Lost US Passport – HCMC Visa Report

[PFV]

I apologize for the length of this report - I wanted it to be as thorough as possible

Last week, during a yearly trip to Denver, I somehow managed to lose my passport with its extensions and re-entry permits.  Unfortunately, I only realized this right before going to the airport to fly back to Thailand.

I immediately called United to let them know that I could not travel and to ask if they could soften the blow of changing a restricted ticket. I advised them that I would contact them as soon as I received a new passport.

After waiting for the local passport office to open, I was happily surprised to hear that they do issue same-day passports in emergency situations, with an added fee of 60 USD.  

 

·         New passport photos were available from a service downstairs

·         A form of ID was required (luckily, I maintain a CO driver’s license).

·         The only challenge was to e-mail proof of citizenship, either a copy of the photo page of my lost passport or a copy of my birth certificate w\Without which they would have to perform a citizenship research that takes            time.  Thankfully, I keep copies of all documents at home that my daughter was able to retrieve and WhatsApp me.

Conclusion: I was in possession of a new passport by 2:30 PM that same day.

 

The next step was try to get a new non-O for Thailand.  In the past, this was never a problem at the Denver Honorary Consulate, but this time I was told that only tourist visas could be done on the spot.  Non-Os had to go through the Los Angeles consulate.  So a VE 30-day stamp would have to suffice since there was no advantage to a tourist visa.

 

I visited to the United website to rebook flights for the next day, and was delighted to find out that they waived all rebooking fees!  Thank you United!

Even before arriving in Chiang Mai, I had my daughter book flights to HCMC on VietJet. However, Thai Airways from HKG to BKK did not require proof of onward air travel, nor did Immigration in CNX.

After 4 days at home to allow my wife to collect the required paperwork, we both flew to HCMC last Tuesday.

 

Wednesday morning we took a Grab to the RTC.  There I was reminded that they only accept US dollars (which I forgot at home), and had to scramble to find a way to purchase some locally. This was not as easy as it sounds, because only certain banks are allowed to sell dollars and only under special circumstances.  In any case, after visiting a couple of banks in the area, we were directed to a Vietcom bank branch where the teller told us that it would not be possible to purchase dollars.  After a moment of panic, I asked to speak to the manager and explained that it was for the Thai Consulate.  The manager understood, and everything worked out smoothly after that, with a lot of transfers from one teller to another, and everyone being super nice and proactive.

Back at the consulate a couple of hours later, we handed them:

·         A completed application form

·         One 6 x 4 cm. photograph (3.5 x 4.5 would have worked too) glued to the form

·         A copy of the Photo page of my new passport

·         A copy of our marriage certificate

·         A copy of a freshly obtained kr 2 (I believe this was not strictly required)

·         200 USD for a multiple-entry (seemed a better deal than 80 USD for a single-entry)

·         A brief note from my wife requesting a visa for me.

·         Copies of relevant pages from my wife’s tabien ban (blue book)

·         Copy of my wife’s ID card

·         Copy of my wife’s passport (I believe it was not strictly required)

My wife chatted briefly with the 3 officials behind the desk and I was handed a receipt telling us to come back the next day after 1:30 PM.

The next day, I received my passport with a new visa which stated that it was for "allowing me to follow my wife" (Tit tam qu som rot + name of my wife). I’m not sure about the translation.

In any case, I am now back with a 90-day entry stamp.

Over the next few months, I will have to determine if this is a better way of dealing with visas/permits than the 365-day extension (marriage or retirement) since it does away with funds in the bank, 90-day reports, monthly income, and agency fees to deal with the paperwork.

IMHO, for residents of Chiang Mai, going to HCMC is much easier than Savannakhet.

Hope this is useful for others in a similar situation.

[DrJack54]

Thanks for report. I'm not married but I would choose not do yearly extensions but rather the option you now have. Even more so if living bkk and just fly out whenever required. My choice Saigon and good excuse for break from Mrs.