Replacement Uk Visa In Thai Passport

[londonboy12]

A question on behalf of a family friend's daughter. The Thai daughter one of my wife's friends currently resides in the UK, and is attending a UK college course. Her Thai mother is married to a UK citizen and both have the correct visas. However, the daughter thought she had lost her Thai passport therefore she went along to the Thai Embassy in London to get a new one. This new passport declares the old passport null and void, and as yet, she has not taken steps to get the visa transferred to the new passport. The old passport has now turned up.

Now the problem is that she plans to go to Thailand next week on holiday and we just wanted to check she will not have any problems either (1) at check-in in Thailand or (2) at Passport Control in Heathrow. She will have the following items with her:-

1 new passport, but with no visa, and cancelling the old passport

2 old passport, with a visa

3 letter from her college confirming her course etc

4 statement from police that she had lost her old passport

Could anyone confirm that this will be sufficient, or should she take steps to have the visa transferred to her new passport. If so, where should she go and does it cost anything.

Thanking you in advance

[misterman21]

The visa in the lost and found passport will still be current so should be ok to enter thailand - just the new passport will be enough to leave the uk. However once back in thailand i would contact the British embassy and arrange for them to replace the visa in the new passport.

Just to clarify:

You dont need any visa to leave the Uk - but leaving thailand with the vias in a canceled passport will most likely be problematic

[the scouser]

It should be sufficient to carry the old and new passports together. If asked why, the daughter can explain that she reported her previous passport lost but subsequently found it. If she wishes, she can have the conditions transferred to her new passport by the Home Office, but at a cost of £160.00.

By the way, the champagne was finally quaffed, thanks. I was saving it for a special occasion, but when Mossfinn of this forum came to visit, he couldn't restrain himself and had the bottle open before I could take evasive action. It was certainly very much appreciated.

Scouse.

[misterman21]

It could take months to do it in the uk - do the transfer in thailand. Check in in thailand will cetrtainly have difficulty in accepting a visa in a cancelled passport even with evidence of your situation. Dont take casual advice - transfer the visa at the BKK embassy!

Edited March 9, 2008 by misterman21

[londonboy12]

Thanks misterman 21 and Scouse,

Much appreciated for your swift responses. I will pass this on to her.

Scouse, Glad to hear you enjoyed the champagne.

[the scouser]

If the check-in clerk at the airport has any difficulties with the visa being in the cancelled passport, s/he can check with the embassy's Airline Liaison Officer that carriage is not a problem.

Scouse.

[misterman21]

If the check-in clerk at the airport has any difficulties with the visa being in the cancelled passport, s/he can check with the embassy's Airline Liaison Officer that carriage is not a problem.

Scouse.

Fix the problem before leaving it to a chance encounter with a check in clerk. Maybe the liason officer isnt available. Bad advice! Fix it and you will save yourself a lot of headaches - i am sure you know!

[the scouser]

As with many choices in life, it comes down to cost versus risk.

There is no legal reason why the OP's friend's daughter has to get a replacement endorsement either from the Home Office or the embassy. From an immigration perspective, her current leave remains valid although it is endorsed in a now-superseded passport. I would wager that such an occurrence is something which check-in staff encounter on a routine basis as it is commonplace for holders of current leave to travel with both the previous and new passports. If the worst happens, and a check-in clerk does question the woman's right to re-enter the UK, then either the ALO can be called or, failing that, the Immigration Service at the UK port of entry can be contacted in order to vouch for her admissibility.

However, if she wishes, she may pay either £160.00 to the Home Office, or £500.00 to the embassy (if it is a settlement visa she has) to have her leave endorsed in the new passport. If she wishes this to be done prior to her departure by the Home Office, she may book an appointment at the Croydon public enquiry office and have it done there and then, thereby obviating the need to wait "months".

Anyway, ultimately it's for the woman herself to decide how she wants to play it.

Scouse.

[misterman21]

500 pounds to transfer existing visa into current passport - in bkk - i think not (would hope not)

[paully]

Guess she'll have to just 'suck it and see' then