Passport Expiring..

[GT88]

I have only 4 months remaining on my current U S passport..Last week was given only 10 day extension instead of requested 90 day medical visa...Need to leave by Friday and want to go to neighboring country to get new passport as I usually need at least 6 months remaining to get visa to some countries..Does anyone know how long to get a new passport in any of the nearby countries??

thank you

[Maestro]

...Last week was given only 10 day extension instead of requested 90 day medical visa...

Immigration was unable to give you a “90 day medical visa” because no such visa exists.

If you have a letter from a doctor stating that you need to continue your medical treatment and are unable to travel and if the immigration officer is convinced that you are indeed sufficiently incapacitated to make travel impossible, you may get a 60-day extension.

There was a post a few days ago by somebody who, at the immigration office, had to take off his shirt and show the unhealed wound on his shoulder before his application was approved. (He also wrote that he later regretted that he did not also drop his pants to show the other wound on his leg)

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Maestro

[Maestro]

GT88, I see in this earlier post of yours that you decided to “go home and not waste my time with <deleted> at immigration again”. Changed your mind?

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Maestro

[GT88]

was given a 90 day medical visa back in may....My doctor at Samitivej decided to watch and wait and not start therapy but to do blood tests and alternative treatments ...but 2 weeks ago gave me another letter because he thought we would need to start therapy on return from trip to phuket..and as my 90 day extension (visa) was expiring..i was not and am not incapacated to travel but cannot start a chemo regimen then deal with going outside the country for visa issues..

No i have not reconsidered staying in thailand but want to see a few other SE ASIAN countries before returning stateside and have sen 6 months remaining on passport to recieve some visas...

my apologies about choice of discriptions of immigration officials..

[retirednavyman]

I have only 4 months remaining on my current U S passport..Last week was given only 10 day extension instead of requested 90 day medical visa...Need to leave by Friday and want to go to neighboring country to get new passport as I usually need at least 6 months remaining to get visa to some countries..Does anyone know how long to get a new passport in any of the nearby countries??

thank you

Have you gone to the American consulate to see about obtaining a new passport, given the current backlog at the State Department regarding processing of new passports, i would strongly encourage you to get on the bandwagon ASAP!!!!

[retiredusn]

I have only 4 months remaining on my current U S passport..Last week was given only 10 day extension instead of requested 90 day medical visa...Need to leave by Friday and want to go to neighboring country to get new passport as I usually need at least 6 months remaining to get visa to some countries..Does anyone know how long to get a new passport in any of the nearby countries??

thank you

Have you gone to the American consulate to see about obtaining a new passport, given the current backlog at the State Department regarding processing of new passports, i would strongly encourage you to get on the bandwagon ASAP!!!!

Friend was able to get new US passport within 72hours for additional fee at the US embassey

[PeaceBlondie]

When I lost my US passport in Sept. 2005, I was able to get one within two weeks, through the embassy in Bangkok. They got it done in the US and sent to Thailand. But that was before the State Dept. got incredibly backlogged. My kids in Texas barely made the wedding in Ireland because it took them forever to get their first passports. I think my son in law had to drive to Houston and wait for his.

[Gary A]

When I applied at the US Embassy, I was told to come back to pick up my new passport in 15 days. I asked them to EMS it to me and they will NOT use the mail system here. It was ready when I returned 15 days later.

[PeaceBlondie]

They promised me (back then before the backlog) either 14 or 15 days. I phoned on the 13th day and they told me it was waiting for me. Do not expect even a Western government to freely admit that they have no idea when something is going to finally arrive.

[jpop]

It took 2 weeks for the Chiangmai Consulate to get my new passport. This was about 6 weeks ago, amid the current backlog back in the States.

[Eneukman]

Rather than start a seperate topic, anyone know how long it takes the UK Embassy to issue a new passport?

My current visa (just renewed a couple of days ago) expires on 23rd August 2008, but as my passport expires on 25th July 2009 I assume I will need to get a new passport before I apply to extend my visa next year.

AS far as I know, the UK Embassy will post your new passport to you, but I think it would be better to go to Bangkok and pick it up rather than trust it to the Thai postal system.

Alan

[retirednavyman]

I have only 4 months remaining on my current U S passport..Last week was given only 10 day extension instead of requested 90 day medical visa...Need to leave by Friday and want to go to neighboring country to get new passport as I usually need at least 6 months remaining to get visa to some countries..Does anyone know how long to get a new passport in any of the nearby countries??

thank you

Have you gone to the American consulate to see about obtaining a new passport, given the current backlog at the State Department regarding processing of new passports, i would strongly encourage you to get on the bandwagon ASAP!!!!

Friend was able to get new US passport within 72hours for additional fee at the US embassey

Wow, i'm impressed, by the way how ya doin these days Master Chief!

Mike

YN1/Retired

[ProThaiExpat]

I think it is important to distinguish between the time it takes to get a renewal passport and a passport for a first timer. 2 weeks is the current time late for a renewal passport in Chiang Mai and that includes the time to have it come from the U.S. I suspect they look up the current one on a computer in the U.S. and then just print it out and put it in the next diplomatic pouch.

Those who have just renewed a U.S. passport, did your renewal passport carry the same passport number or did you get a new passport number???????

[IMA_FARANG]

I have only 4 months remaining on my current U S passport..Last week was given only 10 day extension instead of requested 90 day medical visa...Need to leave by Friday and want to go to neighboring country to get new passport as I usually need at least 6 months remaining to get visa to some countries..Does anyone know how long to get a new passport in any of the nearby countries??

thank you

You no longer get a new or renewal U.S. passport directly thru the embessy. The old policy in which a passport was issued directly from the U.S. embessy in the country where you lived is out. You now go to the U.S. embessy and apply for the new passport but the request is the mailed back to the U.S. It will take about 2 to 3 weeks to get the new passport, and it can be returned by mail to the embessy where you applied for it. You can pay an extra fee for priority service, but you should not expect the mail (international mail) to get the passport to you faster than about 2 weeks. When it is ready you either pick up the pasport at the embessy, or they mail it to your local address.

All the U.S. passports requests now go back to a centralized office (used to be in New Hampshire but I'm not sure if it still is) for processing and a security check verification before issue. That is why a renewal of a U.S. passport can not be done directly at a U.S. embessy in a foriegn country.

Bottom line: expect 2 weeks minimum to get your new passport after you apply at the U.S. embessy in whatever country you choose. I renewed mine here in Greece in 2005. Same proceedure.

[thaihome]

Agree that the time is about 2 weeks for new passport. As far as I know they will not mail it locally, you must come to consulate yourself to pick it up. They do not allow proxies. When they give you the new one (that has new number) they punch holes in the old one and give it back.

To the OP, be careful on trying to enter a country such has Indonesia, Malaysia, or Singapore on visa exempt or visa on arrival. They require 6 months validity of passport. I know for a fact that airlines will not let you board to Indonesia if you don't have 6 months. A couple of years ago, I watched Malaysian immigration refuse entry to a Brit that did not have 6 months.

TH