British Passport Renewal

[skydiver77]

Please correct me if I have the wrong information. I will have to renew my British passport very soon. Perhaps someone who has recently done this, can confirm that in a straight forward renewal, providing ones appearance has not altered too much, the Decleration and photo does not need signing.

And is the turnaround still 4 weeks as noted in the Embassy website.

Thank you.

[sunholidaysun1]

Thats what it says on the website, so must be right.

[saorsa]

they say 4 weeks, but i renewed mine last month and it took 10 days from start to finish and that was for a 2nd passport, so not a normal renewal. I was pleasantly surprised by the speed of the service...just a shame you have to pay the courier costs. I sent my forms using the DHL desk in Emporium and they obviously handle a lot as the guy knew exactly what was needed for it.

[Fatdog]

they say 4 weeks, but i renewed mine last month and it took 10 days from start to finish and that was for a 2nd passport, so not a normal renewal. I was pleasantly surprised by the speed of the service...just a shame you have to pay the courier costs. I sent my forms using the DHL desk in Emporium and they obviously handle a lot as the guy knew exactly what was needed for it.

Hi saorsa,

What forms did you use to get the second passport.

I need to get the second passport as well. I already have a letter from my employer, but I am not sure what application form to use.

Thanks

FD

[saorsa]

Hi saorsa,

What forms did you use to get the second passport.

I need to get the second passport as well. I already have a letter from my employer, but I am not sure what application form to use.

Thanks

FD

I have had 2 passports for 7 years now, so for me I was essentially just renewing one that was almost full up. I did not send the old original, just a photocopy of the photo page along with my letter from employer. I think you should still fill in the normal form, but maybe add a short letter from yourself explaining that you need a 2nd passport for work.

[Fatdog]

Hi saorsa,

What forms did you use to get the second passport.

I need to get the second passport as well. I already have a letter from my employer, but I am not sure what application form to use.

Thanks

FD

I have had 2 passports for 7 years now, so for me I was essentially just renewing one that was almost full up. I did not send the old original, just a photocopy of the photo page along with my letter from employer. I think you should still fill in the normal form, but maybe add a short letter from yourself explaining that you need a 2nd passport for work.

Hi saorsa,

Thanks for that, I will try as you suggest.

FD

[Soutpeel]

Hi saorsa,

What forms did you use to get the second passport.

I need to get the second passport as well. I already have a letter from my employer, but I am not sure what application form to use.

Thanks

FD

I have had 2 passports for 7 years now, so for me I was essentially just renewing one that was almost full up. I did not send the old original, just a photocopy of the photo page along with my letter from employer. I think you should still fill in the normal form, but maybe add a short letter from yourself explaining that you need a 2nd passport for work.

Hi saorsa,

Thanks for that, I will try as you suggest.

FD

Mentioning you may be required to work in Libya / Israel/ Arab countries in the letter are usually good reasons to get a second P/P

As you may or may not know if you have Israeli stamps in your P/P you cant get into some arab countries

[Crossy]

I believe an application for a second passport counts as a new application so you can still do it at the embassy. Give them a call / email they're pretty good at responding.

EDIT I've been looking for the letter I used for my application but it's wandered off into the archives somewhere.

There are several sites showing sample letters etc so try a Google. One thing they seem to have in common is that you should NOT mention travel to incompatible countries, frequent business travel, inconvenience in visa processing etc are sufficient.

[saorsa]

I believe an application for a second passport counts as a new application so you can still do it at the embassy. Give them a call / email they're pretty good at responding.

EDIT I've been looking for the letter I used for my application but it's wandered off into the archives somewhere.

There are several sites showing sample letters etc so try a Google. One thing they seem to have in common is that you should NOT mention travel to incompatible countries, frequent business travel, inconvenience in visa processing etc are sufficient.

My letter does mention working in countries that are not compatible with each other and also mentions that my passport is often sent away for visa applications.

[Soutpeel]

I believe an application for a second passport counts as a new application so you can still do it at the embassy. Give them a call / email they're pretty good at responding.

EDIT I've been looking for the letter I used for my application but it's wandered off into the archives somewhere.

There are several sites showing sample letters etc so try a Google. One thing they seem to have in common is that you should NOT mention travel to incompatible countries, frequent business travel, inconvenience in visa processing etc are sufficient.

My letter does mention working in countries that are not compatible with each other and also mentions that my passport is often sent away for visa applications.

Havent had a 2nd British PP in many years, but when I did have one, mentioning incompatable countries...ie Israel, Libya was mentioned and the visa applications was in the letter,

[Fatdog]

Hi,

I have applied for the second passport already.

The application has been accepted, I did ask how long it would take, this is the reply I got from the passport section in Hong Kong

Thank you for your reply.

For a straight forward renewal with no other complications, we aim to process passports in ten working days – excluding days for return delivery.

Regards,

The web site mentions 30 days, I just thought this may be of interest to others how are looking at re-newing a passport and were worried about the 30 days as it says on the web site.

FD

[griffer]

I recently renewed my British passport over Christmas...

what was interesting was that I went to the new immigration centre with my new passport to move the visa to the new passport..I have a multi entry O that finishes in june 2011..

I spoke to a senior official there who informed me that there is nothing to do....nothing gets transfered across...you simply go out showing both passports and re-enter showing both passports and you get a new stamp in your new passport....you have to continue using two passports until the visa expires...

I had a thai person with me that handles the visas for Bumrungrad and we went back to the officer and double checked all this...the officer was insistent that this is correct...I said that I just hoped she was at the airport immigration when I went through....

bear in mind I have a multi entry O..not a work visa....

have others had similar experience?

[whybother]

I believe an application for a second passport counts as a new application so you can still do it at the embassy. Give them a call / email they're pretty good at responding.

EDIT I've been looking for the letter I used for my application but it's wandered off into the archives somewhere.

There are several sites showing sample letters etc so try a Google. One thing they seem to have in common is that you should NOT mention travel to incompatible countries, frequent business travel, inconvenience in visa processing etc are sufficient.

My letter does mention working in countries that are not compatible with each other and also mentions that my passport is often sent away for visa applications.

asasa

[Soutpeel]

I recently renewed my British passport over Christmas...

what was interesting was that I went to the new immigration centre with my new passport to move the visa to the new passport..I have a multi entry O that finishes in june 2011..

I spoke to a senior official there who informed me that there is nothing to do....nothing gets transfered across...you simply go out showing both passports and re-enter showing both passports and you get a new stamp in your new passport....you have to continue using two passports until the visa expires...

I had a thai person with me that handles the visas for Bumrungrad and we went back to the officer and double checked all this...the officer was insistent that this is correct...I said that I just hoped she was at the airport immigration when I went through....

bear in mind I have a multi entry O..not a work visa....

have others had similar experience?

No experience with multi "O"..but certainly with extension of stay (work) they transfer your permission to stay stamp to the new P/P as well as some stamps which reference my original Non-imm B from many years ago and the previous passport number etc

[4.real]

I recently renewed my British passport over Christmas...

what was interesting was that I went to the new immigration centre with my new passport to move the visa to the new passport..I have a multi entry O that finishes in june 2011..

I spoke to a senior official there who informed me that there is nothing to do....nothing gets transfered across...you simply go out showing both passports and re-enter showing both passports and you get a new stamp in your new passport....you have to continue using two passports until the visa expires...

I had a thai person with me that handles the visas for Bumrungrad and we went back to the officer and double checked all this...the officer was insistent that this is correct...I said that I just hoped she was at the airport immigration when I went through....

bear in mind I have a multi entry O..not a work visa....

have others had similar experience?

Yes. I had a non o visa in one passport and just took both passports to immigration.No problem.

I need a new passport now and must send to Hong Kong.

They do not accept cash but I have no debit or credit cards in Thailand.

Can I send a bankers draft for thai baht for the fee?

[astral]

I recently renewed my British passport over Christmas...

what was interesting was that I went to the new immigration centre with my new passport to move the visa to the new passport..I have a multi entry O that finishes in june 2011..

I spoke to a senior official there who informed me that there is nothing to do....nothing gets transfered across...you simply go out showing both passports and re-enter showing both passports and you get a new stamp in your new passport....you have to continue using two passports until the visa expires...

Visas cannot be transfered, only the current entry stamp.

Showing both passports, the old one for the visa and the new for the entry stamp

is the correct procedure.

[Soutpeel]

Can I send a bankers draft for thai baht for the fee?

What are they going to do with Thai baht ?.....application fee as always is in the local currency...therefore you need a bankers draft for HK$.

[4.real]

Can I send a bankers draft for thai baht for the fee?

What are they going to do with Thai baht ?.....application fee as always is in the local currency...therefore you need a bankers draft for HK$.

My thoughts entirely.So i went to my Kasikorn branch and asked if I could send a bankers draft to H.K in HK dollars [from my thai account] they said they could only issue a B.D in thai baht.

Anyone have any sensible suggestions ?

Thanks , in advance .4.Real.

[bermondburi]

I recently renewed my British passport over Christmas...

what was interesting was that I went to the new immigration centre with my new passport to move the visa to the new passport..I have a multi entry O that finishes in june 2011..

I spoke to a senior official there who informed me that there is nothing to do....nothing gets transfered across...you simply go out showing both passports and re-enter showing both passports and you get a new stamp in your new passport....you have to continue using two passports until the visa expires...

I had a thai person with me that handles the visas for Bumrungrad and we went back to the officer and double checked all this...the officer was insistent that this is correct...I said that I just hoped she was at the airport immigration when I went through....

bear in mind I have a multi entry O..not a work visa....

have others had similar experience?

Different in my case, I went to Nonthaburi immigration to transfer my visa across. Multiple entry non O same as you. You're correct in that they don't actually take the visa from the old passort and put it in the new one but he did do some stamps to give me a new time date to leave by and another stamp and some writing to explain that I had a valid visa in another passport. So all this then made my new passport the valid one but I still had to show the original visa page in the old one. He then told me to make sure I took both passports when entering and exiting the country otherswise you won't get the ninety days. I had to fill in a form as well and surprisingly it was free.

Regards the passport, when I did mine last September I got it back in seven days. Don't know if I was lucky or not. I did it a DHL by Robinsons on Ratchadapisek and again the staff were very efficient and knew exactly what to do and they even had a sign on the counter advertising their new British passport renewal service.

[Soutpeel]

Can I send a bankers draft for thai baht for the fee?

What are they going to do with Thai baht ?.....application fee as always is in the local currency...therefore you need a bankers draft for HK$.

Anyone have any sensible suggestions ?

Change your bank..who ever you were dealing with is a moron

[Ricardo]

My renewal took 3 weeks over Xmas/New-Year.

And in the old days, entering Cyprus with a Northern-Cyprus stamp in your passport was always a no-no, as well.

[robblok]

I recently renewed my British passport over Christmas...

what was interesting was that I went to the new immigration centre with my new passport to move the visa to the new passport..I have a multi entry O that finishes in june 2011..

I spoke to a senior official there who informed me that there is nothing to do....nothing gets transfered across...you simply go out showing both passports and re-enter showing both passports and you get a new stamp in your new passport....you have to continue using two passports until the visa expires...

I had a thai person with me that handles the visas for Bumrungrad and we went back to the officer and double checked all this...the officer was insistent that this is correct...I said that I just hoped she was at the airport immigration when I went through....

bear in mind I have a multi entry O..not a work visa....

have others had similar experience?

Nope got a new Dutch pasport and they transferred the stamps for me. Easy job done quite fast.