family members, friends, or agents in order to complete this matter, he must of course provide all the requested application details.

probably hurt herself while trying to eat with a knife ....

Oh dear, oh dear, a strange outlined opinion.

The embassy did provide me with the letter and I took it to bangkok immigration but they told me no need to transfer stamp (non imm cat visa expires in a few days, I'm leaving the country so just present both passports at departure.

However today at Nongkhai I could not cross over to Laos as I had to go to the immigration office and get the stamp transferred. They didn't make anything easy for me though, they said I needed a letter from the school I was working at stating my last working day there! Of course the school secretary was not in today to type the letter....but 5 hours later I got the letter faxed across and paid the immigration officer 100baht (for what I don't know!) and he transferred the stamp for me and I've finally made it to Laos!

He told me this was a new rule......

Nong Khai is known to ask supporting documents for leaving while on an extension of stay for work or even education.

The "new rule" story is then used to quickly dismiss the person.

How soon can we apply for a renewing passport at the Trendy office in Bangkok before the existing passport comes to an end, is it 12 months, 9 months, or only 6 months, please let us know if you are aware of it ... thanks.

No limit.

I had 7 years remaining on mine.

Since 7 years were remaining on your existing passport did you apply for a new passport at this stage, if this was the case did you get the new passport at the usual duration of 10 years and starting after your existing 7 years passport, and thus having two passport for a total of 17 years.

Please confirm if this toke place, then we all can apply for a new passport now, and well before the end of the existing passport.

The embassy did provide me with the letter and I took it to bangkok immigration but they told me no need to transfer stamp (non imm cat visa expires in a few days, I'm leaving the country so just present both passports at departure.

However today at Nongkhai I could not cross over to Laos as I had to go to the immigration office and get the stamp transferred. They didn't make anything easy for me though, they said I needed a letter from the school I was working at stating my last working day there! Of course the school secretary was not in today to type the letter....but 5 hours later I got the letter faxed across and paid the immigration officer 100baht (for what I don't know!) and he transferred the stamp for me and I've finally made it to Laos!

He told me this was a new rule......

Nong Khai is known to ask supporting documents for leaving while on an extension of stay for work or even education.

The "new rule" story is then used to quickly dismiss the person.

How soon can we apply for a renewing passport at the Trendy office in Bangkok before the existing passport comes to an end, is it 12 months, 9 months, or only 6 months, please let us know if you are aware of it ... thanks.

Btw, you mention in several of your posts that you have a 6 week application to collection delay, which is about as good as anyone has had via trendy the last six months, how long did you have to wait for an appointment at trendy from your first appointment email?

The only reason it now takes 6 weeks is because the holiday season has finished in the UK and a lot of the backlog will have been cleared.

I fully expect the same thing to happen next year starting sometime between March to April. The headlines will read 'unprecedented demand causes chaos at passport offices'.

If you need to renew a UK passport any time next year get it in very early.

Hi, How soon can a passport application be made at Trendy in BBK prior to passports ending, is it 12 months, 10 months, or 9 months ... please let us know ...thanks

You make a good point, also remember that HMPO is now being disbanded, its head fired and the embers of the current mess being absorbed into the Home Office.

The result may be even worse that what we have experienced to date.

We can only hope that the government will eventually see sense and return overseas passport issue back to the Foreign Office, where it has always logically belonged.

My father is a citizens advice bureau 'rep' in the UK and a fair portion of their recent traffic had been people who had applied for passports .. In conversation he said, it was all a bit of smoke and mirrors - Yes, technically the HMPO is being disbanded but its just the agency status thats being rebuked. The actual process will probably stay the same, lets wait and see.

Let's hope we don't see the same thing again next holiday season. At least Paul Pugh has gone, who probably was hanging out for his payoff rather than jumping without financial benefit.

Btw, you mention in several of your posts that you have a 6 week application to collection delay, which is about as good as anyone has had via trendy the last six months, how long did you have to wait for an appointment at trendy from your first appointment email?

The only reason it now takes 6 weeks is because the holiday season has finished in the UK and a lot of the backlog will have been cleared.

I fully expect the same thing to happen next year starting sometime between March to April. The headlines will read 'unprecedented demand causes chaos at passport offices'.

If you need to renew a UK passport any time next year get it in very early.

Those messy long time passport application procedures will not continue due to the fact that the Home office is now taken over control of HMPO.

As a result new improvements will occur by the Home Office new setup in order to solve the recently introduced messy passport application procedure.

Who cares... She is nobody anymore... A has been with so many wishing she was a never was.

Have someone tell her to become an underwear model. Maybe then I will care where she goes and what she does.

Oh dear, oh dear, a strange outline ...

You want to be sure? Get there by 5, 5:30 at the latest.

Are you referring to AM or PM ...

Can always hope that they learn from their mistakes...

Not even one of them had enough intelligence.

It was stated that they were drunk, thus the physical activities on the balcony were carried out in a drunk manner,

Normal "brain intelligence cells" go down due to drunkenness, as a result due to their alcoholic intoxication their physical activities on the balcony caused the disastrous problem.

Go to your Thai bank, show them your updated account booklet together with your passport, and ask them to transfer the requested sum to your bank in UK, either in THB or to change the THB into GBP and then transferred as GBP to your UK bank.

In order for them to be able to send the money to your UK bank account you have to give then the

> Online - Electronic -Transfer - Routing - Details < of your UK bank.

That will process the transfer.

If they cut back anymore,they will be wanting you to go to HK,or dread, even

the UK,the price they charge should be hand delivered !

I was very lucky,just got my new one in Chiang Mai,before the cut backs and

changes started.

regards worgeordie

Yes, In the past I also got my new passport in Chiang Mai, I went to the consulate and they gave me the application form which I completed there gave my photos and the consulate sent the application to the British Embassy in Bangkok.

After 8 days the consulate informed my via phone that the new passport had arrived and I collected it.

In comparison to the past passport procedure as above, it is difficult to appreciate the current messy passport application procedure.

Lets hope it will be changed.

"The total sum which could be saved confiscated by the government is in the region of 400 million pounds."

"Saved?" Where do governments ever get the idea that their citizens' money is first theirs?

Thats the root of the problem with these quasi commie countries, its not the citizens money, its the govt's money to do with as they see fit.

Hence such socialist paradises as Greece, Spain, Italy etc are now finding out to their cost and wonder why they are skint.

It should be regarded as citizens money alright, because they did pay their monthly pension payment request to the government during their working time in the UK that is to say for 40 years -plus.

However, the current taxation proposal is not a pensioners matter, it is entirely a state matter controlled by the government.

Nevertheless, should the new tax request on expat pensioners becomes known to the UK public as a harsh financial problem for the aged pensioners abroad who have in several countries their state pension also frozen be the UK government.

Should 10.and 11.Downing Street then impose those taxation request for expat pensioners then due to their financial problems it might be possible that MP's at Westminster parliament will not appreciate it and therefore reject it.

To cancel the entire "personal pension allowance" of 10,000 + to the British expats would be disastrous decision, and the frozen pension holders will then suffer more financial problems.

Due to those problematic circumstances It is quite possible that this shocking taxation proposal for British expats will not be allowed by MP's at Westminster parliament .

I got a British passport for my son last year when he was 6 months old. Didn't register the birth, I just had a translation of his thai birth certificate and the other required forms. Very easy. Applied at the British Embassy in bkk and had a sparkly, new passport delivered to me within 3 weeks. Not sure when he will need it but it just seemed a good idea to do it sooner before new rules or more complicated procedures come into force.

In was a normal procedure last year, but in March this year passport application procedures have entirely changed and the British Embassy in Bangkok is no longer able to deal with it.

10 Downing Street has given HMPO the entire passport application procedure and passport renewals via F.C.O.'s are no longer available and possible.

Unfortunately the current passport application procedure is very messy indeed and British expats are hoping that the current procedure will be changed back to normal.

The Brits in Thailand are hoping that the application can be done again via the British Embassy in BKK using the consulates to send the application form to the Embassy.

Thanks to Alex Salmond there will be big changes - even though Scotland lost the vote.

Enjoy your "retirement" - you've earned it !

The "YES" voters for independence have lost their case, but since they are almost half the size of the Scottish voters (45%) matters have to be sorted in some way.

10. Downing Street, and Westminster, are pleased that Scotland will stay within the UK, but Westminster will change political matters about Scotland in order to ensure that problems that might be caused by the large sized "YES" voters will not begin and continue.

When those political changes will have taken place in order to give Scotland some "independence" then > Wales and Nth/Ireland < will ask for the same political freedom.

As a result of this, Scotland, Wales, and Nth/Ireland will no longer be allowed by Westminster to decide political matters about England and that will be positive decision for the English population.