Passport Get Hold By Embassy

[Mrjlh]

Just a thought....could it be that everyone is forgetting one thing? Their request fell at the same time Thais started celebrating H.R.M.'s birthday. The consulate does hire Thais and they do observe Thai holidays. So I think things are just running slow due to staffing. Most government offices are closed too including the post office. Plus throw in "Thanksgiving" four day holiday for an added bonus.

Edited December 5, 2009 by Mrjlh

[Maestro]

Mrjlh, please look at a calendar. The application for addition of passport pages was made on November 25. This procedure is usually completed while you wait, for example within one hour. Therefore, a Thai public holiday on December 7 can have absolutely nothing to do with a delay of 10 days, wouldn’t you agree?

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Maestro

[Mrjlh]

Mrjlh, please look at a calendar. The application for addition of passport pages was made on November 25. This procedure is usually completed while you wait, for example within one hour. Therefore, a Thai public holiday on December 7 can have absolutely nothing to do with a delay of 10 days, wouldn't you agree?

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Maestro

Look again....the US Embassy....Thanksgiving week end? Nov 26, 27, 28, 29th? Then carry's over to the Thai Holidays. What time did they get to the Embassy? If in the afternoon forget it.

I think they are very good about servicing us some times but we sometimes forget...we're in Thailand! Not the same as home. I simply pointing out timing with the holiday's might be at play here...nothing else.

[Maestro]

It is customary for consulates and embassies to observe the public holidays of both the home country and the host country, in this case US and Thai holidays. So if there is a Thai public holiday on December 7 and there were US public holidays on November 26, 27, 28 and 29 ( a lot of thanks to give), how many working days does that leave for a job, ie adding passport pages, that is normally completed within one hour and certainly without sending the applicant home without his passport? Would you agree that five working days is about right?

I am not trying to get into an argument with you about this, just would like to make sure I understand the calendar correctly.

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Maestro

[sbk]

Adding pages to a passport takes an hour or two at the most. The US embassy would have been closed on US public holidays. So the embassy would have been closed the 26th and 27th (thursday and friday) and embassy staff would have been well aware of this fact. They do not just issue new passports, application must be made. It does not take days to add pages, it takes an hour. The passport is being held by the embassy for some other reason that is probably not being made clear to you since its not your passport.

[ericthai]

Not sure what the problem may be, Dont think the hoildays have anything to do with the holding of the passport at first, it might come into play now that it's being held during this period. I know I had pages added bangkok about 9 years ago only took about 2 hours. The wait for service was longer than waiting for the pages to be added. I also had pages added in Vietnam and that took less than 1 hour. So they must be checking on something.

I know one of my friends went to get pages added and same thing they kept his passport, they had it for about 2 weeks ended up that someone with the same name has is was on a list, they needed that time to check it out to make sure it was not him.

Hope this is the same for your husband.

Good Luck!!!!

[santababe]

yeah, it is not about holiday which at first I thought so. As the rest of people get their passport back in a few hours.

only hope that it is mistaken like others I read on many site. If the name or anything even close by they will take it to make sure it is not the same person.

I hope it is the same ...

[whatchamacallit]

The delay is NOT because they're issuing the OP's husband a new E-Passport (as the OP's husband did not request for a new passport) or because of the holidays (American's or Thai's). They would have told him there and then if there would be a delay because of the holidays - Adding pages to US Passport only take an hour or two the most.

Most likely because they're doing background investigation - this is why the lady at the counter told her "I don't Know" - which I belive is the truth as the Investigation is usually done by a different department of the US Embassy. However as Maestro said you still have the right to know where, what happened, and when your passport is going to be returned?? Calling the right person at the Embassy or better yet do it in writing is best.

Edited December 6, 2009 by whatchamacallit

[sbk]

Well, your husband has the right to know, you do not. It is his passport and he is the one that needs to be proactive in getting it back.

[whatchamacallit]

Well, your husband has the right to know, you do not. It is his passport and he is the one that needs to be proactive in getting it back.

true BTW where is he in all of this??

[santababe]

yes, he is the one doing all that. I am just worried and want to share some information. we contacts a person at embassy who is holding his passport everyday and the same as I said

"They dont know anything only waiting for more details and cant tell us anything right now"

this is Embassy administrator guy said to us (i prefer not to mention the name here)

so, I am waiting on tuesday.. hopefully good news.. it has been too long now..

p.s the other case I read before was on

/www.ajarnforum.net/vb/paperwork/385...onfiscated.html

this was the same situation I am right now and I hope I got the same result as him

Edited December 6, 2009 by sbk
no direct URL to other forums-sbk

[Ayutthaya69]

The passport is not lost and a police report would be a serious mistake in my opinion (as in a false report). The passport belongs to the US Government and they have every right to hold it. If he has a police problem all he needs to do is inform them it is at the Embassy and the police will contact them.

yes your right lopburi if people report passport stolen its not its a serious offense and afeter to applie for a new one its verry complicated

[hansnl]

The passport is not lost and a police report would be a serious mistake in my opinion (as in a false report). The passport belongs to the US Government and they have every right to hold it. If he has a police problem all he needs to do is inform them it is at the Embassy and the police will contact them.

Indeed, all passports belong to the issuing state.

But, what country takes the passport away from you when you are abroad?

In fact making you an illegal in the country where you are at that moment.

And not offering an explanation, or in this case, playing dumb, seems to me quite stupuid.

Making a report to the local police that your passport is in the process of renewal or being upgraded by your own country's officials might be a good idea, however, I seem to have read somewhere that the same officials need to give you a receipt for the passport.

I just wonder if under international law, it is permitted for a country to withhold a passport from one of its subjects or citizens without giving an explanation, or giving a recognised receipt, or temporary papers to travel back to your country.

On ThaiVisa I have read something like this before, and that man had to return to the US, indeed for outstanding child benefit or even payments to the ex.

[santababe]

thanks all for the suggestions this is the "Husband" to answer some of the questions and address some of the comments

I was in the embassy at about 1pm and at about 1:50pm an American worker called me and said it would not be able to be completed today, i requested the passport back, he informed that it was being processed and that when it was ready he would call me. It was and is during a dual holiday time so at that time i chalked it up to that.

After the weekend i called no not finished ......i then sent my wife on the following day with power of attorney no still being processed. I called my Ex in USA and talked to her she was not aware of any action and further not pleased about the situation. All legal action had been discharged against me at the time that i left USA which was almost 7 years ago ...no pending tax debt...no probation, ect.

I maintain an address in USA in my home state any mail or information is forwarded here and to date i not received anything that matches a reason for them to take it.

I have been legal here in Thailand with either work permits or Visa during my entire time and never been in trouble here. I asked the contact on the phone point blank are you confiscating the passport? "no" pending case" is there anyone else i can talk to or anyway i can help " no it is being processed and as soon as it is finished i will get the passport back to you" So i quess the best idea that anyone came up with is the registered letter paper trail.

A possibility i supppose is that i added pages before and that it was full and to compound the passport says that i am married which now i am divorced. My wife here is not legally registered in USA. Thanks again for the input

Edited December 6, 2009 by santababe

[lopburi3]

It could be you have the same name as someone else - that happens often - as many travelers can attest. In that case it would take time to investigate and determine you are not the "john doe" that they are looking for.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

There have been several recent cases at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, where the embassy is holding passports. The embassy staff won't tell you why it's being held. Apparently it is due to similarities between the passport holder's name and someone who is on Homeland Security's terror watch list. If you have sought a replacement passport in the past, you will often end up on the watch list.

Call the embassy every day until the passport is returned. You have to get the embassy to contact Homeland Security in the U.S. and clear the hold on your passport. Not much else you can do, but light a fire under the embassy, so that they put the pressure on Homeland Security.

[sbk]

I met a guy at the Embassy who had pages added two or three times, his passport was as thick as a book. It seems more likely your passport is being held because you bear some similarity (name, etc) to someone of interest. I think its quite bad they don't tell people what is up tho.

[santababe]

Yes i have also heard of guys with really thick passports but after doing some reading on embassy and passport websites it seems that there is a limit

You may only add pages x2 and the amount of pages cannot be more than the passport issued to you allows

There are 45 page page passports and 92 page passports and the later is no longer be issued

As they don't tell you what type you have unless you ask you would not know

I also know they are trying to get as many of the old un-chipped passports out of circulation as they can

I hope that it is just a name mix up with homeland or some identity problem which is a possibility as my Ex was/is a Mexican national ...

Legal though but my name and access to most of information could be available for use by other "illegal family or friends"

Hopeful that this gets resolved as i need to get to Thai Embassy to process my Visa and the overstay fee is getting high

[jazzbo]

It seems more likely your passport is being held because you bear some similarity (name, etc) to someone of interest. Yes. But is more complex than that. I have a 'Joe Smith' kind of name and for many years have traveled and lived outside the USA. I am a confirmed member of the 'Watch List' which is below the No-Fly list. I cannot check in for any international or domestic flight in the USA using the automated kiosk. I contacted Homeland Security several years ago and was told that there is no way for me to be removed from the list.

What most likely has happened is that a 'Profile' has been triggered which could have a hundred or more variables. The last time I was held at Dulles / Washington DC Airport I was told that in fact they WERE looking for someone specific who lived in my home state. Most likely this will all turn out well for the OP but it is extremely frustrating; the flip side is that at least you know that SOMEBODY is keeping an eye on these things.

[ericthai]

Yes i have also heard of guys with really thick passports but after doing some reading on embassy and passport websites it seems that there is a limit

You may only add pages x2 and the amount of pages cannot be more than the passport issued to you allows

There are 45 page page passports and 92 page passports and the later is no longer be issued

As they don't tell you what type you have unless you ask you would not know

I also know they are trying to get as many of the old un-chipped passports out of circulation as they can

I hope that it is just a name mix up with homeland or some identity problem which is a possibility as my Ex was/is a Mexican national ...

Legal though but my name and access to most of information could be available for use by other "illegal family or friends"

Hopeful that this gets resolved as i need to get to Thai Embassy to process my Visa and the overstay fee is getting high

I dont believe the add 2x is correct my old passport I had pages added 3 times. My new passport I requested the more pages when issues and should be ok as Im not traveling as much as I did before. So what do they do if you need more pages than 2x you are not allot to travel anymore? does not make sense. Like I said I had pages added 3 times and no issues, the last time was about three years ago.

[powderpuff]

Who is gonna pay the overstay? you or them? Your mistake was in dealing with the underlings & not DEMANDING a meeting with the Consul General. The Marines would have had to escort me off the premises because I would have pitched a fit.

[whatchamacallit]

Who is gonna pay the overstay? you or them? Your mistake was in dealing with the underlings & not DEMANDING a meeting with the Consul General. The Marines would have had to escort me off the premises because I would have pitched a fit.

A friend of mine (German national) was pulled out of a crowd while going thru Immigration at Guam International Airport for a friendly Q and A: Where are you going? How long are you going to be here?, What's the purpose of your trip? etc etc. Mind you, this is a random routine check that they've been doing at most American airports - I myself have been pulled from lines and have all my luggage checked several times. My friend became impatient and irate and started giving them rude and snooty answers - guess what? He was taken to an interrogation room, stripped searched and remained in detention for 1 full day before he was released the following morning. So you don't DEMAND anything from the Embassy - you ask nicely or you'll get nothing!! And when the Marines come to escort you, you may be surprised when you start heading deeper into the Embassy and NOT heading out.

Edited December 7, 2009 by whatchamacallit

[santababe]

I know... :'(

I hope they would issue paper after return passport (hopefully nothing go wrong) so I can show the paper to Immigration or else the overstay payment is gonna hurt me :'(

[santababe]

Just called .. said call back at 11am .....

[santababe]

just got the phone called the woman at window said " it is ready and the page been added" ????

i'll gonna pick it up and asked what was wrong. I also gonna try to ask about overstay if they can issue me any paper..

will keep updating

[jazzbo]

I'm gonna pick it up and ask what was wrong Don't be surprised if the answer from the Embassy is "No Comment". Stay tuned.

[santababe]

well got the passport now after 10 days .....pages added no other changes..... after i was physically holding the passport i asked what was the problem why it took so long and from American staff got an " couldn't tell you" ...you couldn't or don't want to? i just really don't know. I asked if they can provide a paper stating that they have been holding my passport for the last 10 days she woman repelied let me see give the the passport!! lol i was told no thanks i will keep it and pay i don't want to take a chance again lol

So got it no idea why or what the problem was but what a nightmare!

[santababe]

off to Laos Embassy to get my non B Visa today and of course another darn holiday! so stuck there for a bit

[whatchamacallit]

Congratulations!! Just pay your overstay and enjoy Laos - it's better than staying in the monkey house.... and try to stay out of trouble guys!!!

[Maestro]

…i asked what was the problem why it took so long and from American staff got an " couldn't tell you" ...you couldn't or don't want to? i just really don't know…

If it is important for you to know the reason you will have to ask in writing and request a written reply. If the consulate is not authorised to tell you, you will have to go to a higher level. Somebody knowledgeable about how this works in the USA may be able to give you information about the procedure. I believe the USA has something like a Freedom of Information Act.

I remember a thread in this forum where a member mentioned that once you are on a US watch list it is not easy to get off it. This could mean that although this particular episode ended without too much inconvenience and limited financial expense you may have delays again in the future in getting processed by US consular and immigration officials, hopefully not also by immigration officials of other countries.

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Maestro