Passport renewal question related to transfer of visa

[jasonsamui55]

Here’s a question to all the experts who may have done this before or who are familiar with this. I’m a Hong Kong permanent resident and live and work in Hong Kong. I’m also a resident in Thailand on a Non-O visa. I usually fly to Thailand every Friday night and usually fly back to HK every Monday morning. I work in Hong Kong, but spend the weekends in Thailand with the family. The only major scheduled exception is once a year where I need to make myself available for about 3 business days to stay in Thailand to gather documents and extend my Non-O visa. Now here’s the issue. Due to all this travel back and forth every week, and the Thai immigration department’s frequent entry and exit stamps every week, my passport is almost full despite having over 5 years remaining on a 10 year passport. So, I’ll need to get a new one in a month or two. My current Non-O is good until February 2019. The question is should I get the new passport (from EU country) in Thailand or in Hong Kong? And if I get it in HK, what happens if I arrive with a new passport when my Non-O in my old passport? How difficult is it to get it switched over to the new passport and, most importantly, how many days will I need to miss from work in HK while I am stuck in Thailand taking care of the visa transfer. I’m trying to minimize the amount of time I’d be stuck in Thailand on weekdays. Alternatively, if I get it in Thailand, must I get the visa transferred to the new passport before I attempt to exit the country? Of course I have a multiple re-entry permit. What happens if I attempt to leave with the new passport while entry stamp and old Non-O and especially re-entry permitsre in old passport? Again, assuming I typically arrive late on Friday nights and leave early on monday mornings. Thanks.

[BritTim]

In view of your frequent travel, your country's passport issuing authority should be willing to issue you a second passport. You can then freely travel on the original passport while waiting for the new one to be issued. I think applying for the second passport in Thailand might be a little better, though not essential. When you have the second passport issued in Thailand, when convenient, go to Thai immigration to have the current entry stamp transferred, and then use the new passport for leaving and entering Thailand. The Non O visa will remain in the original passport. That is not an issue. Simply carry both passports when entering Thailand so you can show the visa in the old passport until you get a fresh Non O visa next year.

[JaiLai]

4 hours ago, BritTim said:

In view of your frequent travel, your country's passport issuing authority should be willing to issue you a second passport. You can then freely travel on the original passport while waiting for the new one to be issued. I think applying for the second passport in Thailand might be a little better, though not essential. When you have the second passport issued in Thailand, when convenient, go to Thai immigration to have the current entry stamp transferred, and then use the new passport for leaving and entering Thailand. The Non O visa will remain in the original passport. That is not an issue. Simply carry both passports when entering Thailand so you can show the visa in the old passport until you get a fresh Non O visa next year.

Sorry to jump in but....

 

Can you apply for a second passport on Soi 13 at Trendy building? Only requirement for application is a cover letter from company stating a second passport required for work reasons, is that correct?

 

Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

6 hours ago, BritTim said:

In view of your frequent travel, your country's passport issuing authority should be willing to issue you a second passport. You can then freely travel on the original passport while waiting for the new one to be issued. I think applying for the second passport in Thailand might be a little better, though not essential. When you have the second passport issued in Thailand, when convenient, go to Thai immigration to have the current entry stamp transferred, and then use the new passport for leaving and entering Thailand. The Non O visa will remain in the original passport. That is not an issue. Simply carry both passports when entering Thailand so you can show the visa in the old passport until you get a fresh Non O visa next year.

I think he has a one year extension of stay and a multiple re-entry permit not a multiple entry non-o visa.

If he has an extension immigration will not transfer it to another passport unless the passport it is in is canceled or expired.

When get his new passport he will have to go to immigration to have his stamps transferred to it. That only takes a few hours at most offices.

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, JaiLai said:

Can you apply for a second passport on Soi 13 at Trendy building? Only requirement for application is a cover letter from company stating a second passport required for work reasons, is that correct?

If you have a valid business reason for a 2nd passport you can apply for one.

In a search I came across this that has some useful info plus a example for for the letter. https://pointstobemade.boardingarea.com/2018/02/22/getting-a-second-uk-passport/

[JaiLai]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

If you have a valid business reason for a 2nd passport you can apply for one.

In a search I came across this that has some useful info plus a example for for the letter. https://pointstobemade.boardingarea.com/2018/02/22/getting-a-second-uk-passport/

Thanks for the link.

[Tanoshi]

7 hours ago, BritTim said:

In view of your frequent travel, your country's passport issuing authority should be willing to issue you a second passport. You can then freely travel on the original passport while waiting for the new one to be issued. I think applying for the second passport in Thailand might be a little better, though not essential. When you have the second passport issued in Thailand, when convenient, go to Thai immigration to have the current entry stamp transferred, and then use the new passport for leaving and entering Thailand. The Non O visa will remain in the original passport. That is not an issue. Simply carry both passports when entering Thailand so you can show the visa in the old passport until you get a fresh Non O visa next year.

I agree with Joe. The OP has an extension issued by local Immigration.

His statement was;

 

7 hours ago, jasonsamui55 said:

The only major scheduled exception is once a year where I need to make myself available for about 3 business days to stay in Thailand to gather documents and extend my Non-O visa.

When he gets a new passport, he'll therefore have to visit Immigration to get his stamps transferred.