American Passport Questions

[Pawpcorn]

Apologizes; my laptop is under repair; up against deadlines; having to access ThaiVisa at public site; thus difficult time issues to research all these questions on TV, so I ask them, anew...

Background: My American passport (issued July 2006, expires in 2016) is due for it's yearly renewal in Mid December. I have a work permit, and the company I work for takes care of (and pays for) renewing my work permit and visa, (Non Immigrant B ) every year.

My passport has 24 pages, but page 21 is the last page that is divided into 4 parts, and has the headings "Entries" Visas" and "Departures" on it. Every one of these pages (8 thru 21) have already been used/stamped, with the exception of the bottom half of page 21.

I intend to have the visa renewed this year with a multiple reentry extension, for ease of being able to visit abroad next year, should I choose to.

Questions:

1) Is it possible to use the final 3 pages (22, 23, 24, labeled "Amendments and Endorsements") for continuing departure / entry stamps? They are all blank, except for a single reentry stamp, from an early reentry from Cambodia, prior to having the Non Immigrant B status)

2) How many blank pages do I need to have in my passport to permit a 1 year multiple reentry Non Immigrant B endorsement to be issued?

3) What is the additional fee for the Multiple Reentry renewal, (over the standard Reentry, which my company pays for)?

4) My passport is pretty worn out (since I carry it with me for our friendly BIB every day). Should I get a NEW passport, or just have extra pages added? What are the pros and cons, if any?

5) What's the current fee for getting a NEW passport?

6) What's the current fee for getting extra pages added?

7) Does the American Embassy accept Thai Baht, or do I have to pay in American Dollars?

8) How long does it take (IE how long will the American Embassy have to possess my passport) to add extra pages? How long, if getting a NEW passport?

9) What proofs of I.D., or proofs of residency will I need at the American Embassy, for either the extra pages or new passport to be granted? I really think I only can show my Thai Driver's License and current utility bills. Is that enough?

10) Finally, anyone know the current hours / days of operation for the American Embassy on Wireless Road? I seem to recall their hours are rather restrictive, with a complete shutdown for lunchtime...??

Thanks SO much for anyone who can help me answer these 10 questions above!

[BuckarooBanzai]

If I remember correctly you can pay in US$ Thai Baht or credit card.

[beechguy]

Here is a link to the American Citizen Services page, it will answer most of you questions. http://bangkok.usemb...ov/service.html

Answer to #1 is no, replacement passport $110, additional pages added $82. When applying for a new passport they do not hold the old one, when adding pages, can be done while you wait. They will accept dollars, Baht, and credit cards. May be best to make an appointment online.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Sorry full post did not post properly!

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/070810_announcement.html

Change in Fees - American Citizen Services and Immigrant Visas - Effective July 13, 2010

New consular fees will take effect July 13, 2010 at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, including the US Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai. The fee changes include higher fees for U.S. passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notarial services, as well as a new fee for adding additional pages to a U.S. passport. More information can be found at http://travel.state.gov/news/news_5078.html and on the Embassy website at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/071310_new_consular_fees.html.

The following is a partial list of services and the fee changes:

*

The application processing fee for adult passport applications will change from $55 to $70.

*

The passport book security surcharge will change from $20 to $40.

*

The application fee for passport cards will increase, from $20 to $30 for adults, and from $10 to $15 for minors.

*

A new fee of $82 for additional passport pages will be imposed.

*

The fee for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad will change from $65 to $100.

*

Notarial and authentication services, which now range from $20 to $30, will all be $50.

The American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok is located at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at [email protected]. The emergency after-hours telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.

The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai is located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling 66-53-107-777 The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878.

[Pawpcorn]

More information can be found at http://travel.state..../news_5078.html and on the Embassy website at http://bangkok.usemb...ular_fees.html.

Thanks for the info, BB; unfortunately, these two links (above) seem to be dead now...

Pawpcorn

[Pawpcorn]

Here is a link to the American Citizen Services page, it will answer most of you questions. http://bangkok.usemb...ov/service.html

Answer to #1 is no, replacement passport $110, additional pages added $82. When applying for a new passport they do not hold the old one, when adding pages, can be done while you wait. They will accept dollars, Baht, and credit cards. May be best to make an appointment online.

OH! Thanks for this info, BeechGuy! Seems like with the small price difference, a NEW visa would make more sense. Any idea how long this takes?

AND I didn't know you could make an appointment online; that sounds like a very good idea!

Thanks!

Pawpcorn

[lopburi3]

It is not that much more expensive to get a new passport so that would be my choice with a messed up one now which will only be more messed up with additional pages. Believe passport is less than two weeks and they will call when ready. Pages would be done while you wait. You do not need any ID other than passport (but if you have cellphone it must be checked at door with some form of photo ID so they can ID you when you collect it) (mine is drivers license with 40 year old photo). If you make on-line appointment there is no waiting. Passport would require two photos.

[Pawpcorn]

It is not that much more expensive to get a new passport so that would be my choice with a messed up one now which will only be more messed up with additional pages. Believe passport is less than two weeks and they will call when ready. Pages would be done while you wait. You do not need any ID other than passport (but if you have cellphone it must be checked at door with some form of photo ID so they can ID you when you collect it) (mine is drivers license with 40 year old photo). If you make on-line appointment there is no waiting. Passport would require two photos.

Thank you ALL, SO MUCH for your invaluable help, support, and reassurance. I am VERY grateful!!

With your help, I was able to contact the embassy directly, and fill in the missing blanks.

Addl info I got... they're using a fixed exchange rate for baht to American dollars, which is 30 baht equals 1 dollar. Thus the $110 fee for a new passport will cost 3300 Baht, at this time. I don't think there are any additional fees involved.

They open at 7:30 in the morning(!) [and only 1 hour in the afternoon(!)] so current plans are to arrive prior to 7:30am Monday morning, and hope to be in the early queue. The lady said it might take 1 hour to do what is needed. I'll times that by 2, and bring a pocket book to read, to stay sane.

Choosing the option to COME BACK to pick up my new passport, I get to KEEP my old passport for the two weeks(!) it will take them to create a new passport. If I had chosen to have them MAIL the new passport to me (HA! not likely!!) they would have had to keep my current passport. lol

I don't need ANY form of ID (other than to check the mobile phone- thanks for THAT tip, lopburi3!) other than the passport.

AND, lopburi3, thanks SO much for the tip about needing two photos! I wouldn't have expected that, since the American Embassy in Los Angeles had provided that for me, as part of the service of creating (on the same day!) my 2006 passport.

Photo stats are: 2 inches by 2 inches, color, on a WHITE background... and the Thai lady on the American Embassy phone line said that it was OK to smile! (hey, I asked! I wasn't permitted to smile for my Thai Teacher's Licence, go figure!)

The Thai Immigration website said the multiple reentry permit was 3800 Baht, as opposed to the 1000 Baht charged for the single entry permit.

I noticed the Thai Immigration website mentioned needing a 2" photo also, (I didn't remember this from past years) so I'll get some extra ones developed.

I don't know how many pages you need to have blank in the passport for the multiple reentry, but it becomes a moot point, with obtaining a new passport.

Hey, I think I'll need to carry BOTH old and new passports with me, in the future, for complete ID, is that right? The OLD passport will be the only one showing the original Non-Immigrant B permit, obtained at the Singapore Thai Embassy. Anyone know the answer to this?

Thanks again, all...!!

Pawpcorn

[lopburi3]

As soon as you obtain the new passport and letter from Embassy you go to Immigration with the letter and copy of both passport data pages, visa, arrival card, extension of stay stamps and have the extension of stay and visa information written into the new passport. No charge and only a one page form to fill out. Once that is done you do not need the old passport.

Be sure photo has white or off-white background. Most photo shops are keyed to Thai requirements for blue and will even change a white background to blue when printing. I took and printed my own earlier this year using natural light in front of an off-white wall. And yes Thai do not want smiles in ID photos.

[ballbreaker]

OP if you decide on getting new passport there is no need to carry all the time. I have live here 8 years and have never been asked to see my passport. I do carry a copy of passport photo/information page and most recent extension stamp in passport. I also have a Thai drivers license and that is all I have every shown.

[Pawpcorn]

OP if you decide on getting new passport there is no need to carry all the time. I have live here 8 years and have never been asked to see my passport. I do carry a copy of passport photo/information page and most recent extension stamp in passport. I also have a Thai drivers license and that is all I have every shown.

Gotcha there, BB, but do you remember, about a year ago, the incidents at the Siam BTS station where the esteemed BIB were asking foreigners to show passport, and then escorting them to the nearest ATM machine, to withdraw something in the neighborhood of 1000 Baht (maybe it was more, I can't recall, exactly) to pay the handy on-the-spot-fine(!) for not carrying their passport?

It sounded like such a nightmarish ordeal for those unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, on Tea-Money day... but after those incidents (since I live in Bangkok and occasionally travel via BTS) I've always made sure I carried my actual passport.

I'm not sure if a photocopy of the pertinent pages would have sufficed.

I just did a Google on "Thailand must carry passport at all times" and got back an entire page of links to very reputable sites (like WikiTravel, LonelyPlanet, etc) where they repeat the same statement...

"Thai law states quite clearly Thai nationals must carry their ID cards at all times and foreigners must carry their passports at all times" (LonelyPlanet's emphasis, not mine).

I USED to get asked to show my passport, and even asked to show my Work Permit(!!!) when I used to get stopped by the BIB, when I used to have to travel on motorcy from Klong Toey to where I work (and now live) in the Rama II area, a good distance from BKK metropolitan.

But enforcement of laws by the BIB is completely selective, huh! (Maybe understatement of the year, lol)

Thanks for the input, though! Never a dull moment, for farang, living, surviving, and trying to stay out of trouble, in "Amazing Thailand"

Pawpcorn

[Pawpcorn]

As soon as you obtain the new passport and letter from Embassy you go to Immigration with the letter and copy of both passport data pages, visa, arrival card, extension of stay stamps and have the extension of stay and visa information written into the new passport. No charge and only a one page form to fill out. Once that is done you do not need the old passport.

Be sure photo has white or off-white background. Most photo shops are keyed to Thai requirements for blue and will even change a white background to blue when printing. I took and printed my own earlier this year using natural light in front of an off-white wall. And yes Thai do not want smiles in ID photos.

Lopburi3, what "Letter from Embassy" are you referring to? Will I automatically be given a letter by the American Embassy at the time they hand me my new passport or do I have to ask for this letter? What's contained in the letter?

That's GREAT information about not needing to have to carry two passports after following the procedure you described; thanks!

Regarding the picture... VERY COOL advice! None of this would I have thought of, either! And I DO remember always getting the blue background (for the Thai photos) in the past, but NEVER would have thought about them automatically replacing the white with blue.

Thanks again,

Pawpcorn

[lopburi3]

The Embassy will give you a letter requesting that the information be transferred into your new passport.

AFAIK there is no legal requirement to carry passport. I have never seen any such law quoted - only opinions. My understanding is photo ID and passport available in a reasonable time (I would take that - and most police have taken it) to mean same city and available in an hour or two. So carry when traveling outside your area but have copy/drivers license or such with you so much less change of loss.

[keeniau96]

Follow the photo specs exactly, including white background. Several years ago for my new passport I had light blue background, got rejected so had to go out and get reshoot. Also, after submitting the filled in application (they are in rack on the wall), take the payment slip to the special cashier immediately adjoining the US citizen section. Do NOT go to the big mob waiting in line at the big cashier area, you will only be redirected to the special window, which is much much faster anyway.

[lopburi3]

You can also fill the form out online and download which makes it much easier to read for everyone. The form used is the mail in but your passport will not be required with it as done at Embassy.

[Pawpcorn]

Follow the photo specs exactly, including white background. Several years ago for my new passport I had light blue background, got rejected so had to go out and get reshoot. Also, after submitting the filled in application (they are in rack on the wall), take the payment slip to the special cashier immediately adjoining the US citizen section. Do NOT go to the big mob waiting in line at the big cashier area, you will only be redirected to the special window, which is much much faster anyway.

OH! Thanks for the tip, Keeniau96! It's tips like this that can save you a LOT of time, on location!

[Pawpcorn]

You can also fill the form out online and download which makes it much easier to read for everyone. The form used is the mail in but your passport will not be required with it as done at Embassy.

Eh, I think that's a GREAT idea, Lopburi3! Any chance you have the link for the form? Thanks, again!

Pawpcorn

[lopburi3]

https://pptform.state.gov/

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/passports.html

[Pawpcorn]

https://pptform.state.gov/

http://bangkok.usemb.../passports.html

Gads... "The devil is in the details" as they say!

Thanks for the link! I found the form, and as I was filling it out between 1 and 2am this morning, realized that the form asked for (insisted, really) on listing a person to contact residing in the US!

I couldn't find my sister's address, and luckily she happened to be on computer, and emailed me back, immediately.

The printed out forms contain a LOT of information, and, as you said look TERRIFIC, filled out in advance, and printed out.

Thank you AGAIN(!) for your point-on advice!!! In 23 hours... I should be ready to roll...!!!

Take care,

Pawpcorn