How Can I Get My More Pages On My Us Passport In Thailand?

[PaigeLeo]

My US passport has only 27 pages and I already used 10 pages. So I wonder if they are any way I can get pages more for my passport since I have to travel a lot and it wont be enough for me. and my passport will be expired in 2022 which is 9 years from now.. so I don't wanna make new one yet, just need more pages =)

please guide me through this... since I won't be able to go back and do it in the US. I will stay here for awhile.

[Mestizo]

Here you go:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=us+consulate+chiang+mai+add+passport+pages

Click the very first result!

-Mestizo

[USNret]

lmgtfy... awesome!

[Thighlander]

82 us? It's free in the States.

[Gonzo the Face]

82 us? It's free in the States.

I think the term is, "was free in the US".... I was told that they now charge for new pages...... It is supposed to be in the cost of a new passport when you get one now you can get double the pages..... Its hingsight now but when you renewed last year that option was available to you. The big or double size is 51 pages

[CMSteve]

yes, there is a box to check if you want the extra pages, but they make it so small and inconspicuous that its very easy to miss....

82 us? It's free in the States.

I think the term is, "was free in the US".... I was told that they now charge for new pages...... It is supposed to be in the cost of a new passport when you get one now you can get double the pages..... Its hingsight now but when you renewed last year that option was available to you. The big or double size is 51 pages

[vagabond48]

82 us? It's free in the States.

I think the term is, "was free in the US".... I was told that they now charge for new pages...... It is supposed to be in the cost of a new passport when you get one now you can get double the pages..... Its hingsight now but when you renewed last year that option was available to you. The big or double size is 51 pages

I got my passport 3 years ago so had plenty of pages but I still got in on the freebie pages a week before the offer expired.

[eyecatcher]

I have a Brit passport, and you can choose to get a standard 32 page or a large 78 (?)page as I recall.

After only 3 yrs, mine is down to its final 3 or 4 pages, getting 2 visas and several entry/exit stamps from Thai and Myanmar every year.

I thought they were expensive, but when i realise I pay the same price for a multi tourist visa, the GB passport is cheap by comparison.

I think you just have to learn by the experience and bite the bullet and trade your old passport in for a new one. I will be doing that probably here, as I dont spend long enough in UK for them to process a new one for me.

[Thighlander]

I stand corrected. I think a new passport is 125 now, or has that changed, too.

[hellodolly]

82 us? It's free in the States.

I think the term is, "was free in the US".... I was told that they now charge for new pages...... It is supposed to be in the cost of a new passport when you get one now you can get double the pages..... Its hingsight now but when you renewed last year that option was available to you. The big or double size is 51 pages

Not only that but when I was dealing with them in the States they would not take cash I had to go to a bank and get a check.

That was in the Seattle area.

[hellodolly]

Here you go:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=us+consulate+chiang+mai+add+passport+pages

Click the very first result!

-Mestizo

Many thanks for the link. It answers pretty much any question about a US passport. Have to renew mine this year. Book marked it.

[beano2274]

I have a Brit passport, and you can choose to get a standard 32 page or a large 78 (?)page as I recall.

After only 3 yrs, mine is down to its final 3 or 4 pages, getting 2 visas and several entry/exit stamps from Thai and Myanmar every year.

I thought they were expensive, but when i realise I pay the same price for a multi tourist visa, the GB passport is cheap by comparison.

I think you just have to learn by the experience and bite the bullet and trade your old passport in for a new one. I will be doing that probably here, as I dont spend long enough in UK for them to process a new one for me.

32 or 48 pages only for a UK one, and when it is full or nearly full you need to get another one, no putting new pages into a UK Passport.

[Mestizo]

82 us? It's free in the States.

I think the term is, "was free in the US".... I was told that they now charge for new pages...... It is supposed to be in the cost of a new passport when you get one now you can get double the pages..... Its hingsight now but when you renewed last year that option was available to you. The big or double size is 51 pages

Not only that but when I was dealing with them in the States they would not take cash I had to go to a bank and get a check.

That was in the Seattle area.

Correct. The fee is also $82 USD in the US. Details here:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html

And cash is not listed as an acceptable form of payment at a US passport agency. Credit Card, Check, or Money Order only.

I'm down to a single available page left in my passport that's already had pages added. I'll be adding more upon my return to Chiang Mai. No point in doing it in busy US passport agency, if there is no price difference.

-Mestizo

[Genericnic]

If you go to the CM Consulate and pay in baht, you end up paying more than the price in US$. While they say you can pay the equivalent in Thai baht, they fail to mention that they use a fixed exchange rate that is not tied to the daily rate. When I went for the income letter for my retirement extension last November, the spread between what they used to calculate the dollar equivalent and what the actual daily rate was about 2 baht per US$1.00, If I remember correctly. If that still holds, the $110.00 passport renewal will cost you about 220 baht more than the actual baht equivalent of $110. I'm curious to see if they use DCC on any credit card payments.

David

[Gonzo the Face]

If you go to the CM Consulate and pay in baht, you end up paying more than the price in US$. While they say you can pay the equivalent in Thai baht, they fail to mention that they use a fixed exchange rate that is not tied to the daily rate. When I went for the income letter for my retirement extension last November, the spread between what they used to calculate the dollar equivalent and what the actual daily rate was about 2 baht per US$1.00, If I remember correctly. If that still holds, the $110.00 passport renewal will cost you about 220 baht more than the actual baht equivalent of $110. I'm curious to see if they use DCC on any credit card payments.

David

It would be my advice to anyone (US Citizen) Who is in CM , use the consulate. I have been here long enough now to have gotten 2 seperate 10 year passports thru the consulate. The first time years ago, , and I do not remember the fee, but it was back in about 12 days. I thought that was unheard of. This last time , this past October , by internet I made an appointment to go in, went in and put it in on Tuesday morning, with leaving an email address for them to notify me when it came back Well in the miracle of miracles, I got thet email to come and get it 3 days later on Friday. However I had to wait til the following week on the nextr citizen services day.... To me that alone is worth the timy difference in baht payment. I have even told friends in the states to come over here and get their new passport when its time.....My sister and niece took close to 6 months thru the mail and the in the states system.

[Dante99]

If you go to the CM Consulate and pay in baht, you end up paying more than the price in US$. While they say you can pay the equivalent in Thai baht, they fail to mention that they use a fixed exchange rate that is not tied to the daily rate. When I went for the income letter for my retirement extension last November, the spread between what they used to calculate the dollar equivalent and what the actual daily rate was about 2 baht per US$1.00, If I remember correctly. If that still holds, the $110.00 passport renewal will cost you about 220 baht more than the actual baht equivalent of $110. I'm curious to see if they use DCC on any credit card payments.

David

Last time I was there they accepted payment in US$ and quoted prices in Baht or Dollars for me to choose my payment currency. Has that changed?

[vagabond48]

I went there several days ago to get a document notarized. I paid the $50 (ouch) with my US credit card. The baht equivalent was 1550 or 31B per dollar.

[demonietto]

It would be my advice to anyone (US Citizen) Who is in CM , use the consulate. I have been here long enough now to have gotten 2 seperate 10 year passports thru the consulate. The first time years ago, , and I do not remember the fee, but it was back in about 12 days. I thought that was unheard of. This last time , this past October , by internet I made an appointment to go in, went in and put it in on Tuesday morning, with leaving an email address for them to notify me when it came back Well in the miracle of miracles, I got thet email to come and get it 3 days later on Friday. However I had to wait til the following week on the nextr citizen services day.... To me that alone is worth the timy difference in baht payment. I have even told friends in the states to come over here and get their new passport when its time.....My sister and niece took close to 6 months thru the mail and the in the states system.

That is some great info. Mine expires 2014 November and I wasn't sure how to approach it as I haven't looked into it yet. I imagine you provide them with new photos? Thanks for the help, should be back in CM next year and will take up your advice.

[Genericnic]

If you go to the CM Consulate and pay in baht, you end up paying more than the price in US$. While they say you can pay the equivalent in Thai baht, they fail to mention that they use a fixed exchange rate that is not tied to the daily rate. When I went for the income letter for my retirement extension last November, the spread between what they used to calculate the dollar equivalent and what the actual daily rate was about 2 baht per US$1.00, If I remember correctly. If that still holds, the $110.00 passport renewal will cost you about 220 baht more than the actual baht equivalent of $110. I'm curious to see if they use DCC on any credit card payments.

David

Last time I was there they accepted payment in US$ and quoted prices in Baht or Dollars for me to choose my payment currency. Has that changed?

No, they still accept dollars or baht. You will just pay a bit more than the dollar amount if you pay in baht. It is not an excessive difference. Just another way for the government to skim a bit more from you. I have looked at the consular website and have never found a disclosure about the consular conversion rate or how they come up with it.

David

p.s. This is not a complaint about the service at the CM consulate. They are just doing what they are told to do from Washington.

[mesquite]

If you go to the CM Consulate and pay in baht, you end up paying more than the price in US$. While they say you can pay the equivalent in Thai baht, they fail to mention that they use a fixed exchange rate that is not tied to the daily rate. When I went for the income letter for my retirement extension last November, the spread between what they used to calculate the dollar equivalent and what the actual daily rate was about 2 baht per US$1.00, If I remember correctly. If that still holds, the $110.00 passport renewal will cost you about 220 baht more than the actual baht equivalent of $110. I'm curious to see if they use DCC on any credit card payments.

David

Last time I was there they accepted payment in US$ and quoted prices in Baht or Dollars for me to choose my payment currency. Has that changed?

No, they still accept dollars or baht. You will just pay a bit more than the dollar amount if you pay in baht. It is not an excessive difference. Just another way for the government to skim a bit more from you. I have looked at the consular website and have never found a disclosure about the consular conversion rate or how they come up with it.

David

p.s. This is not a complaint about the service at the CM consulate. They are just doing what they are told to do from Washington.

The US Consulate in Chiang Mai is not a bank or a money changer. My guess is they charge a higher rate for THB because of administrative costs. They are offering you the opportunity to pay in USD or THB. You can always take your THB to a money changer and get USD and then give that to the Consulate for payment. Note that in Ho Chi Minh City, for example, the US Consulate accepts payment in USD only. VND are not accepted at all. Perhaps the CM consulate should do the same, only accept USD.

BTW, how do you know the US consulate is only doing what they are told to do from Washington?

[mesquite]

If you go to the CM Consulate and pay in baht, you end up paying more than the price in US$. While they say you can pay the equivalent in Thai baht, they fail to mention that they use a fixed exchange rate that is not tied to the daily rate. When I went for the income letter for my retirement extension last November, the spread between what they used to calculate the dollar equivalent and what the actual daily rate was about 2 baht per US$1.00, If I remember correctly. If that still holds, the $110.00 passport renewal will cost you about 220 baht more than the actual baht equivalent of $110. I'm curious to see if they use DCC on any credit card payments.

David

It would be my advice to anyone (US Citizen) Who is in CM , use the consulate. I have been here long enough now to have gotten 2 seperate 10 year passports thru the consulate. The first time years ago, , and I do not remember the fee, but it was back in about 12 days. I thought that was unheard of. This last time , this past October , by internet I made an appointment to go in, went in and put it in on Tuesday morning, with leaving an email address for them to notify me when it came back Well in the miracle of miracles, I got thet email to come and get it 3 days later on Friday. However I had to wait til the following week on the nextr citizen services day.... To me that alone is worth the timy difference in baht payment. I have even told friends in the states to come over here and get their new passport when its time.....My sister and niece took close to 6 months thru the mail and the in the states system.

Agree totally. It took me three business days to get my new passport from the US Consulate in CM.

[Genericnic]

If you go to the CM Consulate and pay in baht, you end up paying more than the price in US$. While they say you can pay the equivalent in Thai baht, they fail to mention that they use a fixed exchange rate that is not tied to the daily rate. When I went for the income letter for my retirement extension last November, the spread between what they used to calculate the dollar equivalent and what the actual daily rate was about 2 baht per US$1.00, If I remember correctly. If that still holds, the $110.00 passport renewal will cost you about 220 baht more than the actual baht equivalent of $110. I'm curious to see if they use DCC on any credit card payments.

David

Last time I was there they accepted payment in US$ and quoted prices in Baht or Dollars for me to choose my payment currency. Has that changed?

No, they still accept dollars or baht. You will just pay a bit more than the dollar amount if you pay in baht. It is not an excessive difference. Just another way for the government to skim a bit more from you. I have looked at the consular website and have never found a disclosure about the consular conversion rate or how they come up with it.

David

p.s. This is not a complaint about the service at the CM consulate. They are just doing what they are told to do from Washington.

The US Consulate in Chiang Mai is not a bank or a money changer. My guess is they charge a higher rate for THB because of administrative costs. They are offering you the opportunity to pay in USD or THB. You can always take your THB to a money changer and get USD and then give that to the Consulate for payment. Note that in Ho Chi Minh City, for example, the US Consulate accepts payment in USD only. VND are not accepted at all. Perhaps the CM consulate should do the same, only accept USD.

BTW, how do you know the US consulate is only doing what they are told to do from Washington?

Actually, I do only pay in USD now.

David

[mesquite]

Last time I was there they accepted payment in US$ and quoted prices in Baht or Dollars for me to choose my payment currency. Has that changed?

No, they still accept dollars or baht. You will just pay a bit more than the dollar amount if you pay in baht. It is not an excessive difference. Just another way for the government to skim a bit more from you. I have looked at the consular website and have never found a disclosure about the consular conversion rate or how they come up with it.

David

p.s. This is not a complaint about the service at the CM consulate. They are just doing what they are told to do from Washington.

The US Consulate in Chiang Mai is not a bank or a money changer. My guess is they charge a higher rate for THB because of administrative costs. They are offering you the opportunity to pay in USD or THB. You can always take your THB to a money changer and get USD and then give that to the Consulate for payment. Note that in Ho Chi Minh City, for example, the US Consulate accepts payment in USD only. VND are not accepted at all. Perhaps the CM consulate should do the same, only accept USD.

BTW, how do you know the US consulate is only doing what they are told to do from Washington?

Actually, I do only pay in USD now.

David

Same here. Looking at this further, there are inconsistencies in published information. For example at http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html they say, "U.S. Embassies and Consulates accept the local foreign currency equivalent to the dollar ($) amounts indicated above" which is not true because the rates at least here in CM are not equivalent as discussed above.

[muchogra]

An obvious place to add pages in your passport is your local American Consulate. I had pages added twice in Bangkok. It was free then and done very quickly. That's about 20 years ago. I then had my passport changed when it expired. They had to send it to Washington DC which I think took about 2 weeks for my new passport. There was a charge. I don't remember how much they charged but it wasn't much, I'm sure cos I didn't bitch about it. Some countries like Australia and France, they put a damn visa stamp which occupied a whole page!

[vagabond48]

An obvious place to add pages in your passport is your local American Consulate. I had pages added twice in Bangkok. It was free then and done very quickly. That's about 20 years ago. I then had my passport changed when it expired. They had to send it to Washington DC which I think took about 2 weeks for my new passport. There was a charge. I don't remember how much they charged but it wasn't much, I'm sure cos I didn't bitch about it. Some countries like Australia and France, they put a damn visa stamp which occupied a whole page!

Unfortunately in Asia, most countries take up one full page for their visa. That includes Thailand's re-entry permit for those of us needing it.

[up-country_sinclair]

I think a new passport is 125 now,

$110 when I renewed last month.

[muchogra]

An obvious place to add pages in your passport is your local American Consulate. I had pages added twice in Bangkok. It was free then and done very quickly. That's about 20 years ago. I then had my passport changed when it expired. They had to send it to Washington DC which I think took about 2 weeks for my new passport. There was a charge. I don't remember how much they charged but it wasn't much, I'm sure cos I didn't bitch about it. Some countries like Australia and France, they put a damn visa stamp which occupied a whole page!

Unfortunately in Asia, most countries take up one full page for their visa. That includes Thailand's re-entry permit for those of us needing it.

I thought that was understood and considered normal apriori!

[muchogra]

Now that we're on the topic I would want to say how our American Consulate was so efficient before. Well, about 20 years ago!

I needed a signature clarification to redeem my mutual funds in the US. I was on the phone with the banks here for hours and got me nowhere. I went to the banks and got all kinds of irrevelent questions. Mind you, I only wanted them to verify if my signature was the same as my accounts but to no avail. I went to the Consulate and it was done in 15 minutes. The charge was very very minimal! What's happening to our government?