Getting a visa or passport to travel overseas may take longer

[webfact]

file photos

 

by Michael Bridge

Now borders are opening, and there are more options for travel many are keen to get on a plane or train.

However, because of this urge to travel, it has put enormous pressure on the visa and passport offices globally.

One Dutch traveller wants to take his Thai wife to Holland but cannot book a flight, as the agency he must use in Thailand has already taken six weeks and still no visa approval.

Another Thai wishes to fly to Quebec to visit her Canadian boyfriend, but although she applied in January she is still waiting.

One reason they explained to her for the delay was there were swamped with processing many Ukraine refugees.

UK Visa applications

If you apply for a priority UK Visa, the processing through VFS Thailand normally takes from 3 to 5 days while Super Priority applicants can get their UK visa in one day.

The British Embassy in Bangkok does not directly facilitate the visa application in Thailand. 

The VFS UK Thailand visa application center in Bangkok accepts applications for all visa categories and is officially authorized by the UK Visa and Immigration.

 

Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

file photo

On their website, they state that if you apply for a priority UK Visa, the processing through VFS Thailand normally takes from 3 to 5 days, while Super Priority applicants can get their UK visa in one day.

However, due to the ongoing impact of Covid and global travel restrictions, UK Visas & Immigration are experiencing unpredictable demand across all visa routes. 

Further information on current processing times for standard visit visas can be found here.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk

 

British passports renewal

If you happened to be in the UK, the current processing times are up to ten weeks to receive your passport. 

They say there are different turnaround times if you're applying from another country.

British nationals can apply or renew their British passports in Thailand. They need to book an appointment through [email protected] and apply in person once the appointment has been set.

The cost of an Adult standard 32-page passport is 10,000 THB – this includes the cost of the passport & our service fee. 

The cost of an adult jumbo 48-page passport is 11,000 THB – this includes the cost of the passport & the service fee.

Delays are likely

Getting a visa or passport to travel out of Thailand could still be realistic, but as more and more people decide to travel especially during school holidays these agencies will need to take on more staff to cope with demand.

In Singapore, the number of passport applications has surged.

They are now receiving more than 7,000 applications a day, three times more than the 2,000 seen before Covid-19 and climbed to as high as 14,000. 

This prompted the authorities there to deploy more resources to deal with the crowds queuing around the ICA Building.

Fare rises

Flights are getting more expensive due to fuel rises and the added cost of avoiding Russian airspace when flying to Europe.

Of course, if you are still waiting for a visa, it would be unwise to confirm a seat with an airline, even though booing later will mean some hefty fares to pay.

It is going to be a tricky time for all companies and embassies overseeing visa and passport enquires so we should expect it to take longer than usual.

If you have any up-to-date information on obtaining visas or passports, please do share your information here. It would be helpful for all our viewers for sure.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-05-16

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[madmitch]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

On their website, they state that if you apply for a priority UK Visa, the processing through VFS Thailand normally takes from 3 to 5 days, while Super Priority applicants can get their UK visa in one day.

On their website they also state that priority processing is unavailable at the moment. However that hasn't stopped the VFS office from accepting money for a non-existent service.

 

I've submitted a formal complaint as I sponsored a relative yet the UK visa office sat on the passport for three weeks after making their decision before returning it to Bangkok despite us having paid for priority service. 

 

Just a warning for anyone considering this 

[Onerak]

US passport is taking 8-11 weeks if applied in USA. Priority  services with additional fees taks 5 weeks but I got mine in 3. There are agent assisted services they can get your passport in two days for $650 additional fees. 

[Big Bert]

Article in UK press says many people are not getting new passports within the the 10 week period, phones going un answered or cut off when the do.

 

Just booked ticket home, economy was reasonable but business class has jumped to crazy levels,      3-4 k ????

[kwonitoy]

Same same in Canada, passport office is swamped, 

They've said if you don't have tickets booked don't apply for a new or renew your passport to take pressure off the system.

[RichardColeman]

Sounds to me like everybody still wants to carry on with the 'work from home fiasco !'

 

That said, seems pretty daft to me not expecting there to be a severe amount of new travel expected after a pandemic world shut down and not planning to get your passport earlier - after all you were sat at home doing nothing else !

[DezLez]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

British nationals can apply or renew their British passports in Thailand. They need to book an appointment through [email protected] and apply in person once the appointment has been set.

Note for UK Passpoert applicants;

If you do not live in or near either Bangkok or Chiang Mai where VFS have there offices you can useually find a reputable agent to do all the work for you, including stamp transfers thereby negating the need for appointments/trips to either city.

[Kenny Boy]

36 minutes ago, Big Bert said:

Article in UK press says many people are not getting new passports within the the 10 week period, phones going un answered or cut off when the do.

 

Just booked ticket home, economy was reasonable but business class has jumped to crazy levels,      3-4 k ????

Got my UK passport renewal back in 3 weeks and that included the Easter holiday.

[vandeventer]

59 minutes ago, Onerak said:

US passport is taking 8-11 weeks if applied in USA. Priority  services with additional fees taks 5 weeks but I got mine in 3. There are agent assisted services they can get your passport in two days for $650 additional fees. 

Prices are going up, service is going down, but wait if you have the money anything can get done with speed. This is the Thai way and the world must be catching on.

[Andycoops]

I spoke to a UK passport renewal agent in Pattaya last month and he told me he had one customer whose passport took 5 months to receive back in Thailand.

The IPS is a joke with reports in the press that people are on full pay at home spending their time joking about watching Netflix all day. A bloody disgrace.

I'm going to get my visa extension and then apply immediately afterwards and expect the worst possible delay, thereby being effectively in limbo as far as travel is concerned.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

However, because of this urge to travel, it has put enormous pressure on the visa and passport offices globally.

I think I'll sit tight this year, let all the madness pass-by first.

[AhFarangJa]

41 minutes ago, DezLez said:

Note for UK Passpoert applicants;

If you do not live in or near either Bangkok or Chiang Mai where VFS have there offices you can useually find a reputable agent to do all the work for you, including stamp transfers thereby negating the need for appointments/trips to either city.

That seems strange, I was under the impression you had to attend personally. I know we did to renew my Son's passport a few years ago. Mine expires June 2023. Looks like I may have to apply now!!!

[Big Bert]

59 minutes ago, Kenny Boy said:

Got my UK passport renewal back in 3 weeks and that included the Easter holiday.

Good stuff, not everyone has the same experience. As the holiday season gets close and people leave to the last minute. Also EU rules about the validity of passports renewed early has pushed the rush for renewals.

[DFPhuket]

It took about 2 1/2 weeks from the time I sent my old passport to the US embassy in Bangkok by EMS for my new US passport (along with the cancelled old one) to be returned to me by EMS. That was exceptionally efficient. I was told that passport renewals from overseas have priority over domestic renewals. 

[Skeptic7]

Governments around the globe are inept and ill-prepared in the best of times. Now after 2 years of Covidiocy, they've dug themselves into self-inflicted pits of unacceptable debt, inflation and utter inadequacy.

 

Imagine if they ever performed to even a tenth of the level of punctual perfection they insist upon from their tax paying EMPLOYERS (aka citizens)...we'd all be shocked and rather pleased. 

[Tracyb]

A point of interest for U.S. citizens now in Thailand needing a passport renewal……..

 

Last Thursday I received my new passport via Thai Post EMS from the US Embassy in Bangkok.  The processing time from the day I dropped the application off at DHL in Chiang Mai until the new one arrived was exactly three weeks.

 

The Embassy website notes that the processing time is 2-3 weeks.  
 

If you’re in Thailand and needing a new USA passport anytime in the near future….maybe apply for it now.

[StevieAus]

2 hours ago, Big Bert said:

Article in UK press says many people are not getting new passports within the the 10 week period, phones going un answered or cut off when the do.

 

Just booked ticket home, economy was reasonable but business class has jumped to crazy levels,      3-4 k ????

Which airlines were you looking at for Bus Class I booked one for the end of the month to UK with Qatar less than I paid a couple of years ago

Etithad offering some good deals

[Caldera]

The British system has been crappola for as long as I'm reading reports (mostly negative) on here.

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, AhFarangJa said:

That seems strange, I was under the impression you had to attend personally. I know we did to renew my Son's passport a few years ago. Mine expires June 2023. Looks like I may have to apply now!!!

So did I. But the problem now with the British Embassy and may be others, they no longer send them back by Mail so if you live like I do a 7 hr+ drive away,  then that means 2 night stay in hotels+ all incurred expenses,  or use an agent to pick it up and then they post it to you. It makes no Rhyme or Reason at all. Anyone know must you apply in person ?

[Big Bert]

39 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

Which airlines were you looking at for Bus Class I booked one for the end of the month to UK with Qatar less than I paid a couple of years ago

Etithad offering some good deals

Weekend 20th May, Northern city's UK. Not too flexible due to work. I have been quite shocked at the prices quoted. Skyscanner and the airline websites. Emirates, Qatar KLM and Etihad.

[Big Bert]

38 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

Which airlines were you looking at for Bus Class I booked one for the end of the month to UK with Qatar less than I paid a couple of years ago

Etithad offering some good deals

[prakhonchai nick]

31 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

So did I. But the problem now with the British Embassy and may be others, they no longer send them back by Mail so if you live like I do a 7 hr+ drive away,  then that means 2 night stay in hotels+ all incurred expenses,  or use an agent to pick it up and then they post it to you. It makes no Rhyme or Reason at all. Anyone know must you apply in person ?

For British pasports, it is not necessary to personally  attend to apply or pick up the returned passport. There are agents you can have to do it for you. You do however have to deal by post with these agents, unless you happen to live where they are based, and it can take time to ensure everything is in order to be presented to VFS. VFS can sometimes be very nit-picking, especially when it comes to photo size and possible glare from the wearing of glasses.

[brianthainess]

2 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

For British pasports, it is not necessary to personally  attend to apply or pick up the returned passport. There are agents you can have to do it for you. You do however have to deal by post with these agents, unless you happen to live where they are based, and it can take time to ensure everything is in order to be presented to VFS. VFS can sometimes be very nit-picking, especially when it comes to photo size and possible glare from the wearing of glasses.

5k for an agent and next day delivery, where it would cost me 6 days there and back, hotels,+ up to 3 tanks of fuel each way risking and life and death on the roads, and I would never wear glasses for a passport photo anyway. 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

A month ago the wife went to Khon Kaen for a passport renewal. Had to wait in the office all day long. But it came to the house in just two days. Then she goes, "now I get America visa?" Hahaha.

 

I showed her the NBC Nightly News yesterday. The top stories:

 

1) 10 dead in supermarket shooting.

2) 20 shot after basketball game.

3) Baby formula shortage.

4) Plane crashes into bridge.

 

Yeah, we could do to wait at least another year.

[thailand49]

Even before this article since my brother plans a trip to BKK to renewal his passport in August expired March 2023, I was thinking of tagging along.

My passport isn't due to Expire October of 2024, can I renewed with how things are going never can be too safe? ????

[prakhonchai nick]

7 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Even before this article since my brother plans a trip to BKK to renewal his passport in August expired March 2023, I was thinking of tagging along.

My passport isn't due to Expire October of 2024, can I renewed with how things are going never can be too safe? ????

One can renew a British pasport at anytime. However no credit is given for unexpired time as it used to be

 

As for "tagging along" with your brother, note that everything at VFS has to be done by appointment - often being fixed 2/3 weeks in advance. Your brother will not be able to just ask for his passport to be renewed when he is there with you.

 

Check the websites for documents required to renew.............Proof of Thai address being very important, plus of course colour copies of EVERY page of your current British passport  including blanks.,

[sungod]

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

 Anyone know must you apply in person ?

No need, I dropped off and picked up a passport for an old fella who couldn't make the trip.

[prakhonchai nick]

27 minutes ago, sungod said:

No need, I dropped off and picked up a passport for an old fella who couldn't make the trip.

Only require ID and a letter of authority from the passport holder.  Easy for folks in Bangkok, but not those living hundreds of Kms away

[Donbuie3]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Sounds to me like everybody still wants to carry on with the 'work from home fiasco !'

 

That said, seems pretty daft to me not expecting there to be a severe amount of new travel expected after a pandemic world shut down and not planning to get your passport earlier - after all you were sat at home doing nothing else !

Sounds to me civil servants want to continue with the pretence of working from home!

[Clydesdale]

"The cost of an adult jumbo 48-page passport is 11,000 THB" > This is no jumbo: why was the 72-page passport never reinstated ? It was always claimed that the UK passport had to be a smaller size under European Law. Now, post-Brexit, we discover that was also a deception. 48 pages are simply too few for anyone renewing visas and travelling frequently.