Extending Retirement Visa -

[WilliamIV]

My Retirement Visa expires first week in June

My UK Passport is getting Full and I intend applying for New Passport

Does anybody have an opinion on which better to do First?

Are there any compelling Reasons to consider?

If I extend the Visa first - I will need to return to Immigration with my New Passport

to have the Visa details transferred - a simple procedure I have done before

But I wonder if there are any Current problems I might encounter by

trying to get the New Passport First - assuming I have sufficient time to do so.

Can anybody give me the Link to the UK Embassy website - that might give details

/ regulations / time constraints for applying for a New UK Passport please?

Thanks

Bill

[lopburi3]

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/F...d=1065714374339

[JohnC]

I did this last week, my passport expires January 2008 whilst my retirement visa expires 28th April (last week) the British Consul in Pattaya advised me to renew my passport as he said I would not get a full one year retirement visa on a passport with only 9 months to run. I downloaded the application form , had my picture taken and then one fine monday morning headed to Bangkok for the British Embassy, the papers were no problem the charge increased on 1st April to £119 for 32 page passport payable in baht. The consular officer told me it is normally ready in 10 working days, however this was just prior to easter and then songran when they were closed so mine was delayed slightly, it was ready on 23rd April and I duly went and collected it (they will post back to you but not recommended).

The following day I arrived at Immigration in Jomtien at 8:25am got my ticket and prepared to wait, however, I was called to the retirement desk immediately and gave the officer my application plus both passports explaining the new one was issued the day before. He transfered my old visa to my new passport, he then processed my new visa again no problems, his boss told me that next year I would need a new letter from Embassy confirming my pension as my current letter has my passport (old) number in it but not a problem this year. I left the building at 8:50 a total of 25 mins to complete all business, I returned at 3pm and collected my new passport complete with new visa which was stamped "retirement" If you get your visa first you will need to get it transfered to your new passport as that will have been "clipped" and is an invalid passport. I was surprised when my new passport picked up the remaining time on my old one thereby giving me a passport with 10 years and 9 months on it. Monday is a Thai holiday so I would check if the embassy is open then I would get there this coming week to ensure you have your new passport before the end of May that way you will only need one trip to immigration but you need both passports, no letter from Embassy is required to show they have issued new passport as you have both of them with you.

Edited May 5, 2007 by JohnC

[WilliamIV]

Hi Lopburi & JohnC

Many thanks for the Link & your Experience

My UK passport does not expire until 2010

so my extension would not be limited in my present passport

But it is rapidly filling up ... so I think I will go for a New one

NOW - before extending my Visa