Additional Pages To Us Passport In Vientiane

[Farfetched]

I just returned from a Visa run to Vientiane, where I was informed that I did not have 2 blank pages in my passport. Pages must have the word "Visa" printed on the top center of teh page. I went to the American Embassy where I was told they only perform that service in the afternoon, after Thai immigrations closes for passport processing. After a discussion with a rather heated discussion with Embassy personel, I was informed that as many as 20 people come there for the same service and all are rejected until after 1:00 PM, it is the "regulation".

My wife and I returned to the THai EMbassy to see if it would be possible to come back after 1:00 PM to process the Non-Immigration "B" Visa application. After a very brief discussion between my wife aqnd teh staff, they allowed processing even though I only had obe valid "Visa" page in my Passport. Thank you to the Thai Embassy for taking care of me, and the American Embassy......

I also noted that they were rejecting Tourist Visas for those who have hade 6 or more in a row.

[lopburi3]

Your Embassy actually provides a service to add pages and same day service - believe a lot of travelers would consider that good.

Interesting to hear a figure on consecutive tourist visas. I suspect your wife found this out in talking with Consulate? Or other source? There is keen interest on forum for details on this policy.

[Danger]

I wonder how many Americans apply for visas there each day and what percentage of those Americans have pages left, but not enough proper pages such that they immediatly head over to the US embassy. Twenty per day? Hmmm....

Still, I agree it would be nice if they made it more convenient. Maybe when they start charging 80 dollars or whatever it is they will do it in the morning!

[keeniau96]

USA passport page additions are for free. Two such additions can be made (both free) but after that must get new passport.

[tropo]

USA passport page additions are for free. Two such additions can be made (both free) but after that must get new passport.

Americans are fortunate to have such a service.

Australians, New Zealanders and Filipinos can't have pages added and would need a new passport. In the case of a Filipino it would take 30 days. It takes 10 days for a new Australian passport out of Bangkok and longer for a New Zealander who can only apply through Wellington via registered mail and it requires an endorsement by a person who knows the applicant in New Zealand.

We should be so lucky.

[Danger]

USA passport page additions are for free. Two such additions can be made (both free) but after that must get new passport.

Not for much longer......

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Who knows, State might just back off that $82 "proposed" fee for additional pages if they get enough complaints.

Mac

Regulations.gov

Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates

Document ID:

DOS-2010-0035-0001

Document Type: PROPOSED RULES

Docket ID:

DOS-2010-0035

Topics:

Consular Services, Fees, Passports and Visas

Additional Passport Visa Pages

In the past, the Department provided extra pages in a customer's

passport, to which foreign countries' visas may then be affixed, at no

charge. The CoSS found that the cost of the pages themselves, of having

the pages placed in the book in a secure manner by trained personnel,

and of completing the required security checks results in a cost to the

U.S. Government of $82.48 based on a projected FY10 workload of

218,000. Therefore, the Department will charge $82 for this service.

[Farfetched]

I wonder how many Americans apply for visas there each day and what percentage of those Americans have pages left, but not enough proper pages such that they immediatly head over to the US embassy. Twenty per day? Hmmm....

Still, I agree it would be nice if they made it more convenient. Maybe when they start charging 80 dollars or whatever it is they will do it in the morning!

Sorry if I was missleading, it is not 20 every day, but as many as twenty a day in the past. I know of 4 others who were there for the same reason on Thursday morning.

As for the 7 consecutive Tourist Visa's, I found that out the hard way back in April when I went for a new Tourist Visa. That same day, several others were granted Tourist Visa's who has in excess of 7 tourist Visas.I think allot depends on the clerk you hand your paper to at the window.

[kurtmartens]

Actually can have additional pages add three times - I am on my third now - as long as the passport is in "good" condition. And you can also request a second travel passport that is good for two years, in additional to your primary passport. Thus ensuring you always have enough pages. The second passport can be issued for a couple of reasons, frequent business travel, frequent trips to Israel and work in the Middle East, etc. I have a second one since I work in alot of countries that require visas and it can tie up my passport for several days. The Embassy here in Bangkok approved it within a day and was issued in two weeks.