Current US Passport renewal process for US citizens who reside in Thailand

[JimboB4]

Current US Passport renewal process for US citizens who reside in Thailand. 

What is the current procedure? It says mail in the DS-82 on the embassy website but we have to maintain our old passports until we receive the new passport. So can we still pick up the new passport in person? Is it still the same as it was 7 years ago? Last time I picked up my new passport in person and then they voided out the old passport and issued the new passport. Does it still work that way? 
 

Thanks 
 

 

 

[JimboB4]

Any replies??? 

[Jingthing]

Currently the embassy is encouraging renewal by mail for those who are eligible.

There are guidelines on the embassy website to determine that.

If doing that, follow the embassy instructions very carefully and you should be OK.

Check online for all the very specific rules about the photo specs as they are quite strict. For example, no open mouth smiling, no glasses,  no tilted heads, etc.

To do renewal by mail you do mail in your old passport (required) and eventually it is returned to you by Thai post courier envelope (which you purchase online) with your new passport. Stated estimated times are 6 to 8 weeks but recent reports have been about a month or less.

However, there were recent deep staff cuts at the state department so it is unknown whether they will change the timing.

Yes, you can also renew in person by appointment at the embassy. There are recent topics on the forum about details about that. Personally, I can't speak to the details about that. The info on the embassy website is limited about that perhaps because they are strongly encouraging renewal by mail. 

Good luck. 

[thesetat]

12 hours ago, JimboB4 said:

Current US Passport renewal process for US citizens who reside in Thailand. 

What is the current procedure? It says mail in the DS-82 on the embassy website but we have to maintain our old passports until we receive the new passport. So can we still pick up the new passport in person? Is it still the same as it was 7 years ago? Last time I picked up my new passport in person and then they voided out the old passport and issued the new passport. Does it still work that way? 
 

Thanks 
 

 

 

It takes some time to make a new passport. But if you go to Embassy and make the renewal, they will offer to mail the new passport to you when it is finished

[HappyExpat57]

I suggest having a legitimate agent do it. Yes, you can do it yourself, and either way your passport will be mailed to and from the US, but there are little details that can ruin the deal so you have wasted all that time and have to start over.

 

I use these folks in Pattaya just off Soi Buakhao: https://thaivisa-express.com/

 

The website says UK & Thai, they also do US.

[Jingthing]

If you're in Pattaya there are a few places that will act as agents for the mail in process. 

Here is one of them:

www.keyvisathailand.com/renewing-usa-passport/

Not sure about other places in Thailand.

Assuming you do it yourself, the embassy does look over your application including the photo and if they notice any errors, they will contact you so that you can fix it. That will obviously delay the process.

Of course a worse case is if an error is found later after the state department starts processing it. 

In my opinion the weakest link in the by mail process is when the embassy mails you the new passport. They do NOT contact you when they do that. You have to know to check the tracking number associated with the Thai Post courier envelope that you purchased daily.

The embassy seems to think Thai Post sends an email when they pick up your pasport. (They don't either.)

[Jingthing]

A little known thing about getting new passports is that you should review the new passport yourself before signing it and if there the state department made an error, you can return it to be corrected for free. Signing it is your affirmation that it is correct.

[Dante99]

13 hours ago, JimboB4 said:

but we have to maintain our old passports until we receive the new passport.

No you must submit the old one with application.  You get it back with the new one

13 hours ago, JimboB4 said:

So can we still pick up the new passport in person? Is it still the same as it was 7 years ago?

no they mail it to you

25 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

either way your passport will be mailed to and from the US

no it is to and from Bangkok Embassy

 

just did mine, about 4 weeks 

 

not too difficult to do myself

[marin]

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

It takes some time to make a new passport. But if you go to Embassy and make the renewal, they will offer to mail the new passport to you when it is finished

Not for the USA. All done via mail and you are without your passport for 4-8 weeks. 

[Jingthing]

The embassy has a checklist which you must print and include with your mailed application.

That will help reduce errors.

A weird requirement is a copy of your passport ID page.

They're already getting your old passport, but that copy is still required.

[bamnutsak]

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/instructions-for-ds-82-processing-by-mail-and-online-fee-payment-for-u-s-citizens-residing-in-thailand/

 

There have been several detailed, first-hand reports here over the last year or so, suggest you look for those, read them them come back with questions.

 

 

I think, in the thread linked below, the door to door time was ~ 27 days.

 

example: 

 

[thesetat]

2 hours ago, marin said:

Not for the USA. All done via mail and you are without your passport for 4-8 weeks. 

That is how i did it recently... I did not do all by mail.. and they gave me the option to pick it up at embassy also..

[Bill97]

10 minutes ago, thesetat said:

That is how i did it recently... I did not do all by mail.. and they gave me the option to pick it up at embassy also..

Most must do it all by mail

 

a few exceptions are listed on embassy website 

[JimboB4]

I got a reply from the Embassy and they said they do still have the in person appointment option and you just tell them at the appointment that you need the current old valid passport back and that you would prefer to pick up your new passport in person. 

[JimboB4]

Here’s the reply