"washed" Visa

[tobyarnott]

I have had a retirement visa for a few years and renewed it last month. Then last week I returned to the UK -after getting a re-entry permit.

So far so good.

But then I did something stupid - arrived home and put my trousers in the washing machine without first removing the passport which was in a pocket.

Naturally it now looks as if it has been through the wash although it's not as bad as I expected. However, when I checked with the Passport Office here today I was told that I couldn't travel on it again and will have to get a new one.

As far as the Retirement Visa is concerned, it is still quite legible apart from the expiry date which has been completely washed out. The stamp showing the date the visa was granted is still clear, as is the Re-entry Permit. I presume there must have been weaker ink on the "expiry date" stamp.

I thought I would speak to the Thai Consulate about the visa so I rang them. They said that once I am issued with a new UK Passport, the previous one becomes invalid and any visas in it also become invalid.

Does anyone know if that is strictly correct and if it means that my Retirement Visa will become invalid?

I seem to recall (though I could be wrong) that a couple of years ago when my old passport was full and needed replacement, the Passport Agency returned the old one to me (along with the new one) so that I could have my Retirement Visa transferred to the new one.

I would welcome advice on how best to proceed.

If indeed the Visa becomes invalid once a new Passport is issued, I presume I will have to get a Tourist Visa for my return in the new year and then go through the process of reapplying all over again for a Retirement Visa. However, I wonder if the fact that my present visa is still (mostly) legible, will enable Immigration to give me a copy without going through the entire renewal process again. I presume they would have a record of it on their computer.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Apart, that is, from telling me how stupid I was for putting the passport in the wash - I already know that!

[torrenova]

I renewed my passport in London in March and I seem to remember that one reason for them not returning the old passport with the corners cut off is when it is damaged. I cannot swear that this is correct but it sticks in my mind for some reason.

As for the general transfer of visas from passport to passport then I understand that that is not a problem as long as the visa remains valid.

[astral]

The consulate's advice is NOT correct.

Many members, myself included, have continued to use old multi-entry visas with a new passport.

The OP's problem will be whether he has proof, a copy perhaps, of the old visa?

These days all the details are in the immigration computer.

Having said that, as the OP is outside Thailand he may well have to start from scratch with a new application.

Inside LOS would be a great deal easier.

[lopburi3]

If your old passport is returned believe your legible re-entry permit will get you back as that date is always the same as your extension of stay expiration date. Once back you would need to visit immigration and have information transferred into new passport. If you do not get old passport back i would get a single entry non immigrant O visa rather than a tourist visa as you will need a non immigrant visa to extend your stay, and an extra 2,000 baht step in Thailand. If you are concerned with airline you could get that visa in any case, in the new passport, and only use for entry if required.

[stevemiddie]

If your old passport is returned believe your legible re-entry permit will get you back as that date is always the same as your extension of stay expiration date. Once back you would need to visit immigration and have information transferred into new passport. If you do not get old passport back i would get a single entry non immigrant O visa rather than a tourist visa as you will need a non immigrant visa to extend your stay, and an extra 2,000 baht step in Thailand. If you are concerned with airline you could get that visa in any case, in the new passport, and only use for entry if required.

The UK will NOT return your passport to you if it is damaged in any way.

I had a similar problem to the OP a few months ago ( needed it for the USA ) and the Passport Office ( Liverpool ) flatly refused to return it to me quoting rule blah blah blah etc

[ozzydom]

For Australians,,relevant sections of recent email from Oz Embassy Bangkok.

Quote

You can renew your passport by logging onto www.passports.gov.au and completing the online renewal form and bringing it, your current passport, two good quality colour passport photos and the requisite fee (thb8940 for a 64 page document or thb5960 for a 32 page doc at this time but note prices fluctuate regularly) to the Australian Embassy at 37 South Sathorn Rd, Bangkok between the hours of 0800-1630 Monday to Friday. No appointment is necessary. We can print off the form for you here if you have difficulty doing it at home.

You can keep your current passport but we have to physically cancel it. We do not touch visas already in the document. We recommend you visit the relevant offices (Thai or Cambodian) and get your current visas re-validated in your new passport. This is your choice but it saves you having to carry two passports on your person and the ensuing problems if you lose one of them.

All adult Australians must lodge their passport application in person at the embassy however we can mail the new document back to you. If you choose to keep your current passport and do not want it cancelled until you get the new document, you will have to mail this document to us before we will be able to send your new document to you (we would send both old and new to you).

[tobyarnott]

If your old passport is returned believe your legible re-entry permit will get you back as that date is always the same as your extension of stay expiration date. Once back you would need to visit immigration and have information transferred into new passport. If you do not get old passport back i would get a single entry non immigrant O visa rather than a tourist visa as you will need a non immigrant visa to extend your stay, and an extra 2,000 baht step in Thailand. If you are concerned with airline you could get that visa in any case, in the new passport, and only use for entry if required.

The UK will NOT return your passport to you if it is damaged in any way.

I had a similar problem to the OP a few months ago ( needed it for the USA ) and the Passport Office ( Liverpool ) flatly refused to return it to me quoting rule blah blah blah etc

Many thanks to all who replied.

I read something from the Passport Office that damaged passports are not returned.

When I went this morning to the local Passport Office - Identity and Passport Service, as it is now called - the first person I spoke to said that damaged passports are normally disposed of as confidential waste. I pointed out my Thai Visa and a more senior person who was consulted said that if I wanted my old passport returned that would be no problem. She said she would put a note with my application form to make sure the old one was returned.

Whether or not I get it back remains to be seen, however.

[tobyarnott]

If your old passport is returned believe your legible re-entry permit will get you back as that date is always the same as your extension of stay expiration date. Once back you would need to visit immigration and have information transferred into new passport. If you do not get old passport back i would get a single entry non immigrant O visa rather than a tourist visa as you will need a non immigrant visa to extend your stay, and an extra 2,000 baht step in Thailand. If you are concerned with airline you could get that visa in any case, in the new passport, and only use for entry if required.

Thanks for that advice, Lopburi. Very useful.

[MrSquigle]

I did the same, washed mine a week after new visa. Knew the bullshit I would have to go through again, so did not go in to replace it for about 4 months.

First got new passport, they did give me back the old one, then immigration and got all new stamps, simply transfered from old passport to new. But I did need to show my last entry slip. By simply I mean a few hours getting right forms, copies and waiting in Immigration for 2 or 3 hours.

[Gumballl]

Forget about the story that your passport has been damaged; start telling a new story... it has been lost! That way you can get a new one and still hold onto the old one with your stamps till you return to LOS.

[denboy]

Whilst in the UK july this year my current passport with retirement visa still had a cuople of years validity.

I decided to make use of the fast track facility and obtained a new 10 year passport. It was easier to do that than having to trail the Bangkok route at a later date.

I requested and recieved my old passport with the corners cut of.

I was a little apprehensive when I landed at Bangkok as to how the immigration would react. I clipped the old and new passport together and presented them to the officer.

I didn't face any problem and apart from the long wait in line it went very smoothly.

My 90 day period was ending shortly after arriving back and depite what you hear it is better to follow that date if incountry. This 90 days after arrival can be open to the whims of the particular officer and it is not worth the hassle of taking a chance.

I presented my 90 form and the two passports,after clipping in a new date card I was sent to another desk who relieved me of the two passports and told me to return the following morning.

I returned the following morning and recieved my two passports, the new one had all the relevant details transferred to the new passport and at no cost to me.

The only thing that still concerns me is that my original non immigrant page is still in the old passport so I made sure that I carried it with me when renewing my yearly retirement visa on the 12th of this month.

I presented the necessary documentation along with the new passport and it all proceeded without having to show the original non immigrant visa from the old passport.

Hope that helps.

[tobyarnott]

Thanks very much for that, Denboy. That's very reassuring.

At the moment I'm still waiting to see whether my old passport will actually be returned to me as there seem to be conflicting reports on that front. Someone told me that apparently "washing" fake passports is often done by terrorists and similar dubious types to conceal flaws so that is why the Passport people will scrap them rather than return them. I should know within the next week.

Anyhow, many thanks for taking the trouble to write.

[Joel Barlow]

I had an O visa, went to Tachilek a month early before the visa expired, then the passport got damp and the expiry date ink ran.

I went to Tachilek again, a couple days before expiry date, and when I returned, an hour later, they would only give me 30 days tourist. Said they had no record in the computer system of my O visa.

The visa stamp, with visa number, were clear...

as were the stamps in and out of Australia...

[lopburi3]

The poster here has both an extension of stay number and a re-entry permit number (both immigration numbers) in his old passport and if either of those can be read they should be found in the computer. The re-entry permit is still clear in his report so that provides both the authority to enter and the date he will be stamped for. I would not expect immigration to have details of a Consulate issued visa available - but expect that day is coming.

[tobyarnott]

The UK will NOT return your passport to you if it is damaged in any way.

I had a similar problem to the OP a few months ago ( needed it for the USA ) and the Passport Office ( Liverpool ) flatly refused to return it to me quoting rule blah blah blah etc

Steve

Just to say that 3 days after I applied, a courier arrived at my door with a new passport.

But no sign of the old one.

I thought I might phone the local office and complain, as they had told me that the old one could be returned but then I thought they would just fob me off with excuses about head office rules, etc.

However, nice surprise this morning - the old one - with the corners cut off - arrived separately in the post.

So I'm hoping I won't have to go through too much hassle getting my visa transferred - even though some of the dates have been washed out.