My UK passport has still got 2 years validity, but also only 3 empty pages left. I plan to renew my passport. How would this affect the status of my one-year Non-IMM thai visa? Can I staple the new passport with the old one to have the visa till the visa is over? Or shall I wait till the old passport runs the clock? I am concerned that I would run out of pages...

Get a new passport and just use both to use the valid visa(s) in the old one

you have not indicated if the Visa is multi entry, if multi then keep both passports together, if single or an extension then take the new and old passports to your local immigration office and they will transfer the stamps, they require 2 pages of your new passport for all the transfers.

I had 2 pages left in my old one and renewed, new passport valid for 10 years and 9 months.

There is no longer any need to transfer at local immigration when here on a visa entry from recent reports - you just take care of it on exit. If here on an extension of stay from Immigration then you visit immigration to transfer that stamp into the new passport.

Information regarding both ways is pertinent, and could be useful to others who read the post.

I will renew my UK passport for similar reasons next month and I was hoping to get a little help on the procedures.

I am in Pattaya but everything should remain the same other than using a different DHL office.

I was under the impression I could keep my old passport and send off for a new one including copies. I am required, I believe, to keep my passport with me while in Thailand and not having it for 4-6 weeks could cause problems.

Looking at the website..

link

I am told I have to send off the old one, the only other alternative being a 'lost passport'.

Anybody out there done this recently and is prepared to help me with their experiences?

From the link you provided:

Specific requirements from Thailand

ORIGINAL PASSPORT: Thailand is an exception to the main guidance given on our primary website. It is not advised to be without your original passport in Thailand and we recognise this. You may therefore submit a clear photocopy of your passport (just the page with your personal details and photograph). Please note that the passport being renewed will be electronically cancelled and is therefore not valid for use as a travel document from the moment you submit your application.

you have not indicated if the Visa is multi entry, if multi then keep both passports together, if single or an extension then take the new and old passports to your local immigration office and they will transfer the stamps, they require 2 pages of your new passport for all the transfers.

I had 2 pages left in my old one and renewed, new passport valid for 10 years and 9 months.

I have just done the same whilst on a visit to the UK. (it suited me to visit the Peterborough passport office and they were ultra-efficient).

When I return to Thailand in January I will have 4 months left on my non-O multi-entry. I have 4 trips out of Thailand planned before the end of March and I am sure that at least one immigration pointwill get arsey about the 2 passport concept. I shall probability take the opportunity to get an extension shortly after I get back.

I will renew my UK passport for similar reasons next month and I was hoping to get a little help on the procedures.

I am in Pattaya but everything should remain the same other than using a different DHL office.

I was under the impression I could keep my old passport and send off for a new one including copies. I am required, I believe, to keep my passport with me while in Thailand and not having it for 4-6 weeks could cause problems.

Looking at the website..

link

I am told I have to send off the old one, the only other alternative being a 'lost passport'.

Anybody out there done this recently and is prepared to help me with their experiences?

i think you also need to be aware that HK cancel your old passport upon receipt of the renewal application. The would inevitably present problems if you were traveling out of Thailand (at a border point with electronic scanners).

Just a note about timescale, I today received a new passport from the UK, sent my application off to Hong Kong 22 days ago, replacing my stolen passport. I was concerned it would take up to the 6 weeks they warn, but for once I am somewhat impressed with the service.

I will renew my UK passport for similar reasons next month and I was hoping to get a little help on the procedures.

I am in Pattaya but everything should remain the same other than using a different DHL office.

I was under the impression I could keep my old passport and send off for a new one including copies. I am required, I believe, to keep my passport with me while in Thailand and not having it for 4-6 weeks could cause problems.

Looking at the website..

link

I am told I have to send off the old one, the only other alternative being a 'lost passport'.

Anybody out there done this recently and is prepared to help me with their experiences?

i think you also need to be aware that HK cancel your old passport upon receipt of the renewal application. The would inevitably present problems if you were traveling out of Thailand (at a border point with electronic scanners).

Thanks, I also found the statement regarding copies later.

I am going to wait until after XMAS and have no trips planned, I hope no emergency arises!

I have a home and a family in Chiang Mai but reguarly do work in India, Bangladesh and elsewhere. I got through a 48 page passport in less than two years.

The possibility of being without a passport for four weeks was not acceptable so I went to the UK. An interview for the four hour passport (same day service) was easily arranged at Liverpool. They looked at the photographs carefully taken in Chiang Mai and said "these were not taken in the UK, please use the machine in the office". Cost a fiver. Could have led to a rejection of the application if it had been sent by post.

They seemed happy to have the photo signed on the back which was from Chiang Mai. I had the feeling that it is good to have a signed photo as the decision as to whether or not your likeness has changed seems to be at the discression of the officer dealing with the application.

Requests not to cancel my current passport were not entertained with the result that my Thai Non Imm O visa and Indian and Bangladesh business visas were cancelled automatically.

The Indian visa took three days just to transfer to the new passport. Bangladesh doesn't do transfers, but a new visa was issued in Bangkok. Usually three days but negotiable down to two days. A Thai consulate in the UK said I needed a new NON IMM O visa and charged me £125 for a one year multiple entry. Issued in 10 minutes. Luckily I a copy of my wife's passport and our marriage certificate with me. I was concerned that if I came back without a NON IMM O visa then I would get a tourist visa on arrival and have to start the "married to a Thai" process all over again.

On arrival at BKK I showed the cancelled and new passports to the immigration officer and he stamped the passport based on my earlier visa.

Chiang Mai Immigration were nice as usual and without cost transferred all the stamps from old to new passport. The new visa issued in the UK caused a bit of a problem and in the end we both signed on it saying that it was agreed that it would be cancelled.

Hope this helps others with similar problems.

The solution is two passports. Now I am getting into that!!

Requests not to cancel my current passport were not entertained with the result that my Thai Non Imm O visa and Indian and Bangladesh business visas were cancelled automatically.

Cancellation of a passport (by cutting the cover and photo pages) does not normally cancel any visas contained within. I can't speak for Bangladesh, but I've entered both Thailand and India using visas in my cancelled passport, just present both to immigration on arrival.

I know the feeling of using up a very expensive 48 page PP in short order, my last one lasted 3 years

Cancellation of a passport dos not cancel any visas, unless the pages with a live visa on it are also cut off. That is normally considered as that the visa is also invalid. But if the page is intact, the visa remains valid.

Requests not to cancel my current passport were not entertained with the result that my Thai Non Imm O visa and Indian and Bangladesh business visas were cancelled automatically.

It should still be possible to get 2 UK passports, but as you found out it's not quite as easy as requesting your old one isn't cancelled. I had exactly the same problem last time I went for a renewal in Glasgow...

With an accompanying letter explaining why you need 2 passports it should be possible (especially, it'd be because you're visiting "incompatible" countries, but you can also get a 2nd if you're a frequent traveller and (one of) your passports needs to be sent away for visas frequently). The letter should come from your employer and needs to contain a list of places you visit or intend to visit.

I haven't been back to the UK do it yet, but I gather it's still possible...

Validity of visas on new passports

The information I was given is that when the visa has the passort number written on it, or the wording that it is valid only as long as the passport remains valid, then when the passort is cancelled as part of the process of getting a new one, existing visas are cancelled and need to be either transferred or re-issued.

What to do varies from country to country. The Indians will only transfer a visa to a new passport if you apply to the Consulate where the original visa was issued. The Bangladeshi's don't do transfers, you have to re-apply.

It looks as if the Thai's might be happy with a visa in a cancelled passport, but that wasn't the information I was given at a Consulate in the UK and I didn't want to take the risk of getting a tourist visa on arrival and having to start the whole Non Imm O process again.

Requests not to cancel my current passport were not entertained with the result that my Thai Non Imm O visa and Indian and Bangladesh business visas were cancelled automatically.

It should still be possible to get 2 UK passports, but as you found out it's not quite as easy as requesting your old one isn't cancelled. I had exactly the same problem last time I went for a renewal in Glasgow...

With an accompanying letter explaining why you need 2 passports it should be possible (especially, it'd be because you're visiting "incompatible" countries, but you can also get a 2nd if you're a frequent traveller and (one of) your passports needs to be sent away for visas frequently). The letter should come from your employer and needs to contain a list of places you visit or intend to visit.

I haven't been back to the UK do it yet, but I gather it's still possible...

A friend recently acquired a second passport via HK.

Very simple process - we just needed to supply a letter to say that he was required to exit Thailand every month to escort tour groups.

Validity of visas on new passports

The information I was given is that when the visa has the passort number written on it, or the wording that it is valid only as long as the passport remains valid, then when the passort is cancelled as part of the process of getting a new one, existing visas are cancelled and need to be either transferred or re-issued.

What to do varies from country to country. The Indians will only transfer a visa to a new passport if you apply to the Consulate where the original visa was issued. The Bangladeshi's don't do transfers, you have to re-apply.

It looks as if the Thai's might be happy with a visa in a cancelled passport, but that wasn't the information I was given at a Consulate in the UK and I didn't want to take the risk of getting a tourist visa on arrival and having to start the whole Non Imm O process again.

See post #14. I have entered the Kingdom 3 times this year on a visa in a cancelled passport - not even an eyebrow raised.

Validity of visas on new passports

The information I was given is that when the visa has the passort number written on it, or the wording that it is valid only as long as the passport remains valid, then when the passort is cancelled as part of the process of getting a new one, existing visas are cancelled and need to be either transferred or re-issued.

It looks as if the Thai's might be happy with a visa in a cancelled passport, but that wasn't the information I was given at a Consulate in the UK and I didn't want to take the risk of getting a tourist visa on arrival and having to start the whole Non Imm O process again.

Thailand will definitely accept a current visa in a cancelled old passport (note that the relevant visa pages in the old passport were intact and not corner snipped) - have done it myself a couple of times.