Passport Renewal And Visa

[DennyEagle]

I want to renew my US Passport, get a newone, I am in Nong Khai, my options are go to Vientiane to the US embassy and do it there and be unable to come back to Thailand I beleive for about 2 weeks untill I receive the new one. I do not want to add more pages, I just want a new one. My other option is to go to Bangkok and do the same thing, but am worried if I can get a flight back to udon thani with no Passport? Or a Train, Bus? One other question on the US embassys website I understand according to the application form You can get a 28 page standard or a 52 page non-standard, have heard will not do and have heard they will do? Extra costs? Thanks.

[NanLaew]

If you have a Thai drivers license it will be acceptable for air travel.

Technically any state or government issued photo ID will also be acceptable such as a US state driving license. However, it may be better for you to check with your chosen air carrier first. Better to do it face-to-face rather than waste time on the phone and maybe get a wrong answer. Best place to check is at UTH airport as all 3 domestic carriers are there... just make sure you do it morning or afternoon when they all have flights operating or you may get an empty booth!

Of course you won't need any photo ID for a bus ride and if you make a photocopy of your old passport, that should satisfy the police if they decide to check which in very unlikely.

I am not a US citizen so cannot advise on what size passport but someone will shortly.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Either place, note, you DO NOT leave your passport at the embassy when you apply for a new one, and they DO NOT cancel your present passport until you come in to pick up the new one.

Being in Nong Khai, Vientiane sure sounds more convenient, cheaper, too, even if you have to pay the baht 1,400 for the Visa On Arrival. You might confirm with them, tho, that they'll do a new passport for someone living in Thailand, I expect they will.

Re the number of pages, believe it's the same cost, but you can ask that, too. For sure, get the larger one anyway, current cost for extra set of pages is an outrageous $82!!!

Mac

[TerryLH]

You can also renew your US Passport at one of the Outreach Visits (by ACS). I think there is one scheduled for Udon Thani in Sept. They can now mail the passport back to you when it's done.

If the date works, it saves the fee for the Lao visa.

The next outreach planned for the Isaan

Region will be on September 8, 2011 in Udorn.

The following consular services will be available during

our outreach visits:

* Passport renewal applications ($110.00 or Baht 3,300 for adult

passports, and $105 or Baht 3,150 for a child's passport).

* Notarial Services and Certified Copies ($50.00 or Baht 1,500).

This includes income affidavits for retirees in Thailand.

* Extra visa pages ($82 or Baht 2,460). Note: we can accept

applications, but the passports will have to be brought back to the

Embassy for final processing the next working day. As of this writing,

Thailand Post has approved our request to use prepaid envelopes to

return passports. We will bring prepaid envelopes on outreaches that

you can buy from us (at cost) if you wish us have us mail your passport

back to you. Alternatively, you can pick up your passport at the

Embassy. You can also have a friend pick up your passport by giving

them written authorization to present to us.

* Social security, VA, or other federal benefits question will be

limited, but we will try to provide forms and answers.

(Please bring exact change!) Consular Reports of Birth cannot be processed during

consular outreach trips.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

or call the American Citizen Services Unit at 02-205-4049.