A friend has experienced serious attempt at ID theft.

He has detected it and dealt with it prior to any significant loss.

As a result he plans to change his name and have the Embassy issue a new passport

Will he have any problems getting his current visa stamp transferred to the new passport?

What will he need from the embassy to smooth the way?

Edited August 20, 201015 yr by somchai69

He won't have any problem transfering his visa to the new passport.

He'll need a letter from his embassy stating the fact that he's changed his name from x to y.

He should also be in possession of the sworn affidavit with which he had his name

changed.

The visa cannot be transferred but the permission to stay can. For information about the difference between the two, see here:

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/content/visaxpiredate.html

I think his position would be similar to that referred to in the final Q & A here: http://www.mfa.go.th...482.php?id=2649 The only difference being his Passport is not lost, just replaced.

Totonjoy, it's a completely different case. The passport with the visa or extention is still in his hands, he can show it. However, he has changed his name, and that is what the question is about.

My understanding if a US passport holder he can only change his name in the USA not in a foreign country therefore he can not get a new passport at the embassy.

Totonjoy, it's a completely different case. The passport with the visa or extention is still in his hands, he can show it. However, he has changed his name, and that is what the question is about.

Sorry, I read the question as being about a transfer of visa to a new passport. In this case, the circumstances requiring a transfer are a change of name, causing secondary issues on that particular point.

At this point we cannot be sure what the OP meant with "his current visa stamp". A lot of people say "visa" when they really mean "permission to stay". It would be useful if he posted a scanned copy of the stamp he is referring to. I have a feeling that if he really meant "visa" he would have indicated the visa type, eg "multiple entry non-immigrant visa O" or whatever type of unexpired visa he has.

At this point we cannot be sure what the OP meant with "his current visa stamp". A lot of people say "visa" when they really mean "permission to stay". It would be useful if he posted a scanned copy of the stamp he is referring to. I have a feeling that if he really meant "visa" he would have indicated the visa type, eg "multiple entry non-immigrant visa O" or whatever type of unexpired visa he has.

Of course, you can argue that a visa is just a suggestion to the immigration officer to let you enter the country. Most people will understand it as a permission to stay for a period of time. If the visa expires, in most countries it will be extended. Not so in Thailand: The visa will expire, but you will get an extention of stay. It doesn't make any difference.

The OP stated that the name was changed, and can the visa/extention/permission or any other fancy word for the same stamp that allows him to stay, be transferred to the new passport. Common sense says it can, with a copy of the name-change certificate. His question is about Thai reality, if I understand him correctly. Does anybody have experience to share?