Us Passport Renewal

[JimGant]

As far as I can tell, if I want to renew my US passport at the Embassy in Bangkok, I can't get the larger variety, i.e., the one with 48 blank pages available for visas..... Is this true?

And, if I wanted to renew in the States, I can't find anything definitive with Google about this. Yes, one site says just attach a letter requesting the larger passport. But no date on this; and the renewal fee mentioned says it's several years old.

Even the passport website, which used to mention how to get 48 pages, says absolutely nothing. And hasn't since the biometric passports came out.

And, being the phucking bureaucrats they are, here's their response to my email:

Thank you for contacting the National Passport Information Center.

To better assist you and due to general email security restrictions, we are unable to provide you with any specific information regarding your particular situation. Please call our office at the number listed below.

 

For further information, please refer to our website www.travel.state.gov or call (877) 487-2778, for TDD/TTY users 1-888-874-7793 (Mon-Fri 8:00AM to 10:00PM ET; excluding federal holidays).

Security restrictions?! Hell, it's a simple question! And I love: "To better assist you.....we are unable to provide you with any specific information..." Toads.

And, of course, the phone number has absolutely no button to push for human intervention.

Anyway, anybody come up against this recently? If nothing else, can I provide the extra $80+ for stapled pages with the renewal fee -- and get my new passport with those extra pages? (Vice having to revisit the embassy a few years down the road to buy those extra pages...?)

Thanx.

[PingManDan]

Not sure if this is correct or not, but my thoughts are to have them with an even 100 pages, so Thai Immagration can do all their BS stamping and paperwork in every 90 days.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Not sure if this is correct or not, but my thoughts are to have them with an even 100 pages, so Thai Immagration can do all their BS stamping and paperwork in every 90 days.

Stamping every 90 days?? Not for those on visa extensions, just the 90-day report, one paper insert by Immigration, no stamping of passport.

??

Mac

[maccaroni man]

i had mine done in bkk and yes i requested extra pages at the same time of the new issue, so when i got the new passport they had put an additonal group of pages. easy as pie

[Thanyaburi Mac]

i had mine done in bkk and yes i requested extra pages at the same time of the new issue, so when i got the new passport they had put an additonal group of pages. easy as pie

When did you do the new passport? If after July 2010, did you have to pay an additional $82 for the extra set of pages?? Prior to this date, they were FREE, no more.

Mac

[daxbr]

All the info you need is here:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/add/add_850.html

[Thot]

Recently renewed passbook. Top of application page is a block to check for the 52 page passbook. Done through US embassy in Bangkok.

Passbook application is on line though the embassy website.

[JimGant]

Thanks for that. Guess they now call it the 52 page model, although only 48 are available for stamps.

[JimGant]

Interesting. Daxbr's reference link says to include the following with your DS-82, and want extra pages:

A signed, written request for additional visa pages

From the US Citizen Services site, US Embassy, Holland:

Frequent traveler? Get a 52 page book!

Indicate [with your DS-82] in any way you see fit that you want a 52-page passport book, rather than the regular 28 page book. This may save you from having to have visa pages added, which is no longer a free service. The fee for the 52 page passport book is exactly the same as the fee for the 28 passport book.

But from Thot:

Recently renewed passbook. Top of application page is a block to check for the 52 page passbook.

Sure enough, there are two blocks side-by-side: one for 28 pages, the other for 52. BUT, the first time you see these blocks/options is after you've printed the form out -- you're not asked which preference when you're taken step-by-step filling out the form on-line. And the 28-page block is checked by default.

Anyway, no biggy -- if you're aware. Just print it out to pdf (which is not locked), then manually rewicker the boxes, and check the 52 page one.

Anyway, sounds like State is doing its best to minimize the 52 page models, as it's worth $82 more down the road, if 28 pages proves insufficient.

Thanks again daxbr and thot for your help. My googling on "US passport +48 pages" didn't resonate, as the new model is 52.