I lost my passport a while ago, got a police report, went to the embassy and received the new one about three weeks ago. I then went to Immigration in Bangkok, waited about an hour and a half to be told that they wouldn't transfer my visa because I did not have a letter from the UK Embassy. The embassy told me to take everything they gave me to immigration with me, so I did, but this wasn't sufficient. Because the immigration office in Bangkok is so far out of the way, and the embassy closes midday on a friday, I could not get my stamp transferred.

I live in Chonburi, so decided to see if I could get this done at immigration there to lower the costs a bit. I emailed asking if they'd be able to do it without the letter from the embassy and they said this was fine. So, I took another day off work and headed there. When I got there, after waiting a while, I was told it couldn't be done without the letter from the embassy, and I'd have to come back another time.

So, today I took another day off work and I went to the consulate in Jomtein, got the letter that was so important (the lady wanted me to come back the next day to collect it but I told her I had a flight booked for tomorrow and she did it in five minutes), and then went next door to immigration. I thought that now I had the letter, there would be no problems. However, after a long wait for me and many phone calls being made, I was told that I couldn't get it done here and I had to go to immigration in Bangkok.

I tried telling them I had a flight booked for the next day, too, to see if it would make any difference. In response, they told me not to worry about getting the visa transferred and it will be fine at the airport because my details are on the computer. They gave me a printout of the details about me from the computer, and told me to just take all my documents there.

I don't have a flight booked for tomorrow, but I have one booked to the UK for monday. My non-imm visa also expires on tuesday. I don't want to take another day off work unnecessarily because I am losing money each time I do this, plus the amount it costs to actually get to immigration in Bangkok (which I don't really have). Will I be ok leaving the country on monday? The immigration officer in Jomtien said it will be fine, how much weight should I give to this?

They have your info in the computer network. You didn't overstay and your visa info will show up when they scan or put your passport number in. Take the documents with you that the immigration officer gave you.

Firstly a visa can never be transferred into a new passport - it is still valid in old passport if multi entry and if single entry it expired on use when you made entry. Only the permission of stay is transferred and original visa information and that is only done if you are here on an extension of stay - otherwise you just present both passports on exit and everything is taken care of there and then.

But as you mention working are you on an extension of stay or not? If on an extension of stay indeed the transfer must be made by immigration. Is your current permission to stay 90 days (visa entry) or longer (extension of stay)? If extension of stay you need to make the transfer prior to departure at Bangkok immigration if that is where you live.

It appears, if you are on an extension, the onus is on the UK Embassy for not providing you the required letter (it has always been a requirement but one which that specific Embassy has a record of not providing - it seems Immigration is taking a hard line on that now?). But if you are only on a 90 day stay there should be no issue and you just take care of everything at exit point.

otherwise you just present both passports on exit and everything is taken care of there and then.

The OP lost his passport. He only has the new one without any immigrations stamps in it, plus the printout given to him by immigration.

Missed that but suspect Lauren is a lady. As you have what seems to be the all important letter (seems to be because of this being an emergency replacement passport with old passport not available that the letter is actually being required) you could visit Immigration in Bangkok tomorrow (if you are a work permit entry/extension I would suggest you do to be sure) or if not it seems Jomtien has checked that it should not be a problem on exit at airport.

Thanks for the replies. I haven't got my work permit or visa extension yet, it's my original three month visa that runs out on tuesday. You've reassured me that it should be ok, so unless I wake up with a drastic change of mind tomorrow, I think I'm going to risk it at the airport. I can see that all my information is on the computers from the print out, so just going to make sure I get there in plenty of time to deal with immigration.