I hope this is a simple question. I just got a new US passport here in Chiangmai. They gave me a letter to the Thai Immigration Department so that I could get my visa moved to the new passport.

I need to know if this is required. My visa is a single-entry tourist visa, so it will not be used to enter the country another time. I depart from CM in a couple of weeks. Can I just present both old and new passports along with my departure card? Or must I visit Immigration and have the visa moved?

I apologize if this is an old topic, but it is important to me at the moment.

Thanks to anyone who can help me with this.

If not an an extension of stay, they will do it at the airport. Only when on an extension of stay people are send to immigration office to do it there.

You are not on an extension of stay, so should be allright.

I'm not so sure, that it's o.k. to do nothing.

Technically speaking the old passport is invalidated, when you get a new one. That would also make the immigration entry stamp invalid.

For one I would go and ask the Immigration,- can't hurt to politely ask.

When I got a new passport here a few years ago, I had to go to Immigration and have the entry stamp transferred. For the remaining time of the visa (!) I had to take both passports with me, as the visa can not be transferred (!) by Immigration. Visas are issued by embassies/consulates, which come under the Foreign Ministry, while Immigration is under Interior Ministry.

If I were you, I would play it safe.

Sam

There is no reason to visit immigration with a new passport when on a visa entry - it will be taken care of when you exit the country - this is confirmed by countless posts within the last six months - previously it did have to be taken care of at local immigration office but now only if you are on an extension of stay.