UK passport nearly out of space

[Badger18]

I'm in ASQ at the moment having come in on a tourist visa. I'd like to convert to an ed visa and stay longer, but I only have one completely blank page left in my passport (I do have three others that are mostly blank).

 

I would need to get the ed visa process started asap, or my TV might expire before it came through. I might need to extend the TV anyway to give a bit more time.

 

Obviously I've thought about applying for a new passport while I'm here, but I'm not sure how practical it's going to be.

 

If / when I apply for the ed visa I will need to put in my passport number. If I wait for a replacement pp to come through there may not be time to process the ed visa before the TV expires, but otherwise the number on the application form won't match the passport I pitch up with. I'm guessing that would be a problem (?) Then again, I think you can get a letter from the embassy (or is it HMPO?) authorising the transfer of an existing visa. Would that also mean I'd be able to get the ed visa in the new passport even though I'd given the old details in the application?

 

What's the best way forward?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

You have enough room to do the application for a a 90 day non-ed visa entry at immigration and have it issued in about 15 days. You must have at least 15 days remaining on your 60 day entry from the tourist visa or the 30 day extension of it.

After you get the new passport you could then have your visa stamp and entry stamp transferred to the new one.

It may take about 4 weeks or a little more to to get you new passport. See: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports I suggest you do the application shortly after you finish your quarantine.

[mlkik]

The UK passport applications are badly backloged due to the corona virus and subsequent lockdowns.

A couple of years ago I went to Trendy building in Bangkok and applied for a new passport and I had it back within 10 days.

I think it will be much longer now.

[Badger18]

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You have enough room to do the application for a a 90 day non-ed visa entry at immigration and have it issued in about 15 days. You must have at least 15 days remaining on your 60 day entry from the tourist visa or the 30 day extension of it.

After you get the new passport you could then have your visa stamp and entry stamp transferred to the new one.

It may take about 4 weeks or a little more to to get you new passport. See: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports I suggest you do the application shortly after you finish your quarantine.

 

  Well that's good news, thanks. The school are telling me you need 2 blank pages, but it's not clear whether they mean 2 pages that are blank or just 2 pages' worth of space.

 

Ideally I would extend first anyway - that way I get an extra 30 days to travel around before being tied down to somewhere near the school. Is that risky, or can I be sure there would still be space for whatever stamps and stickers they put in when the TV is converted?

 

I think you have to send your old passport off as soon as you've applied for a new one (the passport office have previously told me they don't really do anything with the application until they receive the old passport, so I think that's effectively when the clock starts). Unless I've misunderstood something, it seems safer to wait until I've got the first 90 days on the ed visa.

 

4 hours ago, mlkik said:

The UK passport applications are badly backloged due to the corona virus and subsequent lockdowns.

A couple of years ago I went to Trendy building in Bangkok and applied for a new passport and I had it back within 10 days.

I think it will be much longer now.

 

Yeah, I couldn't get it renewed earlier in the year for exactly that reason. Do you have to be resident here to apply via Trendy Building, and do you know if it's any faster than doing it online? Also, did they take your old passport when you made the application, or did they let you hang on to it until the new one was ready?

[Adam219]

I prefer to report my passport stolen when "renewing" while abroad, but that's been in countries where the visa process is a little less complicated. It saved me time having to return my old passport and was relatively quick. 

[Bruno123]

9 minutes ago, Adam219 said:

I prefer to report my passport stolen when "renewing" while abroad, but that's been in countries where the visa process is a little less complicated. It saved me time having to return my old passport and was relatively quick. 

 

 

What about the police report and crime number for your 'stolen' passport?

[DaLa]

I opted for the 'larger' passport ( I think they called it a trojan or something), as I was flying through the pages on 60 day visits and 30 day extensions.  I was concerned that I would even fill one of these before its expiry date as I like a few foreign trips also whilst I am here in Thailand.

 

Fortunately Covid -19 will save the day as my usual travel plans are <deleted>..  There you are, a positive note on the virus.

[mlkik]

24 minutes ago, Badger18 said:

 

  Well that's good news, thanks. The school are telling me you need 2 blank pages, but it's not clear whether they mean 2 pages that are blank or just 2 pages' worth of space.

 

Ideally I would extend first anyway - that way I get an extra 30 days to travel around before being tied down to somewhere near the school. Is that risky, or can I be sure there would still be space for whatever stamps and stickers they put in when the TV is converted?

 

I think you have to send your old passport off as soon as you've applied for a new one (the passport office have previously told me they don't really do anything with the application until they receive the old passport, so I think that's effectively when the clock starts). Unless I've misunderstood something, it seems safer to wait until I've got the first 90 days on the ed visa.

 

 

Yeah, I couldn't get it renewed earlier in the year for exactly that reason. Do you have to be resident here to apply via Trendy Building, and do you know if it's any faster than doing it online? Also, did they take your old passport when you made the application, or did they let you hang on to it until the new one was 

The British Embassy do not accept passport applications or visa applications. These are all now handled at Trendy building on soi 13 Sukumvit road.

You do not have to be a a pemanant resident here ,just staying here . If you are here then it is your only option for getting a new passport in Thailand ,unless you do it on line and have it sent to your UK address.

They did not keep my passport but cut the corner off when I returned the following weeknto pick it up.

[BritTim]

28 minutes ago, Badger18 said:

I think you have to send your old passport off as soon as you've applied for a new one...

When applying for a new UK passport in Thailand, you are allowed to retain the old passport. You send a complete copy of your old passport (including blank pages) instead. You are warned, however, that you cannot use the old passport for travel after applying for the new passport. The old passport is electronically cancelled in the UK's system.

[Adam219]

22 minutes ago, Bruno123 said:

 

 

What about the police report and crime number for your 'stolen' passport?

what about them? experience will vary depending on the country. In Lima, Peru, it took about 20 mins. I wouldnt know about Thailand, but I do have experience of police here and would guess it could take a bit longer, but would depend on where you go?

[mlkik]

49 minutes ago, BritTim said:

When applying for a new UK passport in Thailand, you are allowed to retain the old passport. You send a complete copy of your old passport (including blank pages) instead. You are warned, however, that you cannot use the old passport for travel after applying for the new passport. The old passport is electronically cancelled in the UK's system.

Surely it is only cancelled when the new passport is issued ,not on application? I managed to use my old passport after applying ,to return from Bangkok to Udon and then use it again the folowing week to fly from Udon to Bangkok.

[jacko45k]

Just now, mlkik said:

Surely it is only cancelled when the new passport is issued ,not on application? I managed to use my old passport after applying ,to return from Bangkok to Udon and then use it again the folowing week to fly from Udon to Bangkok.

It was simply an ID and not usable for International travel.

[Upnotover]

5 minutes ago, mlkik said:

Surely it is only cancelled when the new passport is issued ,not on application? I managed to use my old passport after applying ,to return from Bangkok to Udon and then use it again the folowing week to fly from Udon to Bangkok.

It is cancelled the moment  HMPO receives the application.  However they do not share that information and only if you entered the UK with the old passport would they flag it.

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, Adam219 said:

I prefer to report my passport stolen when "renewing" while abroad, but that's been in countries where the visa process is a little less complicated. It saved me time having to return my old passport and was relatively quick. 

 

As well as your home country passport renewal process, of course. So I take it that you're not a Brit then!