Renewal by mail (US Embassy) Send self addressed envelope, or just bank draft

[Hal65]

Quote

Step 8: Return envelope,  an insured return envelope is required when you are applying for U.S. passport in Thailand. Please purchase a bank draft to pay for the envelope fee — click here for Bank draft request form.

NOTE: Prepaid envelope cannot be accepted when you are applying for a U.S. passport in Thailand.

Which does this mean:

1. Send a bank draft for 100 thb from an approved Thai bank

2. Send item #1 plus a return envelope, self addressed

 

Asking because these guys are picky about every details. I did US passport renewal by mail 5+ years ago. The exchange rate changed in my favor during the mailing. They would not cash the check and send back the excess. I had to get a new bank draft and send it again!

[jerryonjay]

I was just looking at this online before reading the email . The 100 baht is for the fee to send you the passport back . 

[cnx1204]

Yes, send both.  As jerryonjay said, the bank draft pays for sending your self addressed envelope back registered mail.

[RocketDog]

35 minutes ago, jerryonjay said:

I was just looking at this online before reading the email . The 100 baht is for the fee to send you the passport back . 

Yes. Do it that way. Get bank drafts, separate for the two fees. Worked great for me with USA renewal 5 months ago. Took ten days round trip. Delivered to my door by courier.

[skatewash]

Just #1 is necessary from my personal experience.  I included a bank draft for 100 baht but no return self-addressed envelope.  The 100 baht is to cover the cost of the embassy providing and mailing the envelope to you along with your new passport.

[Srikcir]

45 minutes ago, cnx1204 said:

Yes, send both.  As jerryonjay said, the bank draft pays for sending your self addressed envelope back registered mail.

Mine sent back EMS by Thailand Post. Next day delivery.

[Srikcir]

16 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

Yes. Do it that way. Get bank drafts, separate for the two fees. Worked great for me with USA renewal 5 months ago. Took ten days round trip. Delivered to my door by courier.

I paid for $130 renewal online using Pay.Gov, enclosing printout of emailed receipt with my application. But had to also go to my bank for a paper 100B bank draft to be included in my renewal package - not very efficient in an electronic age and not having personal transportation! Not to mention it took the bank 45 minutes to make one (additional charge) as it seems they never did one before.

Had about same ten days for receipt of old & new passports.

[bronzedude]

Sent my renewal package in February 28, tracking shows it was received on March 1. According to the embassy they claim they received it on March 6 and processed it on March 8. It is now April 6 and still no passport. Be careful not to have an international flight while you're waiting. Also cannot do a 90 day report

[skatewash]

16 minutes ago, bronzedude said:

Sent my renewal package in February 28, tracking shows it was received on March 1. According to the embassy they claim they received it on March 6 and processed it on March 8. It is now April 6 and still no passport. Be careful not to have an international flight while you're waiting. Also cannot do a 90 day report

Doing the 90-Day Report online or by mail does not require that you have your passport in hand, just copies of the relevant pages.