Canadian Passport Expiring And Needed A Tourist Visa To Tie Me Over?

[shanman]

Hi All....

My problem might be fairly unique since I have had a couple of Non-Im B's here in Thailand and now my Passport is about to expire. I can get the paperwork together for another Non-Im B but I have been told that a Visa can only follow the validity of your Passport. dam_n Canada with only 5 year passports!!

I talked to the Canadian Consulate (in Bangkok) and they said it would take around 4 weeks to get my new passport. For anyone that has the expertise to help I have all the following details:

My last non-im B (From KL) ran out July 1st 2009

I did a Ranong run just before and sqeezed the extra 90 days out of it.

I have done one Ranong 15 day Visa Exemption that expires on Oct. 4, 2009

My Passport expires on Dec. 07, 2009

I need to know if I will have any problems in Penang OR KL if I head there On Sunday the 4th and apply on Monday for a Tourist Visa that will keep me in Thailand long enough to renew my passport and start all over again with the Non-Im B application etc. My concern is that they might give me grief due to my Passport expiring so quickly. Obviously I can't send my passport away if I keep doing the 15 day Visa Exemptions due to a lack of time and penalties.

Am I safer heading to KL as opposed to Penang based on this scenario?

Is there a better place within reason (eg. China) that doesn't have to send my passport all the way back to Canada for a renewal? That would shorten the time frame and I had still planned on visiting there at some point. I heard that they have a large Canadian Embassy in Shanghai???

Thanks very much in advance for any information that you can give me. If the information has been covered in the past then I apologize but I didn't see it along with the fact that the rules change almost weekly :-)

Shanman

[gotlost]

Sorry mate you are up the s--t creek. Pay the over stay or go back to Canada. All countries require 6 months on passport for visa. You lucked out once don't push it.

[shanman]

Sorry mate you are up the s--t creek. Pay the over stay or go back to Canada. All countries require 6 months on passport for visa. You lucked out once don't push it.

Hi, well I hope I haven't pushed it too much already that's for sure.

What is the possibility of an same day OR overnighter to KL or Penang VIA plane. Will I have any problem landing there, not applying for a VISA and then flying back into Thailand to get a 30 Day Exemption with my Passport expiring when it does?

If they will allow me by air into Malaysia then the 30 days may be tight but should be enough time to apply for and receive the new passport. I see that my past KL stamps say that I am allowed 90 days when I just show up in KL without any VISA.

Thanks gotlost and also to anyone that can lead me in the right direction.

Shanman

[beechguy]

Do you have to surrender your passport while waiting on the new passport? For a U.S. Passport application at an embassy, we show our passport at the time of application, but then retain it in our possesion until the new one arrives. Would it be possible to apply for the new passport, get a receipt, and present that along with the visa application if the current passport expiration date becomes an issue?

[sunspun]

I was once in a similar situation. You do have to surrender your passport, but they said it would only take 2-3 weeks (no more) to get the new one sent to you from Canada, and this was right in the middle of the backlog due to the policy change about entering America with a passport rather than only ID. They knew my situation at the Embassy and assured me it was ok. I did a border run (30 days at that time) and sent my passport away the next day. no problem. I am not sure if you go to the embassy in Bangkok if they would let you keep your old passport or not? worth looking into if you want to do it in person.

or perhaps you want to take a vacation in malaysia for a few weeks and do it through the embassy there? there is also a high commission in singapore - would they need to send your passport away or could they make it there (like what you mentioned about shanghai...i didn't know they could do that)?

good luck. I know this situation sucks!

[bjhabal]

You can keep your old passport with you during the process of the new passport if you are planing to travel, and the new passport will take 15 working days (three weeks), but it might be ready couple of days before, you just have to check with the embassy few days earlier.

Good luck

Bishop

[shanman]

Hi Everyone...

I appreciate all of your input. I will look into the possibility of me keeping my passport by presenting it in person and picking it up in person. It would work out the best for me instead of taking the risk for an overstay if I have to surrender my passport.

Take care and again, I appreciate all of your input.

Best Regards, Shanman