New British Passport

[Neeranam]

I have to go to bkk and get a new UK passport. I should know as I got one about 9 years ago from the Embassy but can't remember what I did.

I live in Issaan and don't really want to wait a few days in Bkk.

Does anyone know if I can go to the embassy and maybe get it the same day or following day?

Cheers.

NN

[lopburi3]

The British Embassy has one of the best web sites but is seems to be underused. They say 5 days but you can pay for EMS return.

Check British Embassy Passport Page

[Neeranam]

Good website, thanks Lopburi.

Am I correct in thinking that I can post my application to Bangkok?

[lopburi3]

Have no idea as am not British. Try this.

Please ring us on (02) 305 8333 for further information

[dereklev]

Have no idea as am not British.  Try this.

Please ring us on (02) 305 8333 for further information

You have the patience of a Saint Lopburi3!

Yes you can post the application and get it back by EMS, but you must make 100% sure you have the correct documentation.........details of which are on the Emabssy website.

[markg]

Have no idea as am not British.  Try this.

Please ring us on (02) 305 8333 for further information

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You have the patience of a Saint Lopburi3!

Yes you can post the application and get it back by EMS, but you must make 100% sure you have the correct documentation.........details of which are on the Emabssy website.

I have just received my new UK passport so heres what happened. Yes - you can indeed send it by EMS with a "postal order" from the Post Office for the sum specified on the UK embassy website plus 40 baht for EMS return if thats what you want - and i recommend that it is for safety.

However, mine took 28 days. (I got it back last week). I was worried so i emailed the embassy. They emailed me back the next day to say it had just been sent. Went to check my PO box and yeahhhhhhhh its arrived.

A good service all in all though it took longer than their stated time on their website.

Furthermore - the phone number on the website just rang out when i tried it.

Hope this helps.

Oh, one other thing. YOu can renew it up to 9 months before your old one expires AND they will add that 9 months on. So my new passport is actually valid for 10 years and 7 months - (i had 7 months left on the old one)

So thats a bonus eh?

M

[dsfbrit]

What happens if the police stop you and want to see your passport in those 28 days.

I have a photocopy I carry around with me, but I always assume the police will want to see the original within a reasonable time scale - less than 28 days for sure.

[markg]

What happens if the police stop you and want to see your passport in those 28 days.

I have a photocopy I carry around with me, but I always assume the police will want to see the original within a reasonable time scale - less than 28 days for sure.

Its a good point mate but what can you do..................? Everyone's passports run out at some time or other, and i followed my embassy's guide lines - it was them that took 28 days. Like you, i also carry around a photocopy.

Thats the best you can do i reckon. I also have a Thai driving licence which could i suppose, help in some way.

[Couthy]

What happens if the police stop you and want to see your passport in those 28 days.

I have a photocopy I carry around with me, but I always assume the police will want to see the original within a reasonable time scale - less than 28 days for sure.

Its a good point mate but what can you do..................? Everyone's passports run out at some time or other, and i followed my embassy's guide lines - it was them that took 28 days. Like you, i also carry around a photocopy.

Thats the best you can do i reckon. I also have a Thai driving licence which could i suppose, help in some way.

For me was 2.5 weeks for replacement of Brit passport at Embassy in BKK.

They give you a receipt so no problems with the MIB.

Cheers,

Couthy.

[Noel]

Back in 2000, against all advice I phoned the British Embassy as my Passport was to expire some 7 months hence.

Remarkably, given what I expected, I was transferred to this beacon in the world of darkness known as the Consular Section.

I was so irritated at her helpfulness, sound advice and fulfilled promises to call me back when she said she would.

She told me what to expect, sent me the forms by post as she had said she would.

Within ten days of my first call, I received my old passport plus gleaming new one in the mail.

On receipt, I called her up and told her that she should be stuffed and mounted and put on a pedestal as an example to others.

For some reason, she slammed the phone down and to this day I have no idea as to why.

So much for compliments and giving credit where credit is due...

[markg]

Back in 2000, against all advice I phoned the British Embassy as my Passport was to expire some 7 months hence.

Remarkably, given what I expected, I was transferred to this beacon in the world of darkness known as the Consular Section.

I was so irritated at her helpfulness, sound advice and fulfilled promises to call me back when she said she would.

She told me what to expect, sent me the forms by post as she had said she would.

Within ten days of my first call, I received my old passport plus gleaming new one in the mail.

On receipt, I called her up and told her that she should be stuffed and mounted and put on a pedestal as an example to others.

For some reason, she slammed the phone down and to this day I have no idea as to why.

So much for compliments and giving credit where credit is due...

hehe I think it was the mention of the stuffing that irked her.!

I was also pleasantly surprised at the very quick reply to my email...........which was signed by them, "dont hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further assistance"

Nice one.

The passports take a little longer now cos they are these new stylee barometric ones.

Apparantly they can tell you what the weather is gonna do next week. It's only for Brits though.

[gmac]

Have no idea as am not British. Try this.

Please ring us on (02) 305 8333 for further information

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You have the patience of a Saint Lopburi3!

Yes you can post the application and get it back by EMS, but you must make 100% sure you have the correct documentation.........details of which are on the Emabssy website.

I have just received my new UK passport so heres what happened. Yes - you can indeed send it by EMS with a "postal order" from the Post Office for the sum specified on the UK embassy website plus 40 baht for EMS return if thats what you want - and i recommend that it is for safety.

However, mine took 28 days. (I got it back last week). I was worried so i emailed the embassy. They emailed me back the next day to say it had just been sent. Went to check my PO box and yeahhhhhhhh its arrived.

A good service all in all though it took longer than their stated time on their website.

Furthermore - the phone number on the website just rang out when i tried it.

Hope this helps.

Oh, one other thing. YOu can renew it up to 9 months before your old one expires AND they will add that 9 months on. So my new passport is actually valid for 10 years and 7 months - (i had 7 months left on the old one)

So thats a bonus eh?

M

Hi Lopburi

Have just had a look at the Brit Embassy website (thanks for the link) as my passport expires next year. How do I go about having my exisitng Visa transferred as this is clearly necessary from the following quote on the site?

"Your previous passport will be cancelled and returned to you. It is your responsibility to ensure that any valid visas are transferred into the new passport by Thai Immigration/the relevant Embassy."

[dantilley]

To get a new British passport takes about 2 weeks or so. In the interim, you will be given a receipt which should be adequate proof to any police officers that your new passport is on its way.

To get your visa transferred, just take both your old and your new passport to the immigration department and photocopy the photo page, current visa page and stamp page (if your stamp is on a different page to your visa) in your old passport; and photocopy your photo page in your new passport. Then, after filling in a form, you can get your new visa in your new passport after waiting about 5 minutes and paying no fee - well, except for the few Baht for the photocopies.

Edited October 31, 2006 by dantilley

[The Dude]

The Dude thinks that Neeranam should come to BKK in person and hang out for however long it takes to do the passport thing in person. This way he can have an awesome excuse to do some hanging down here with The Dude who can provide him with adequate shovels to dig the time spent hanging in the midst of all the BKK action. How bout that Neens?

[markg]

To get a new British passport takes about 2 weeks or so. In the interim, you will be given a receipt which should be adequate proof to any police officers that your new passport is on its way.

To get your visa transferred, just take both your old and your new passport to the immigration department and photocopy the photo page, current visa page and stamp page (if your stamp is on a different page to your visa) in your old passport; and photocopy your photo page in your new passport. Then, after filling in a form, you can get your new visa in your new passport after waiting about 5 minutes and paying no fee - well, except for the few Baht for the photocopies.

Dantilly - or anyone else, do you know if the swapping of visas can be done at ANY immigration or does it have to be the one where the stamps etc were initially done?

My extension to stay is in Songkhla but i work in Phuket. Anyone know if it would be a problem for me to get it done in Phuket?

[dantilley]

I got my visa transferred at Soi Suan Phlu in Bangkok but my entry stamp was from Don Muang airport, visa granted at the consulate in Penang. So that would seem to suggest that it makes no difference where the various bits and pieces were acquired, and any qualified immigration bureau can do the transfer. What I don't know is if the process is just as quick at the smaller provincial offices as it is at Suan Phlu...

[markg]

I got my visa transferred at Soi Suan Phlu in Bangkok but my entry stamp was from Don Muang airport, visa granted at the consulate in Penang. So that would seem to suggest that it makes no difference where the various bits and pieces were acquired, and any qualified immigration bureau can do the transfer. What I don't know is if the process is just as quick at the smaller provincial offices as it is at Suan Phlu...

I think i ll take a bimble down this week and update the board. The trouble with Phuket is that they are very quick to say it's another departments responsibility if they can get away with it. With Suan Phlu i guess the buck stops with them............

Will try to let others know how i get on.

[lungbing]

All countries other than the UK give a short letter stating that the new passport is genuine. When I went to have the various visa entries changed over to my new passport two years ago immigration wanted to see the original receipt from the UK Embassy for the new passport. It's only a scrappy piece of paper like a Tesco/Lotus receipt, but do keep it just in case they ask to see it.

The changeover of visas was free and took less than 10 minutes at Nong Khai.

But, unlike a previous poster when I renewed my passport a little early I lost the months from renewal date to the end of the validity of the old passport and the new passport was dated ten years from the date of application. They must have changed this routine since then.since.

[minimart]

A little tale of caution. When I renewed my British passport last year I requested on the application form (in a section specifically for this purpose)that the new passport be sent to my Bangkok office and not where I live in Khon Kaen (my home address). Upon returning to Khon Kaen for the weekend there was my spanking new passport package in my front garden because the package was too big to go in my mail box. Luckily it hadn't rained that week!

If you do request your passport be sent to a different address to your home address please check that they haven't ballsed it up and sent it to your home.