My Dog Ate My Passport!

[AnyoneBesidesAsh]

Hey everyone,

I Have a bit of a dilemma, well, quite a big one actually. To cut a long story short, I was away for a couple of days, and came back to find that my greedy dog had sniffed out my passport and ate it... a lot of it. Careless me - I should have hidden it, I know.

The problem is this: my tourist visa runs out on the 22nd of this month, but by then I can get a further 1 month extension, totally 3 months. Hopefully!

I have downloaded the necessary forms to start the process of replacing my passport (C1 form/smart form) etc, but there is very little information on what to do with a passport that is completely unusable.

I have photocopied my passport from the front showing the severally chewed corners, and several pages (the photo page... which is still not too bad; my departure card, visa etc) to show the damage.

I have heard NOT to send the passport, damaged or not, as we are required to always have our passports here, right?

Although I have read no information on whether I need to send such photocopies, I guess it's best to do it anyway?

Additionally, I was going to wait until next week to go to Immigration and tell them of the damage. Does this need to be reported straight away? My passport is completely void as it stands in its condition. Will I be able to get the 1 month extension also? Given they won't be able to stamp my passport or anything...

This is so messed up. I'm freaking out. An expensive lesson learnt. I tried ringing both the UK embassy in BKK and in Hong Kong and I had no luck getting to speak to anyone with regards to my passport queries. You have to ring a premium rate number, it's crazy!

Lastly, should I go to immigration with my passport application and show them, at least, that I am starting the process to get another UK passport? Or should I just send it ASAP? I'm worried they are going to send my on my way to get more paperwork meaning I'll have to travel to BKK or Phuket costing even more.

Any help, that would be great

Edit: Sorry, if granted the 1 month extension, I imagine that would be plenty of time for my new passport to arrive so I can then do another run to get my Non-B this time?

Edited March 6, 2013 by AnyoneBesidesAsh

[MegaRanter]

i suggest you send the dog and remains to whomever is incharge.

Are you allowed dog ownership on tourist visa or are you blind or a war vet?

Edited March 6, 2013 by MegaRanter

[AnyoneBesidesAsh]

Just wow...

[Nautilus05]

Get ahold of the UK govt. I'm sure it's similar to Canada, and they do offer urgent services in cases such as this. Or at the very least, they'll be able to provide you with a temporary travel document, or something to confirm your citizenship.

[borisloosebrain]

Get a long rubber glove, a tub of vaseline, and.....well you know the rest....you may have to buy the dog a few drinks beforehand

[MegaRanter]

You forgot to mention the state of the white 'arrival'card. nibbled or swallowed whole?

[stoneyboy]

Under Thai Law you should have been in possession of said passport,thus saving you much hassle.

[AnyoneBesidesAsh]

The arrivals card has a couple of nibbles on it... lol, and is probably the most unscathed part of the whole passport.

The more I read online, the more likely it is that i'll have to get some form of emergency travel document?

lol - boris.

[GooEng]

I may be wrong, but I think that once your application for a new passport is submitted to the embassy, you are issued with a receipt and in the event of any request to present your passport this document will suffice. Following issuance of the new passport you then go to immigration and they will find your original entry and re-stamp the new passport.

My advice would be to complete the forms, get any photos etc you need and take yourself and the fee to the embassy and get in line. Your new passport should take about a week to arrive - well before the 22nd.

Ideally you should carry your passport at all times, but its sometimes a hassle (rain, beach etc), but when driving my bike or car as well as my driving licence I ALWAYS have at the very least a colour scan of my passport and the entry stamp & TM card. This has proved enough on a number of occasions at "tea money" road blocks.

Edited March 6, 2013 by GooEng

[AnyoneBesidesAsh]

I may be wrong, but I think that once your application for a new passport is submitted to the embassy, you are issued with a receipt and in the event of any request to present your passport this document will suffice. Following issuance of the new passport you then go to immigration and they will find your original entry and re-stamp the new passport.

My advice would be to complete the forms, get any photos etc you need and take yourself and the fee to the embassy and get in line. Your new passport should take about a week to arrive - well before the 22nd.

But it's all done through the UK Embassy in Hong Kong is it not? I assume ^^ this was the case when passport issues were dealt with at the UK Embassy in BKK.

[GooEng]

Yeah it's sent to HK now, but the staff at the embassy will be able to advise and provide a receipt.

Also, I seem to have some recollection that presenting a spoiled passport is better than nothing - it proves at the very least that the original hasn't been stolen and is now in the wrong hands.

Out of interest, other than actually going to the embassy how were you planning making the application?

[AnyoneBesidesAsh]

Yeah it's sent to HK now, but the staff at the embassy will be able to advise and provide a receipt.

Also, I seem to have some recollection that presenting a spoiled passport is better than nothing - it proves at the very least that the original hasn't been stolen and is now in the wrong hands.

Out of interest, other than actually going to the embassy how were you planning making the application?

You download/fill in the necessary forms, send them via DHL to the Embassy in HK. As I said, information on damaged passports is very sketchy/non-existent almost. From what I've read, it takes roughly 3-4 weeks for the arrival of your new passport, but of course I've only got 2 weeks until my 2 months is up. I don't think there's going to be anyway for Immigration to grant me the extra month now to allow time for it to come, and the last thing I want to do is pay overstay fees when the damn passport almost totted to 8,000 baht.

Edited March 6, 2013 by AnyoneBesidesAsh

[Dancealot]

This is uncanny! What an amazing story... Very sorry for what happened to you MR. ABA.

Agreed, do not send it. You have to keep it.

How bad is it? Can you please post a picture of the damages done? Maybe this helps..

First thing come to mind is you should go with the damaged passport to your Embassy ASAP and let them help you.

Edited March 6, 2013 by Dancealot

[GooEng]

Ok, I see. If that's the recommended approach now then I guess that's that.

It used to take about a week - i replaced a lost one a few years back, and I thought then was also made outside Thailand - not sure.

Is there an express service if you pay an extra fee?

I'd persevere in trying to speak to someone at the embassy - even if it means going there.

[wayned]

Under Thai Law you should have been in possession of said passport,thus saving you much hassle.

I worked with somone that followed this law. He carried both his WP and Passport in his back pocket. After he lost both of them once and his wife washed them twice he just carried his DL.

[beano2274]

First go to the Embassy so they can see the extent of the damage, then according to what they say apply for a new one using DHL to Hong Kong, the Embassy will give you nothing to take to Immigration as Immigration don't care.

When you get your new passport go to the border with the chewed one and the new one and get the stamp into your new passport.

[Greer]

I seriously don't understand why people ask a bunch of complete strangers on a public forum about the simple issue of a replacement for a damaged passport.

Obviously you go to the Embassy and talk to the consular services people, who will know exactly what to do, they do this sort of stuff all the time. Its not rocket science.

[snowflake]

Depending on where you live, I would take the damaged passport to the police station or immigration office unless you are in Bangkok. They are not unreasonable and explain that you have already sent off for a new passport. They will most likely help you out as much as they can.

Try to relax, your passport will probably be ready on time, they do have express service for most countries, but for England, you have to get thei emergency cell number, they will be able to give you more help than anyone on this forum.

[ubonjoe]

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED WITH A

DAMAGED PASSPORT

 C1 form

 Two Identity and Passport Service standard

photographs

 Passport fee

 Damaged passport

 Letter explaining how the passport became

damaged

Page 4 of this PDF file: http://centralcontent.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/central-content-pdfs/form-c1-notes.pdf

[snowey]

Simple: Find your local consular services and make an appiontment as soon as can be arranged. Also go to Immigration with all the docs and copies you can think of and ask for help. All will be resolved, at least you did not loose it all, lucky you fed the dog that day !!

[lopburi3]

Flames/trolls and replies removed.

[uptheos]

Under Thai Law you should have been in possession of said passport,thus saving you much hassle.

Absolutely right, get a plastic sleeve on a chain and wear it at all times.

[Dancealot]

Under Thai Law you should have been in possession of said passport,thus saving you much hassle.

Absolutely right, get a plastic sleeve on a chain and wear it at all times.

Would it make any difference in this unlucky case if he had a laminated colour copy of his passport and his visa?

I mean if so would this smooth-en the bureaucracy process?

[DekDaeng]

Under Thai Law you should have been in possession of said passport,thus saving you much hassle.

Absolutely right, get a plastic sleeve on a chain and wear it at all times.

Would it make any difference in this unlucky case if he had a laminated colour copy of his passport and his visa?

I mean if so would this smooth-en the bureaucracy process?

Yes if poss. get a mini copy of photo page & visa & laminate - most photo shops can do this. Even before you send it in. That, and receipt for damaged PP should suffice till you get new one - I think.

[dighambara]

Under Thai Law you should have been in possession of said passport,thus saving you much hassle.

To be in posession of a passport is to invite loss or theft. Most folks just carry a miniatured photocopy, like an ID card, and keep their actual passport in a lockbox.

I am actually puzzled as to how a dog got into his place to even find the passport. The dog should have been outside, or at a kennel.

[GooEng]

I wonder if it was a different species of animal? A bird perhaps ...

Sent from my iPad-mini.

[fire and ice]

Just wow...

Dogs in Thailand say "How" not wow. and in France they say Arf. but most French dogs are small... I think there are a zillion words for "bark" and "woof" in other languages.

[BoonToong]

Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree, but I have a theory that some governments deliberately flavour their passports, currency and other official documents, with beef bone marrow so that they can generate extra income.

[wooloomooloo]

A UK passport, in emergency circumstance, can be had in as little as ten days.

I've usually carried a photocopy of my passport in LOS, but never had to show either passport or photocopy to the BIB.

Maybe best to approach the Embassy in the first instance.