Transfer Imm. stamps to new passport- problem

[berniept]

I am a citizen of a small Caribbean nation which was formerly a British colony, and is now a member of the Commonwealth. Recently I had to apply for a new passport, and now have a new passport and my old cancelled passport (which has my Retirement visa notation, my current Retirement Extension of Stay, and current Re-Entry Permit, all expiring next February. All of these were done at Thai Immigration in Sri Racha.) I did not leave Thailand during this process of obtaining a new passport .

 

When I went to the Thai Imm. office in Sri Racha to transfer the various current stamps into the new passport, they asked for a transfer letter from my embassy. When I explained to them that my small country has no embassy here, they said that I need to get a letter from the British Embassy in Bangkok. They also showed me an actual completed “pro forma” letter from the British embassy, which of course uses the words “British passport.”

 

I have today contacted the Consular section at the British embassy in Bangkok, but I am not confident in hearing from them any time soon, as after following their instructions to RESEND my inquiry, using that word in the subject line, they again sent me the same standard reply I had previously received.

 

Does anyone have suggestions as to how I can obtain this pro-forma letter from the British embassy Consular Services (or other sources such as the Trendy VFS centre?) Will they give it to me for use with my non-British passport, perhaps crossing out “British” and writing in the name of my country?

 

Has anyone else had a similar situation with transferring Immigration stamps to a new passport when there is no embassy or consulate in Thailand? (I am referring to the last two years, as I did this four years ago without problems at this same office, but apparently now all Imm. Offices are told to ask for the letter.)

 

TIA for any positive suggestions. Bernie

 

[ubonjoe]

Did you send the email to the address shown in this info for getting the letter. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491945/Visa_Transfer_Information.pdf

[berniept]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Did you send the email to the address shown in this info for getting the letter. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491945/Visa_Transfer_Information.pdf

Yes, I did. It's the same email address I originally contacted, and which sent me the "standard reply" which contained information about the pro forma letter. And I as I noted, I used RESEND in the second email message, but immediately received the same standard reply.

[Mattd]

12 minutes ago, berniept said:

Does anyone have suggestions as to how I can obtain this pro-forma letter from the British embassy Consular Services (or other sources such as the Trendy VFS centre?) Will they give it to me for use with my non-British passport, perhaps crossing out “British” and writing in the name of my country?

As per Ubonjoe's reply, the British Embassy can provide a blank proforma letter where you fill in the missing details.

Have you actually confirmed that the British Embassy do indeed provide consular services for your country in absence of an Embassy here in Thailand? (as a member of the Commonwealth, then they most likely do, but worth double checking that this is not carried out by another Embassy in Bangkok)

[Mattd]

1 minute ago, berniept said:

Yes, I did. It's the same email address I originally contacted, and which sent me the "standard reply" which contained information about the pro forma letter. And I as I noted, I used RESEND in the second email message, but immediately received the same standard reply.

Perhaps try telephoning them on the number provided here: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-bangkok

[berniept]

3 minutes ago, Mattd said:

As per Ubonjoe's reply, the British Embassy can provide a blank proforma letter where you fill in the missing details.

Have you actually confirmed that the British Embassy do indeed provide consular services for your country in absence of an Embassy here in Thailand? (as a member of the Commonwealth, then they most likely do, but worth double checking that this is not carried out by another Embassy in Bangkok)

Thanks for the reply. One purpose of my inquiry was to confirm whether they still provide consular services- I know that they did before, and I registered with the embassy in Bangkok many years ago when I moved to Thailand.

 

Per your later suggestion about telephoning them, I will try that- but I have heard that they are difficult to reach by telephone (the Imm. office tried without success yesterday.)

[Mattd]

4 minutes ago, berniept said:

Per your later suggestion about telephoning them, I will try that- but I have heard that they are difficult to reach by telephone (the Imm. office tried without success yesterday.)

Yes, this is unfortunately true, like most Government departments, all you can do is try.

[berniept]

13 minutes ago, Mattd said:

Perhaps try telephoning them on the number provided here: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-bangkok

I just spoke with someone on the telephone. He just kept asking me to send an email message, which I have already done- twice. It is still unclear to me whether they will reply to my messages, as I just get the same standard response- nothing indicating that a consular officer will ever see my message. At this point all I can do is wait...

[Mattd]

4 minutes ago, berniept said:

I just spoke with someone on the telephone. He just kept asking me to send an email message, which I have already done- twice.

Oh dear, not a good situation, hope they do reply to you, good luck!

[darrendsd]

Where did you apply and receive your new PP from?

 

The British Embassy does not issue Passports anymore, they are outsourced  to a company called VFS that operate from The Trendy Building on Suk Soi 13, they provide the letter for Immigration

 

You may be better contacting them regarding the letter, from experience they reply quickly

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, berniept said:

I am a citizen of a small Caribbean nation which was formerly a British colony, and is now a member of the Commonwealth.

Have you tried emailing the Civil Registry and Passport Office (or whatever it may be called) of your country and asking for their assistance? Possibly whoever it was that issued the passport to you could send an "official" letter confirming the fact and that might be accepted by immigrations.  I don't think immigrations is very picky about the form, as long as it looks official.

 

 

 

 

 

[berniept]

5 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

Have you tried emailing the Civil Registry and Passport Office (or whatever it may be called) of your country and asking for their assistance? Possibly whoever it was that issued the passport to you could send an "official" letter confirming the fact and that might be accepted by immigrations.  I don't think immigrations is very picky about the form, as long as it looks official.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks. That might work- but our Civil Service makes Thai Immigration look fast! They're on Island Time... but I will try your suggestion if I can't do something in Thailand.

 

36 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

Where did you apply and receive your new PP from?

 

The British Embassy does not issue Passports anymore, they are outsourced  to a company called VFS that operate from The Trendy Building on Suk Soi 13, they provide the letter for Immigration

 

You may be better contacting them regarding the letter, from experience they reply quickly

Thanks. I will try contacting them.

[Jeffrey346]

I just did this at Imm in Khon Kaen on Monday. Though I did have a letter from the US Embassy, They never asked for it. They transferred my stamps and charged me B200

[willyumcr]

You might try going through an agency. Sometimes they have better contacts at immigration then we have.

[darrendsd]

People get the letters all the time from VFS when they have renewed their PP, if none of the above works then maybe consider asking on here if a kind soul will scan and send you a  blank one

 

They are just copies, the applicants details are not on them, this has to be filled in so it should be fine

[berniept]

21 minutes ago, willyumcr said:

You might try going through an agency. Sometimes they have better contacts at immigration then we have.

I considered that- I don't know any agents in Sri Racha, but I have often seen them in the Imm. offices.

[berniept]

58 minutes ago, Jeffrey346 said:

I just did this at Imm in Khon Kaen on Monday. Though I did have a letter from the US Embassy, They never asked for it. They transferred my stamps and charged me B200

I wish they had just asked for 200 Baht...

[berniept]

22 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

People get the letters all the time from VFS when they have renewed their PP, if none of the above works then maybe consider asking on here if a kind soul will scan and send you a  blank one

 

They are just copies, the applicants details are not on them, this has to be filled in so it should be fine

Perhaps some kind soul who has a blank letter will scan it and send it to me by PM... that would certainly be appreciated!

[Autonuaq]

The people who you applied for to make your passport and hand it iver they normally include the letter you need.

 

They also can issue a letter if the Britsh embassy need it to make the letter you need for the immigration office.

[berniept]

While I was busy on Thaivisa dealing with this issue, the British Embassy responded to me this afternoon. They sent the following by email:

 

"Thank you for contacting consular section at British Embassy Bangkok dating 23 Nov. 17
Further to your email, we can provide you a letter for use with Thai immigration to transfer Thai visa from old passport to the new passport. In order to do that please visit us at the embassy in Bangkok to collect 'a transfer visa letter'. This letter is available for collection everyday at the embassy from 8.00-18.00. No appointment required. This letter is free of charge.
If it is inconvenience for you to visit us at the embassy, please provide us with your address. We will send a letter to you by EMS. "

 

They solved my problem very quickly and efficiently. I retract what I previously suggested about the Embassy being difficult to reach.

 

And many thanks to all who responded- you all offered positive, useful suggestions. Cheers, Bernie

 

To the MODS: Please consider this topic CLOSED.

[Dumbastheycome]

Is  this  a  new  thing? I has  similar transferred  to  new  passport  years  back  with  no  problems  or   costs. Will  be  up  for  same  in  a  few  months. 

 

[Kron]

14 hours ago, berniept said:

While I was busy on Thaivisa dealing with this issue, the British Embassy responded to me this afternoon. They sent the following by email:

 

"Thank you for contacting consular section at British Embassy Bangkok dating 23 Nov. 17
Further to your email, we can provide you a letter for use with Thai immigration to transfer Thai visa from old passport to the new passport. In order to do that please visit us at the embassy in Bangkok to collect 'a transfer visa letter'. This letter is available for collection everyday at the embassy from 8.00-18.00. No appointment required. This letter is free of charge.
If it is inconvenience for you to visit us at the embassy, please provide us with your address. We will send a letter to you by EMS. "

 

They solved my problem very quickly and efficiently. I retract what I previously suggested about the Embassy being difficult to reach.

 

And many thanks to all who responded- you all offered positive, useful suggestions. Cheers, Bernie

 

To the MODS: Please consider this topic CLOSED.

Thank you for passing this on.

 

I had asked a similar question last month and was advised that the Embassy could email the letter.

I guess this would be the actual Embassy as opposed to Trendy Office?

[berniept]

On 11/23/2017 at 8:37 PM, Dumbastheycome said:

Is  this  a  new  thing? I has  similar transferred  to  new  passport  years  back  with  no  problems  or   costs. Will  be  up  for  same  in  a  few  months. 

 

Yes, for about two years now. I also had stamps transferred four years ago without issues at the same Imm. office. Now it seems to be an issue.

[Dumbastheycome]

1 hour ago, berniept said:

Yes, for about two years now. I also had stamps transferred four years ago without issues at the same Imm. office. Now it seems to be an issue.

Ok.  Thanks  for  the  heads  up.

[mindfulness]

... why transfer ? 

Just keep both passports together. 

[ubonjoe]

10 hours ago, mindfulness said:

... why transfer ? 

Just keep both passports together. 

That does not work unless you do not have an extension of stay obtained at immigration.

It is only possible if you have a valid multiple entry visa from an embassy or consulate and even then the entry stamp but must be transferred to the new passport on departure from the country.

[DavisH]

On 11/23/2017 at 2:02 PM, Jeffrey346 said:

I just did this at Imm in Khon Kaen on Monday. Though I did have a letter from the US Embassy, They never asked for it. They transferred my stamps and charged me B200

Americans must get special treatment. There should be no charge for this service. 

[BritTim]

56 minutes ago, DavisH said:

On 11/23/2017 at 2:02 PM, Jeffrey346 said:

I just did this at Imm in Khon Kaen on Monday. Though I did have a letter from the US Embassy, They never asked for it. They transferred my stamps and charged me B200

Americans must get special treatment. There should be no charge for this service. 

I think more likely special service at that immigration office for people willing to pay a 200 baht tip.