British Passport Renewal

[OJAS]

In view of the length of the thread at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/408363-british-passport-renewal/ , I have decided to start this new one with the following queries on this apparently tortuous process:-

(1) Do all applications need to be countersigned? According to the RPPC’s website at http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/what-passport/renewing-passport/steps-to-renew , countersignature is only necessary if your appearance has changed significantly since your previous passport was issued. On the other hand, the Guidance Notes seem to imply that countersignature is needed in all cases.

(2) Since my nearest DHL office is over an hour away, I would prefer to send my application to the RPPC from a local post office, unless this was fraught with unacceptable risks. In this connection, are there Thai equivalents of the UK’s Registered Post and Recorded Delivery services?

(3) How have TV members managed to download the PDF docs detailing the RPPC’s fees and CSL’s Helpline service on http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/thailand/renewals ? Whenever I click on the relevant links, all I get is the RPPC’s Thailand web-page repeated over and over again!

[digitalchromakey]

1) There was recently a thread where the OP was considering not sending new photos with a counter signature, but I deduce that in the end he did send photos with a signature http://www.thaivisa....itish-passport/.

2) You can use the Post Office's EMS service which offers such services, but it seem that the UK Consulate will use DHL to send back your new passport.

3) Works fine for me (I can download the C1 pdf file) - maybe you have an issue with your browser/set up, plus you need a pdf file reader.

[OJAS]

(1) I've now sent the OP of the recent thread to which you kindly drew my attention a PM seeking clarification as to whether or not his submitted application was, in fact, countersigned. If by Barry he meant BWPattaya it might not have been given the tone of the latter's response!

I would also welcome comments from other TV members who may have already been through the tortuous renewal process with HK as to the RPPC's attitude in practice towards the need for applications to be countersigned. As already stated their website certainly makes it clear that countersignature is only required where the applicant's appearance has changed significantly since their previous passport was issued.

(2) No problem as long as DHL actually delivered my new passport to me (and did not expect me to go all the way to a depot of theirs to collect it in person, as has been my experience with them in the UK).

(3) I've managed to download the C1 form & notes (plus the DHL depot & credit card PDF's) OK from the http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/thailand/renewals page. It's just the fees and Helpline PDF's which I can't download for some mysterious reason. Is anyone else experiencing similar difficulties with these 2 particular docs?

[OJAS]

duplicate reply

[digitalchromakey]

(3) I've managed to download the C1 form & notes (plus the DHL depot & credit card PDF's) OK from the http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/thailand/renewals page. It's just the fees and Helpline PDF's which I can't download for some mysterious reason. Is anyone else experiencing similar difficulties with these 2 particular docs?

Sorry, didn't read your first post carefully enough - have now checked the original HTML source code on that web page, there is no link provided to this document - so it's not you; it's them either at best making a mistake, or at worst being disingenuous.

[Kwasaki]

Went to Chiangmay consulate for my 10 year passport renewal not a tortuous process at all !!!!

Ques.1.

Don't know about what you have written but l had to have the Countersigning of the photo and application form, this can be done by someone that knows you in Thailand, no need for a rocket scientist signature etc.

Ques.2.

DHL does not deliver to my area of Thailand (Sukhothai) my return address of my new passport was to the consulate address.

The lady at the consulate was very helpful l paid her for the EMS postage charge for her to post onto my home address.

Ques.3.

Didn't download anything got every form required at the consulate. paid cash for DHL charges to Hong Kong, paid for passport and return DHL charges by giving credit card details on another form.

Hong Kong British Embassy charged in their H.K.Dollars, got my new passport in 16days.

Don't forget to get your visa or extention transfer by immigration.

[OJAS]

Sorry, didn't read your first post carefully enough - have now checked the original HTML source code on that web page, there is no link provided to this document - so it's not you; it's them either at best making a mistake, or at worst being disingenuous.

I've just checked the http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/thailand/renewals page again and now managed to download the fees and Helpline PDF’s OK. The former could well have been down because the fees were being jacked up! In the case of the latter, I can only assume that the Helpline wanted a break from the hordes of irate expat Brits in this part of the world complaining about their passport applications!!

Also, I've now received a response to my PM from the OP to the thread at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/405043-renewing-a-full-british-passport/ confirming that his application was not countersigned, which sounds potentially good news.

[OJAS]

Went to Chiangmay consulate for my 10 year passport renewal not a tortuous process at all !!!!

Ques.1.

Don't know about what you have written but l had to have the Countersigning of the photo and application form, this can be done by someone that knows you in Thailand, no need for a rocket scientist signature etc.

Ques.2.

DHL does not deliver to my area of Thailand (Sukhothai) my return address of my new passport was to the consulate address.

The lady at the consulate was very helpful l paid her for the EMS postage charge for her to post onto my home address.

Ques.3.

Didn't download anything got every form required at the consulate. paid cash for DHL charges to Hong Kong, paid for passport and return DHL charges by giving credit card details on another form.

Hong Kong British Embassy charged in their H.K.Dollars, got my new passport in 16days.

Don't forget to get your visa or extention transfer by immigration.

Q1: Was this because your appearance had changed significantly since your last passport renewal? I have now received confirmation from the FCO in London that these are the only circumstances in which countersignature would be needed for passport renewals, as stated on the RPCC HK website. An explicit statement to this effect in the form C1 notes might also be helpful IMHO.

Q2: How does one check whether one lives in an area where DHL don't deliver? Their Remote Access checking facility at http://remoteareas.dhl.com/jsp/first.jsp seems worse than useless in this regard the only response I can seem to get is that either (a) I don't live in a remote area or (I haven't entered valid search criteria. In the absence of a crystal ball, how am I supposed to work out whether it is (a) or (in a particular instance?

Q3: Were the Chiang Mai consulate prepared to take your completed application round to the nearest DHL outlet on your behalf for onward transmission to HK?