British Passport Renewal

[brewsterbudgen]

Having read the threads here that described an efficient renewal process for UK passports, despite having to apply via Hong Kong, I sent my renewal application off with great confidence. The lady at the DHL stand at Emporium was very efficient and they have everything set up nicely there. I paid my 962 baht for both inbound and outbound DHL, and went off clutching my receipt and tracking number.

I was able to check that my application was received in HK a day later (17 September). A week later I received an email from a Mr ****** of the Consulate General's office with a query about my application, asking if I could fax a copy of my certificate of registration and I replied that I couldn't as it was in the UK, but as this was my 5th passport since 1968 I assumed they had all the information they required on file. I received no reply, but my credit card was debited with the renewal fee.

Despite two chasing emails from me, I have heard nothing more from HK and the DHL tracking number is always "not found". I now need to do my 90-day report, I also want to get a re-entry permit for Christmas and soon my employer will need to renew my annual extension of stay. Presumably in the absence of my new passport, I have no choice but to use my existing passport, although I remember reading somewhere that it is cancelled as soon as HK receive the renewal application.

What is frustrating me is the difficulty in finding out what is delaying my application. My emails are unanswered, despite HK initiating the correspondence. There is a helpline number but it is based in the UK and charges 69 pence a minute, plus the international call costs. I'm loathe to call it as I begrudge paying UK premium rate call costs plus the international costs, because my government in its infinite wisdom has decided to move passport renewals to HK, presumably to save their costs. I have emailed the Embassy in Bangkok, asking for advice on continuing to use my old passport but haven't yet received a reply.

Should I just go on waiting, bite the bullet and call the helpline (or maybe call the HK Consulate) or does anyone have any other suggestions?

[lopburi3]

Believe it is OK to use passport within Thailand for ID and such but not for travel.

I would be making some calls at this point as don't believe the change for passport means much - that is likely for application regardless of issue or not.

[ljerams]

I would be inclined to ring or better still go to the Embassy in Bangkok and ask for their help. They are usually pretty good at sorting things out especially if it is urgent.

[LindsayBKK]

My Australian Passport was done in 10 working days, from here in Bangkok.

When I went to get a passport photo done in Sathorn rd (had one but the Embassy rejected it of course)

an Irish guy was there and he told me his Passport would take 6-10 weeks!

He was surprised to hear mine would be 10 days.

[puchooay]

Indeed there seem to be some contrasting stories about sending passport renewals to Hong Kong and the services received.

There also seem to be contrasting stories about procedures. The OP states that he sent his via a DHL outlet. Here are a few questions that I have asked expats recently and have different answers. Anybody have recent first hand knowledge? I need to send mine at end November.

Can you send renewal application via Embassy in Bangkok?

Ans 1: No. That stopped on 10th August.

Ans 2. Yes. I took mine to the embassy 2 weeks ago.

I have a card issued by Bangkok Bank with a "visa" symbol on it. Can I use that to pay?

Ans 1. Yes. I used mine. No problem.

Ans 2. No. It must be a Credit card.

Do you have to send the old passport?

Yes.

No. Just a copy of the data page.

Is it a good and easy service?

Yes. Got mine back in 7 days.

No.(reference OP).

Seems TIT syndrome has spilled over to the British Emabssy.

Any thoughts would be gratefully recieved.

Thanks

[brewsterbudgen]

Indeed there seem to be some contrasting stories about sending passport renewals to Hong Kong and the services received.

There also seem to be contrasting stories about procedures. The OP states that he sent his via a DHL outlet. Here are a few questions that I have asked expats recently and have different answers. Anybody have recent first hand knowledge? I need to send mine at end November.

Can you send renewal application via Embassy in Bangkok?

Ans 1: No. That stopped on 10th August.

Ans 2. Yes. I took mine to the embassy 2 weeks ago.

I have a card issued by Bangkok Bank with a "visa" symbol on it. Can I use that to pay?

Ans 1. Yes. I used mine. No problem.

Ans 2. No. It must be a Credit card.

Do you have to send the old passport?

Yes.

No. Just a copy of the data page.

Is it a good and easy service?

Yes. Got mine back in 7 days.

No.(reference OP).

Seems TIT syndrome has spilled over to the British Emabssy.

Any thoughts would be gratefully recieved.

Thanks

Although, as the OP, I would be more confident in answering these questions if I'd safely received my passport, I can confirm that:

Can you send renewal application via Embassy in Bangkok?

No, you cannot use the Embassy in BKK for passport renewals, you have to send it to Hong Kong yourself. BKK will now only deal with replacing lost or destroyed passports.

I have a card issued by Bangkok Bank with a "visa" symbol on it. Can I use that to pay?

You can use any VISA/Mastercard to pay as long as it's a credit card (i.e. not a debit card).

Do you have to send the old passport?

No, you just send a photocopy of the details page.

Is it a good and easy service?

No, it's not proving quick or easy for me!

[ljerams]

As I said earlier 'ring or go to the Embassy in Bangkok and ask them to help.

[prodriver]

As the OP has waited 5 weeks or more to get his new passport from Hong Kong and cannot get any joy from them to confirm that it has been issued, perhaps he could now consider it "lost" and can indeed deal with the Embassy in Bangkok as they will deal with replacing lost or destroyed passports:rolleyes:

[Crossy]

I agree with the above sentiments that the embassy should be your next port of call with all the paperwork you have.

[brewsterbudgen]

As the OP has waited 5 weeks or more to get his new passport from Hong Kong and cannot get any joy from them to confirm that it has been issued, perhaps he could now consider it "lost" and can indeed deal with the Embassy in Bangkok as they will deal with replacing lost or destroyed passports:rolleyes:

I like this. I'll pop round to the Embassy next week and see how far I get.

Cheers!

[Rooo]

Some suggestions:

Food for thought re the above thread:

1. Anyone going to a secure environment (ie visiting their Embassy regardless of nationality) will avoid any probs at the gate if they have the phone number/extn of the person they’re visiting in their mobile phone…& perhaps an email chain showing proof of appointment.

2. Entering credit card details from 3^rd parties (ie a friend or family member of someone needing a new passport) is surely a better/cheaper option than flying to Bkk to pay in person. The appropriate authorities realize not all expats have credit cards.

3. Complaints: http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/contact-us

4. Passport Info: http://help4brits.org/passport.html http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports

Info supplied.

[brewsterbudgen]

Some suggestions:

Food for thought re the above thread:

1. Anyone going to a secure environment (ie visiting their Embassy regardless of nationality) will avoid any probs at the gate if they have the phone number/extn of the person they’re visiting in their mobile phone…& perhaps an email chain showing proof of appointment.

2. Entering credit card details from 3^rd parties (ie a friend or family member of someone needing a new passport) is surely a better/cheaper option than flying to Bkk to pay in person. The appropriate authorities realize not all expats have credit cards.

3. Complaints: http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/contact-us

4. Passport Info: http://help4brits.org/passport.html http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports

Info supplied.

Thanks for the links.

This so called "customer care" makes me angry:

For general passport enquiries or to track the progress of your application please ring Careline on +44 208 082 4744 between 0730hrs & 1530hrs local time Mon-Fri.

Why should ex-pats in Thailand have to be a UK Premium rate charge (69 pence a minute) plus the international calling costs, to discuss a passport query with someone in Hong Kong (at least I assume the person is in Hong Kong, they might be in India or Bangladesh or Bradford for all I know)?

[Digitalbanana]

>asking if I could fax a copy of my certificate of registration

Registration of what?

Just curious as I need to apply next yr.

[gmac]

Some suggestions:

Food for thought re the above thread:

1. Anyone going to a secure environment (ie visiting their Embassy regardless of nationality) will avoid any probs at the gate if they have the phone number/extn of the person they’re visiting in their mobile phone…& perhaps an email chain showing proof of appointment.

2. Entering credit card details from 3^rd parties (ie a friend or family member of someone needing a new passport) is surely a better/cheaper option than flying to Bkk to pay in person. The appropriate authorities realize not all expats have credit cards.

3. Complaints: http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/contact-us

4. Passport Info: http://help4brits.org/passport.html http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports

Info supplied.

Thanks for the links.

This so called "customer care" makes me angry:

For general passport enquiries or to track the progress of your application please ring Careline on +44 208 082 4744 between 0730hrs & 1530hrs local time Mon-Fri.

Why should ex-pats in Thailand have to be a UK Premium rate charge (69 pence a minute) plus the international calling costs, to discuss a passport query with someone in Hong Kong (at least I assume the person is in Hong Kong, they might be in India or Bangladesh or Bradford for all I know)?

Don't mean to doubt you, and I certainly agree that it is scandalous for the ex-pat to have to pay for the failings of the British Embassy, but are you sure that the number is premium rate? It was a few years ago now but, when I left the UK, the standard dialling code for outer London numbers was 0208 followed by 7 digits which seems to tally with the number you quote and would presumably not be premium rate. Just a thought, and you may well know better, but I thought worth a mention.

[brewsterbudgen]

Some suggestions:

Food for thought re the above thread:

1. Anyone going to a secure environment (ie visiting their Embassy regardless of nationality) will avoid any probs at the gate if they have the phone number/extn of the person they’re visiting in their mobile phone…& perhaps an email chain showing proof of appointment.

2. Entering credit card details from 3^rd parties (ie a friend or family member of someone needing a new passport) is surely a better/cheaper option than flying to Bkk to pay in person. The appropriate authorities realize not all expats have credit cards.

3. Complaints: http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/contact-us

4. Passport Info: http://help4brits.org/passport.html http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports

Info supplied.

Thanks for the links.

This so called "customer care" makes me angry:

For general passport enquiries or to track the progress of your application please ring Careline on +44 208 082 4744 between 0730hrs & 1530hrs local time Mon-Fri.

Why should ex-pats in Thailand have to be a UK Premium rate charge (69 pence a minute) plus the international calling costs, to discuss a passport query with someone in Hong Kong (at least I assume the person is in Hong Kong, they might be in India or Bangladesh or Bradford for all I know)?

Don't mean to doubt you, and I certainly agree that it is scandalous for the ex-pat to have to pay for the failings of the British Embassy, but are you sure that the number is premium rate? It was a few years ago now but, when I left the UK, the standard dialling code for outer London numbers was 0208 followed by 7 digits which seems to tally with the number you quote and would presumably not be premium rate. Just a thought, and you may well know better, but I thought worth a mention.

You may be right, but the website states that calls are charged at 69 pence a minute plus the international calling costs.

[brewsterbudgen]

>asking if I could fax a copy of my certificate of registration

Registration of what?

Just curious as I need to apply next yr.

I was born in Zimbabwe, so the document is the one that registered me as a British citizen in 1968. If you were born in the UK you won't need it.

[brewsterbudgen]

My passport finally arrived today. Lessons learnt:

1. 4 weeks is optimistic. My renewal took just over 6 weeks.

2. Communicating with the Hong Kong Consulate, in the event of a problem, is difficult. Despite them emailing me with a query, none of my subsequent emails were acknowledged let alone replied to. Seems they want to push you into using their Premium Rate "Careline".

3. Unlike Hong Kong, the British Embassy in Bangkok did reply to my email, checked the situation regarding my passport renewal with Hong Kong and re-assured me that it was "on its way".

My Extension of Stay is due for renewal on 30 November. Presumably I can just present both old and new passports when I do the renewal (in a few weeks)?

[Digitalbanana]

>If you were born in the UK you won't need it.

Thanks for the clarification.

>My Extension of Stay is due for renewal on 30 November. Presumably I can just present both old and new passports when I do the renewal (in a few weeks)?

My experience is that the old passport should be cut off on the corner to show immigration it is no longer valid and your existing extension of stay entries transferred to new passport (free service by immigration). You can do this and get a renewal at same time albeit at different counters.

[Kwasaki]

>If you were born in the UK you won't need it.

Thanks for the clarification.

>My Extension of Stay is due for renewal on 30 November. Presumably I can just present both old and new passports when I do the renewal (in a few weeks)?

My experience is that the old passport should be cut off on the corner to show immigration it is no longer valid and your existing extension of stay entries transferred to new passport (free service by immigration). You can do this and get a renewal at same time albeit at different counters.

Don't cut the corner off until you have had it transfered first otherwise it could be seen as you have cancelled your visa in the old passport as well.

They do it free of charge my passport in March this year took 16 days and l paid by UK credit card which is charged at Hongkong dollar rate at the time.

lf anybody wants to know more PM me if l can help l will.:jap:

[Digitalbanana]

Don't cut the corner off until you have had it transfered first otherwise it could be seen as you have cancelled your visa in the old passport as well.

They do it free of charge my passport in March this year

Sorry but I believe you are wrong. In any case get a pair of scissors to cut the pp at immigration if you don't cut the corner off beforehand - as I had not done. I did my new pp immigration stamp transfer in May this year. When I took the old pp with the new pp to immigration (CW) they wouldn't transfer immigration stamps since they said the old pp had no evidence of being canceled. Walk away, cut the corner off and come back, problem solved. (The embassy even told me to do such over phone at time). Don't cut the relevant Thai immigration stamps off if you can help it, just the passport corner.

[digitalchromakey]

Don't cut the corner off until you have had it transfered first otherwise it could be seen as you have cancelled your visa in the old passport as well.

They do it free of charge my passport in March this year

Sorry but I believe you are wrong. In any case get a pair of scissors to cut the pp at immigration if you don't cut the corner off beforehand - as I had not done. I did my new pp immigration stamp transfer in May this year. When I took the old pp with the new pp to immigration (CW) they wouldn't transfer immigration stamps since they said the old pp had no evidence of being canceled. Walk away, cut the corner off and come back, problem solved. (The embassy even told me to do such over phone at time). Don't cut the relevant Thai immigration stamps off if you can help it, just the passport corner.

When the British FCO issued me with a new passport in 2004, they folded in any pages with valid stamps/visas before cutting the corners off the remaining passport; the key pages were thus still intact and remained valid.

I think that the only page that actually needs a corner cut off is the ID page in the old passport, for sure do not cut the corners on any pages with valid visas/stamps.

[brewsterbudgen]

Don't cut the corner off until you have had it transfered first otherwise it could be seen as you have cancelled your visa in the old passport as well.

They do it free of charge my passport in March this year

Sorry but I believe you are wrong. In any case get a pair of scissors to cut the pp at immigration if you don't cut the corner off beforehand - as I had not done. I did my new pp immigration stamp transfer in May this year. When I took the old pp with the new pp to immigration (CW) they wouldn't transfer immigration stamps since they said the old pp had no evidence of being canceled. Walk away, cut the corner off and come back, problem solved. (The embassy even told me to do such over phone at time). Don't cut the relevant Thai immigration stamps off if you can help it, just the passport corner.

When the British FCO issued me with a new passport in 2004, they folded in any pages with valid stamps/visas before cutting the corners off the remaining passport; the key pages were thus still intact and remained valid.

I think that the only page that actually needs a corner cut off is the ID page in the old passport, for sure do not cut the corners on any pages with valid visas/stamps.

So when I go to Immigration to renew my extension of stay, I should just cut off the corner of the ID page before I go? Should I also take out the arrival card and 90-day report receipt and staple them in the new passport as well?

[Digitalbanana]

when I go to Immigration to renew my extension of stay, I should just cut off the corner of the ID page before I go? Should I also take out the arrival card and 90-day report receipt and staple them in the new passport as well?

Just cut off the ID page corner. Immigration will take care of the rest.

[puuchai299]

Presumably I can just present both old and new passports when I do the renewal (in a few weeks)?

Forgive me if i'm wrong but as far as i know you should go to immigration as soon as possible to get extensions of stay etc transfered to your new passport.As your old passport becomes invalid when the new passport is issued,so in effect you now have no valid extension of stay in your now valid passport.

[LivinLOS]

Just a tangent..

The UK embassy like (demand??) you to have a 'reason' to be issued a second passport.

One of the reasons for getting a second passport is to apply for visas overseas if you must retain your passport.

Its a legal requirement to retain your passport while in Thailand.

So logically you should be able to apply for a second passport, due to having to apply for your first passport in hong kong !!! Crazy but true.

I needed a second passport a few years back, and the passport people in bangkok were not willing to just hand one out, when they demanded a reason, thinking on my feet I said I had to get a Libyan visa, and to do so had to post my passport to London, and I couldnt be in Thailand without a passport.. Which they accepted as a valid reason. Seems HK would be no different.

[Soutpeel]

Just a tangent..

The UK embassy like (demand??) you to have a 'reason' to be issued a second passport.

One of the reasons for getting a second passport is to apply for visas overseas if you must retain your passport.

Its a legal requirement to retain your passport while in Thailand.

So logically you should be able to apply for a second passport, due to having to apply for your first passport in hong kong !!! Crazy but true.

I needed a second passport a few years back, and the passport people in bangkok were not willing to just hand one out, when they demanded a reason, thinking on my feet I said I had to get a Libyan visa, and to do so had to post my passport to London, and I couldnt be in Thailand without a passport.. Which they accepted as a valid reason. Seems HK would be no different.

You will be issued a second passport with a valid reason, as you have stated working in Libya will get you a second, as will if you work/worked in Israel and have to work in arab countries, typically it takes a letter from the employer to justify the second passport.

I dont think applying for a second passport because your first is in Hong Kong will fly somehow, as far as I understand you dont send your PP anyway, just a copy for renewal.

If I remember correctly originally the intent was that you had to send your PP to Hong Kong and then some bright spark in the FO realised that a c*ck up had been made, as this would require British nationals to be in a country without a P/P and the knee jerk was saying sending a photocopy was ok, which I find rather hysterical, seeing as they had forced the biometic passports on people because of identity theft/security etc etc...if was for our own good blah blah, but here we are sending a copy of the detail page in an unsecure manner...ie "by post"

[Digitalbanana]

Some of us travel all the time so 2 passports is a must to continue working during the long pp renewal process. It needs a letter to support the application, and I would hope the UK embassy is still involved in the process rather then just DHL to HK? Any reports on this?

[brewsterbudgen]

Some of us travel all the time so 2 passports is a must to continue working during the long pp renewal process. It needs a letter to support the application, and I would hope the UK embassy is still involved in the process rather then just DHL to HK? Any reports on this?

If it's a straightforward renewal then the Embassy in Bangkok has no involvement. However, you don't send your passport to Hong Kong. You just send a copy of the details page. You can continue to use your current passport for Thai Immigration and ID purposes until the new one arrives, although I wouldn't risk trying to travel on it as I understand it's 'cancelled' as soon as the new one has been issued in HK.

Some report a 10 day turn round. Mine took 6 weeks.

[Thaddeus]

Some report a 10 day turn round. Mine took 6 weeks.

Got a couple of friends here who have been waiting for 5 weeks for their new passports to arrive, so hopefully they will only have to wait another week.

The cynic in me (and them) thinks the only reason it takes so long now is too urge people to call a 69p help line, as if a British passport wasn't expensive enough anyway.

[Soutpeel]

You can continue to use your current passport for Thai Immigration and ID purposes until the new one arrives, although I wouldn't risk trying to travel on it as I understand it's 'cancelled' as soon as the new one has been issued in HK.

Now theres an interesting question that should be answered, considering the apparant turn around times on a new PP