New UK passport - no transfer letter

[Polar Bear]

I'm posting this for someone else. He's fairly sure he's screwed up, but I said I would ask if there is an obvious fix. Brit working in Thailand with a Smart T visa + extension. His UK passport needed to be renewed, and there are still long waits for overseas renewals. He did an urgent renewal online, sent his passport back to the UK with a relative, and they were able to pick his new passport up for him and bring it back to Thailand. 

Now he has his old, cancelled passport (corner cut off), which has his visa, extension and stamps in, and a brand new completely empty passport. He started getting the paperwork together to transfer stuff over, but he needs a transfer letter that he should have got from the British Embassy (I think? I'm not exactly sure who the letter was from). If he had renewed it properly, he would have got the letter automatically, but because of his shenanigans, he hasn't got one. 

Is this transfer letter essential? Will the British Embassy issue one given that he shouldn't have renewed like this in the first place? What options does he have to fix this? 

Thanks!

[Neeranam]

I'm pretty sure the BE can give the letter. I'm also pretty sure that immigration would be willing to overlook this letter for a couple of thousand baht. 

[Upnotover]

He can get the letter from VFS or the Embassy will post one, see here;

 

Transferring your Thai visa after renewing your British passport

This service is available in person at VFS Bangkok or online and is free of charge.

The Immigration Bureau in Thailand may require a letter from the British Embassy in order for you to transfer your visa from your old to your new British passport.

1. You will be given a template visa transfer letter from VFS Bangkok when you collect your new passport. You can also request a letter in person by visiting their offices, from 8:30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, at 8th Floor, VFS, The Trendy Building, Sukhumvit Soi 13, Klongtoey-Nua, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Alternatively, apply online for a letter to be sent to you. To request the online service send a message via our online contact form, giving the reason for your request along with your name and address in Thailand.

[worgeordie]

I did the same thing , got my daughter in UK to get me a new passport

sent it to me here , also no letter asking immigration to transfer visa

to new passport , so sent email to British embassy*,and they EMS me one

the next day.   * Bangkok

regards worgeordie 

Edited November 18, 2022 by worgeordie

[Maybole]

I did the same thing  6 months ago.

From posting my old PP to receiving the new it took 33 days as opposed to VFS quote of 13 to 15 weeks.

Chiang mai Immigration refused the transfer without the authorization letter and I EMailed UK Embassy requesting them to send me one. 12 days later they replied with a brush off, I quote, "we do not interfere in disputes with Thai Immigration Authorities", thus indicating they did not read my communication.properly.

Eventually, via the Consul in Chiang mai, I got another EMail address and tried again. This time a different clerk replied asking me if I wanted them to send a form. Again indicating a failure to read my mail thoroughly. I replied in the affirmative and this time, to their credit, It was delivered by Thailand post 3 days later. From 1st. enquiry to receiving the form took 5 weeks

The EMail address I got them on was Bangkok Documentary Services <[email protected]>.

[Foghorn]

Not worry ,  500 baht   Job done 

[easydoor]

In case the pasport is issued in you home country, you do.t need this letter. Only you need it when it is issued by the ambassade.

 

[scubascuba3]

7 minutes ago, easydoor said:

In case the pasport is issued in you home country, you do.t need this letter. Only you need it when it is issued by the ambassade.

 

Not quite, it's not needed if you get the passport whilst in the UK as you'll use it on entry. If you get online via family or friends sent to Thailand or from agent\VFS you need the letter

[roo860]

13 minutes ago, easydoor said:

In case the pasport is issued in you home country, you do.t need this letter. Only you need it when it is issued by the ambassade.

 

Are you from the UK?

[Postmaster]

You don't need the letter.  I got a leaflet from the UKPA with my new passport  entitled "YOUR NEW PASSPORT"

upon which you could keep a record of the new Passport number start and expiry dates.  I just showed that to the IMO he was quite happy and transfered all the stamps free.

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, Postmaster said:

You don't need the letter.  I got a leaflet from the UKPA with my new passport  entitled "YOUR NEW PASSPORT"

upon which you could keep a record of the new Passport number start and expiry dates.  I just showed that to the IMO he was quite happy and transfered all the stamps free.

which immigration office? 

[Laphroaig27]

I'm not recalling this clearly but when I had everything transferred I do remember her looking at the letter. Maybe it was nothing to read - she knew what it was.

 

Try doing it in BKK without the letter if on O visa

[kidneyw]

Last month I contacted the British Embassy about the letter, as I have two passports and the second one is not new. They informed me I could pick one up at the Embassy door, or they could send me one.

I requested that I get one sent and received it six days later in Bangkok.

They were very helpful and efficient.

[Polar Bear]

Thanks all, he's going to ask for a letter to be sent out. He seemed to think he'd be in some kind of trouble with the embassy if they knew how he'd renewed it. 

[Kalasin Jo]

On 11/19/2022 at 8:21 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Not quite, it's not needed if you get the passport whilst in the UK as you'll use it on entry. If you get online via family or friends sent to Thailand or from agent\VFS you need the letter

Because no entry stamp? About 6 years ago I came in on a new British passport that was completely blank until my entry was stamped in. New because the old one was full. It had not expired. Showed the old cancelled one with my permission to stay and re entry permit to the border IO. No problem. I did this more than once before getting , at that time at the not so local IO at Sakon Nakhon, the permission to stay transferred to the new passport. Pretty sure I was applying for a fresh extension and the IO said the expiring extension ( but not previous ones) needed transferring first. This was done. I recall paying a fee for this but not the exact amount ( perhaps 500 baht) plus the fee for the fresh extension.

[Kalasin Jo]

On 11/19/2022 at 7:40 AM, Foghorn said:

Not worry ,  500 baht   Job done 

Yes! See my comment further down!

[mrjohn]

On a similar topic.

I got my new passport last week and they gave me the transfer letter.

How long does it take to transfer these details the new passport?

My Visa extension is not due until early January.  

Would it be better to get the transfer done in advance of my Visa extension or do it all on the same day?

[kinyara]

2 hours ago, mrjohn said:

On a similar topic.

I got my new passport last week and they gave me the transfer letter.

How long does it take to transfer these details the new passport?

My Visa extension is not due until early January.  

Would it be better to get the transfer done in advance of my Visa extension or do it all on the same day?

I did mine in Jomtien, ( Chonburi office ), a couple of weeks ago and it was a case of come back to collect in the afternoon the following day. Personally I think it's good housekeeping to do it as soon as possible - emergency travel situation, 90 day report on new passport etc.