Transferring visa and stamp to new passport while abroad

[Amanda0]

I am an American married to a Thai and am visiting the US this summer. My passport only has a few pages left so I would like to renew it while I am here (much easier process than renewing in Thailand). The problem is I have no idea how to transfer my visa and re-entry permit to my new passport. Has anyone had experience with this? Is it possible to enter into Thailand by showing my canceled/old passport? I was reading to transfer the visa to the new passport in Thailand you need a letter from the embassy, which I would not receive if I renew my passport in the US. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you.

[jabis]

You probably want to get a hold of your closest honorary consulate for info how to transfer the stamps then:
 https://thaiembdc.org/royal-thai-honorary-consulates-general-in-the-u-s/

[OJAS]

Existing real genuine McCoy visas of the non-immigrant "O" or "OA" variety - which, I assume, is what you are talking about - cannot be transferred from an old to new passport. Instead you will need to present both passports at immigration checkpoints until the visa usage date has expired.

 

Embassy letters are only required when transferring extension of stay stamps from old to new passports, but I am taking it from the wording which you have used that this does not apply in your case.

[drift]

I entered Thailand 2 years ago with a new passport. I handed the immigration officer at Swampy the 2 passports. He stamped the entry date in the new passport and wrote "renetry permit in old passport" underneath the stamp.. I took both passports the next day to the immigration office I deal with and they transferred the visa to the new passport. This a retirement visa that I have.

The lady at immigration told me this is what will happen before I left. She was right.

[Toosetinmyways]

2 hours ago, drift said:

I entered Thailand 2 years ago with a new passport. I handed the immigration officer at Swampy the 2 passports. He stamped the entry date in the new passport and wrote "renetry permit in old passport" underneath the stamp.. I took both passports the next day to the immigration office I deal with and they transferred the visa to the new passport. This a retirement visa that I have.

The lady at immigration told me this is what will happen before I left. She was right.

You have a retirement visa that you were able to transfer to a new passport. I have a non o visa. Can I transfer visa to new passport. I was told it is not possible have to use both passports.

[jacko45k]

Just now, Toosetinmyways said:

You have a retirement visa that you were able to transfer to a new passport. I have a non o visa. Can I transfer visa to new passport. I was told it is not possible have to use both passports.

Visas are not transferable. Extensions, Entry stamps can be. 

[ubonjoe]

You cannot get the stamps transferred anywhere but here at immigration. 

You will show both passports to the airline to prove you have a re-entry permit for entry to the country.

Then on arrival here give both passports to immigration to use your re-entry permit in the old passport for entry and immigration will stamp you into the country in your new passport.

Then you will need to go to immigration to have your stamps transferred. Some immigration office will require the letter from the embassy if the new passport has been used for entry. It they want one you can contact the embassy with info about your new passport they will send you a letter.

 

[ubonjoe]

5 hours ago, jabis said:

You probably want to get a hold of your closest honorary consulate for info how to transfer the stamps then:
 https://thaiembdc.org/royal-thai-honorary-consulates-general-in-the-u-s/

It is not possible to have the stamps transferred at any embassy or consulate. It can only be done at immigration here.

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, Toosetinmyways said:

You have a retirement visa that you were able to transfer to a new passport. I have a non o visa. Can I transfer visa to new passport. I was told it is not possible have to use both passports.

Visas issued by a embassy or consulate cannot be transferred to a new passport. You have to use both passports to enter the country using the still valid visa in your old passport. Only stamps done by immigration can be transferred.

[elviajero]

11 hours ago, Amanda0 said:

The problem is I have no idea how to transfer my visa and re-entry permit to my new passport.

What you should have in your passport is;

1. Non-immigrant ‘O’ VISA (sticker);

2. PERMIT to Stay (stamp) extending your stay;

3. Re-entry PERMIT (stamp).

 

When you go back to Thailand hand over both passports to passport control and the IO will use the Re-entry Permit to stamp you back in for the remainder of your extension of stay. 

 

Once in the country you need to go to the office that issued the PERMIT (2.) and they will transfer your VISA (1.) information only (not the sticker), and PERMIT to stay (2.) to your new passport.

 

If you have a Single Entry Re-entry Permit (3.) it will be used so no action is required. If your have a Multiple Entry Re-entry Permit (3.) — and that office issued it — they should transfer that too. If it was issued elsewhere (e.g. airport) they may or may not transfer it, if they don’t you will have to show the old passport when using the Re-entry Permit (3.) in the future.

 

11 hours ago, Amanda0 said:

I was reading to transfer the visa to the new passport in Thailand you need a letter from the embassy

That’s not required if you renew your passport abroad and use it to re-enter the country. But take any letter/document you might receive with the new passport.

 

The letter is required in Thailand to ‘prove’ authenticity of the new passport, and that you didn’t get it from Khaosan road!

[ubonjoe]

53 minutes ago, elviajero said:

That’s not required if you renew your passport abroad and use it to re-enter the country. But take any letter/document you might receive with the new passport.

Not sure where you came up with that info. But I can assure you that is not true at some immigration offices. Many people have had  to get a letter from their embassy here to get their stamps transferred.

[overherebc]

Why do you need a re-entry permit if you have a valid visa?

[hereforgood]

13 hours ago, Amanda0 said:

(much easier process than renewing in Thailand).

 

13 hours ago, Amanda0 said:

 

Not true a friend of mine thought the same went back on holiday while back home he sent off for a new PP got it 9 weeks later and the old one with his visa extension and reentry stamps was sent separately 1 week later. In bangkok at the embassy took me 10 days to get mine back last time same forms needed DS82 and the photos same as in the states. I was given the letter for stamp transfer as well really trouble free

[Amanda0]

On 6/28/2019 at 4:19 AM, hereforgood said:

 

Not true a friend of mine thought the same went back on holiday while back home he sent off for a new PP got it 9 weeks later and the old one with his visa extension and reentry stamps was sent separately 1 week later. In bangkok at the embassy took me 10 days to get mine back last time same forms needed DS82 and the photos same as in the states. I was given the letter for stamp transfer as well really trouble free

But I live on Ko Samui and would have to pay to get to Bangkok with the most expensive airport in Thailand and then pay for accommodations and lose my time. While I only have to go to the postoffice and drop it off while I am in the US. Much much more convenient here.

[Amanda0]

On 6/28/2019 at 3:18 AM, overherebc said:

Why do you need a re-entry permit if you have a valid visa?

When you leave the country your visa will be canceled if you don't have a re-entry permit. My re-entry permit would be in my old passport and I wanted to make sure it would be considered valid for re-entry when I come back.

[Amanda0]

Thank you so much for the input everyone! I was nervous about it, but the steps seem simple. Once I get back to Ko Samui I will talk to the immigration office to see what I can do about transferring some of the stamps/info to my new passport. I'll need to go there to re-report my address (TM 30) anyways (and also probably need to give them my new passport information). Thanks for the peace of mind ????

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, Amanda0 said:

When you leave the country your visa will be canceled if you don't have a re-entry permit

Your permit to stay is what actually is no longer valid unless protected with a re-entry permit. 

A still valid visa, that is a multiple re-entry, would mean one is not required.