Wife Needs A New Thai Passport

[Jockstar]

Guys, i'm sure its easy ie goto the Embassy. But she asked me to ask. How will she get her new Thai passport in Sydney? Is there a form that she can send in. Or does she indeed have to goto the Embassy(i believe that would be in Canberra?) But i believe there is a visa office in the city. Could she go there? Help needed please and thank you.

[samran]

embassy is usually the go as the specialised equipment is there. Three hours down the highway from Sydney.

However, ask the Sydney consulate when the mobile passport application team will next be in town, as they make regular visits to all the state capitals.

[CbrLad]

Guys, i'm sure its easy ie goto the Embassy. But she asked me to ask. How will she get her new Thai passport in Sydney? Is there a form that she can send in. Or does she indeed have to goto the Embassy(i believe that would be in Canberra?) But i believe there is a visa office in the city. Could she go there? Help needed please and thank you.

Get her to check with the embassy, should be simple and no doubt you will be able to use the mail. But here is the link.

http://www.thaiembassy.org.au/

[samran]

Guys, i'm sure its easy ie goto the Embassy. But she asked me to ask. How will she get her new Thai passport in Sydney? Is there a form that she can send in. Or does she indeed have to goto the Embassy(i believe that would be in Canberra?) But i believe there is a visa office in the city. Could she go there? Help needed please and thank you.

Get her to check with the embassy, should be simple and no doubt you will be able to use the mail. But here is the link.

http://www.thaiembassy.org.au/

a mailed application is out of the question these days. New passport are of the e-passport variety, and require the person to be present for a digital photo to be taken and a digital thumb print to be taken.

PIA if you aren't near the embassy in Canberra. But they do send out mobile consular units, as I've mentioned, to the state capitals on a semi-reglar basis, where they bring the equipment along.

- ed: from the website of the Sydney consulate, it may be the case that they can do the passport there.

[siamesekitty]

Off topic:

Hi Jockstar! How are you guys? Say "Hello" to p'Elle for me please? Thanks!

[gburns57au]

Guys, i'm sure its easy ie goto the Embassy. But she asked me to ask. How will she get her new Thai passport in Sydney? Is there a form that she can send in. Or does she indeed have to goto the Embassy(i believe that would be in Canberra?) But i believe there is a visa office in the city. Could she go there? Help needed please and thank you.

Go to your Consular Office.....she will need to take the passport in with the application form (which they should have there)...they will process it and return it to her by registered mail....it will take a while and you will have to pay the postage fees in advance. Ring your Consular Office beforehand just to confirm. That is how they have to do it here in the West.

Edited January 7, 2008 by gburns57au

[Jockstar]

No worries. Wife spoke to them yesterday. She will sort it. No rush. Runs out April.

[samran]

No worries. Wife spoke to them yesterday. She will sort it. No rush. Runs out April.

he mate,

did they say you could do it in Sydney at the Thai consulate there, or is it necessary to go to Canberra? I know my cousin who lives in Melbourne hand to go up to Canberra recently to get hers done as the consulate in Melbourne didn't have the equipment.

[grazer]

Hi There

You can get a Thai passport from the Consulate in Sydney. My wife got one there last year, even though we live in Melbourne.

The only places that do passports on a regular basis are the Embassy in Canberra, and the Consulate in Sydney.

The other consulates, such as the one in Melbourne, get occasional visits from what they call the 'mobile unit'. What is supposed to happen is that people ring up and say they want a passport, and the local consulate takes a list of the names. When enough people have put their name down, the mobile unit makes a visit and does all the passports for people who have put their name down. Usually what happens is that when the mobile unit is coming, it is announced on the Embassy website so that other people can make appointments too.

In practice, what happens is something like this.

My wife (telephoning Melbourne consulate) "I need a new passport, can I make an appointment to get one?"

Consulate staff "We don't do them anymore, you have to get it from Canberra or Sydney."

Wife "OK"

Later...

Me (telephoning Embassy in Canberra) "Is it true we can only get a new passport in Canberra or Sydney?"

Embassy staff "No, you can put your name down at the Melbourne consulate and when there are enough people we send the mobile unit."

Me "OK"

Later...

Wife (calling Melbourne consulate) "Can I put my name down to get a passport from the mobile unit when it comes down"

Consulate staff "No, you can only get a passport from Canberra or Sydney"

So, deciding that it would be easier to make an interstate trip than deal with bureauThaicracy, off we went to Sydney to get a passport. A week later the notice went on the Embassy website notifying that the Mobile Unit would be in Melbourne the following month.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

No worries. Wife spoke to them yesterday. She will sort it. No rush. Runs out April.

he mate,

did they say you could do it in Sydney at the Thai consulate there, or is it necessary to go to Canberra? I know my cousin who lives in Melbourne hand to go up to Canberra recently to get hers done as the consulate in Melbourne didn't have the equipment.

Sydney has got its own camera for epassports.

[oxymoron]

No worries. Wife spoke to them yesterday. She will sort it. No rush. Runs out April.

he mate,

did they say you could do it in Sydney at the Thai consulate there, or is it necessary to go to Canberra? I know my cousin who lives in Melbourne hand to go up to Canberra recently to get hers done as the consulate in Melbourne didn't have the equipment.

Sydney has got its own camera for epassports.

All of the above just typical Thai inefficiency and lack of ability to think beyond the robotic programme.

I just got the latest Australian electronic passport, the process is still the same for the customer as has been for the last 30 years 'polaroid photos at the Post Office etc etc'. All the electronic jiggery pokery must be done using scanners or other techniques at the passport issue department. 7 days later received by registered mail new Passport with Holiograph picture and centre page a smart card chip. But TIA

[Sporting Dog]

...what about getting a passapor for people in West Oz?

Does the the consul do them?

[samran]

No worries. Wife spoke to them yesterday. She will sort it. No rush. Runs out April.

he mate,

did they say you could do it in Sydney at the Thai consulate there, or is it necessary to go to Canberra? I know my cousin who lives in Melbourne hand to go up to Canberra recently to get hers done as the consulate in Melbourne didn't have the equipment.

Sydney has got its own camera for epassports.

All of the above just typical Thai inefficiency and lack of ability to think beyond the robotic programme.

I just got the latest Australian electronic passport, the process is still the same for the customer as has been for the last 30 years 'polaroid photos at the Post Office etc etc'. All the electronic jiggery pokery must be done using scanners or other techniques at the passport issue department. 7 days later received by registered mail new Passport with Holiograph picture and centre page a smart card chip. But TIA

Actually, in defense of the Thai bureacracy a couple of points on passports (and I very rarely defend them having worked for them!!)

- The Melbourne consulate is operated by an Australian and his Thai wife. They've done so for the past 25 odd years. My parents at one stage were in the running to run it, but the current mob got in, and have stayed in. They consulate staff do what they can, but sometimes aren't kept in the loop on things.

- The Thai passport office is actually a heck of a lot more efficient than the Australian passport office (or even any government agency in the world - anywhere). I say this based on experience having both a Thai and Aussie passports. Thai E-passports can be issued quickly and easily. The application 'form' is about two lines, and as long as you have an ID card, your passport will be ready in three days. The passport centre facility is world class efficient.

Compare this to the Australian application form. Long and fairly complicated.

[gburns57au]

...what about getting a passapor for people in West Oz?

Does the the consul do them?

read back a few posts......

The last I heard is that they do.

[david96]

...Compare this to the Australian application form. Long and fairly complicated.

An Australian passport generally takes 10 days, remember it is forwarded to you by registered mail to the nearest post office. It is possible to get a passport issued within 2 days. The Thai passposts are issued within 3 days for the very reason that you apply in person and pick up in person your passport from MFA in Bangkok.