Extra Pages Us Passport

[SkyRider]

How many extra pages do I get if I add extra visa pages to my US passport?

I live in Bangkok and my passport has run out of pages. I'm trying to decide which is better, add extra visa pages or renew passport.

Since my passport is valid until 2016, I think I should add extra pages. But how many extra pages do I get for the $82 fee?

[JLCrab]

According to the DS-4085 Form you have the option of 24 or 48 pages. The US Embassy Bangkok says that a maximum of 3 additional inserts is allowed on any one passport.

From Form:

48 Pages

Please select the 48 page option only if you prefer to add 48 visa pages in lieu of the standard 24 extra pages to

your passport book. The larger book is appropriate for those who anticipate very frequent travel abroad during

the passport validity period and is recommended for applicants who have required the addition of visa pages in

the past.

[asiaexpat]

$82 gets you 48 pages. I did this in Dec. last years.

[DennyEagle]

Just renew, You need to get an apoinment online, Vientiane is easy, 15 days $110, get the big one same cost, Bangkok is a nightmare

[USNret]

If you do renew, you can get a passport with additional pages already included. I forget how many, but I got a big, fat new passport issued in BKK a couple of years ago.

[asiaexpat]

New U S passports come in either 28 or 52 page form. Same price $110. Fill out the DS-82 ahead of time and take to consulate with your current passport. I got 48 pages added in about 20 minutes in BKK.

[qdinthailand]

I'd go the renewal route - they put double the pages in the new passports versus the old ones, and a new passport isn't much more than the cost of adding pages.

Here in Chiangmai in 2012, I applied at U.S. Consulate for passport renewal. I received the new passport in the mail, from the passport issuing place (a contractor) down in Bangkok area, in less than 7 days. (that's what I call good service!)

[wayned]

I would get the pages added. If you renew, your passport number will change and it will affect all of the documentation that is tied to the old passport number. I got a new passport and tried to withdraw money from my bank account at a different branch than where the account was opened and they told me that I couldn't since the passport number encoded on the bankbook did not agree with my new passport number. I had to go to the opening branch and change the info. This account does not have ATM or internet access as it is a special account to have US SSA funds directly deposited. Four bank books later and two calls to Bangkok and the branch finally got the number changed, I think!

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Wayne

A tad off the topic, but not much, but this is where having the Yellow Tambien Ban is handy. That's the ID number now on my Thai driving permit. Reckon it could be used elsewhere, too, such as a bank.

Mac

[lopburi3]

I'd go the renewal route - they put double the pages in the new passports versus the old ones, and a new passport isn't much more than the cost of adding pages.

Here in Chiangmai in 2012, I applied at U.S. Consulate for passport renewal. I received the new passport in the mail, from the passport issuing place (a contractor) down in Bangkok area, in less than 7 days. (that's what I call good service!)

All US passports are made to order in the USA - there are no foreign contractors - even the Embassy does not hold them anymore. But it only takes about a week to 10 days to obtain.

[TerryLH]

"Just renew, You need to get an apoinment online..."

No appointment needed if you renew at one of the ACS Outreach visits.

[Pib]

I would get the pages added. If you renew, your passport number will change and it will affect all of the documentation that is tied to the old passport number. I got a new passport and tried to withdraw money from my bank account at a different branch than where the account was opened and they told me that I couldn't since the passport number encoded on the bankbook did not agree with my new passport number. I had to go to the opening branch and change the info. This account does not have ATM or internet access as it is a special account to have US SSA funds directly deposited. Four bank books later and two calls to Bangkok and the branch finally got the number changed, I think!

Yea, your passport "number" is tied to your bank account(s) and encoded in your passbook (some/all Thai banks have your passport number encoding and your signature on the last page of the passbook which can only be seen under a special light the bank uses). Most of you have probably seen the bank clerk hold your passbook under a special light when doing certain banking transactions....we'll they are looking at your signature and passport number on that last page...and if I remember right the account number is also shown again although the account number is also in normal view. Until you go to the branch(es) that issued the account/passbook) and submit the paperwork to update your new passport number and get a new passbook(s) issued reflecting the new passport number it can really throw a monkey wrench into some of your online and at-the-counter banking...it sure did for me. I had to go to three different branches due to the various accounts I had....I went through this a few months ago...but all is fine now.

[impulse]

I thought you can only renew a passport that has been lost, or has less than 1 year left on it?

[Pib]

I'd go the renewal route - they put double the pages in the new passports versus the old ones, and a new passport isn't much more than the cost of adding pages.

Here in Chiangmai in 2012, I applied at U.S. Consulate for passport renewal. I received the new passport in the mail, from the passport issuing place (a contractor) down in Bangkok area, in less than 7 days. (that's what I call good service!)

All US passports are made to order in the USA - there are no foreign contractors - even the Embassy does not hold them anymore. But it only takes about a week to 10 days to obtain.

I renewed my U.S. passport recently....applied for the 52 page version since it same price as the fewer page version...made an appointment for a Monday at the U.S. Bangkok Embassy...filed the renewal application and was told it takes approx. 2 weeks and they will email/call me when the passport is ready....I got an email 8 business days later on a Wednesday morning the new passport was ready...jumped in the SUV and went and picked up the passport....no appointment needed to pickup the passport...just take take along the email notification/mention at the security entrance you are there to pickup your passport. Shortly after that I ran into the banking issue mentioned in my above post and spent a week or so getting my bank accounts updated and online banking fully working again.

[Pib]

I thought you can only renew a passport that has been lost, or has less than 1 year left on it?

Apparently you can renew a U.S. passport anytime....even years before it expires/required. Link

[KED]

I emailed the US embassy recently to inquire about renewing a passport and was advised that all passports through the Bangkok embassy are the larger 52 page version automatically. I am in the same situation as the poster - my passport is good until 2018 but I have added pages and it is nearly filled. My retirement extension is in November, so I will also have a new passport issued at this time - my current passport is too cluttered - I would prefer to get a new passport to make it easier to navigate for immigration.

[Frank James]

I went on a visa run to the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and was told I was out of pages, even though there were some blank ones left. Turns out those were meant for special endorsements (?) and could not be used for visas. I ran down down to the American Embassy, where there was a demonstration going on outside (Israel had done something 'bad', and it was 'our fault' as usual).

To my utter surprise, and extreme gratitude, they bumped me right to the front of the line, got me to the right window, and within an hour I had 24 fresh pages pasted inside. (This was a week before they started charging the big fee, but i would have gladly paid it.) The staff were very nice to me. Cannot say the same for the Malaysians that work the windows at the Thai Embassy/KL. The guy I got seemed to take great pleasure in jacking me around. However, his boss was a decent lady, who allowed me to come back after hours and pick up my passport & visa at the guard shack outside.

If you have lots of time left on your passport, getting the extra pages seems like the way to go. As others have noted, your present book is probably connected to some things you've done here, and a new one might cause problems.

Chok dee, and GodSpeed!

[HerbalEd]

Just renew, You need to get an apoinment online, Vientiane is easy, 15 days $110, get the big one same cost, Bangkok is a nightmare

BKK is not at all a nightmare and is far less trouble, time and expense than going to Vientiane.

[HerbalEd]

I just found the answers to your question in about half a minute by simply Googling the phrases "us passport" and "add extra pages" which took me straight to the info on the US State Department's website.

I'm ever amazed by the many questions that get asked here on TV.com that could so easily and quickly be answered my simply using Google.

[Nowisee]

I'm ever amazed at the replies by people like you who seem to feel its necessary to rag about someone posting a question that has been asked before or can be found googling or searching the forum.

Who cares? Do not read the post.

[marell]

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/passports.html

[clarkeman]

I just found the answers to your question in about half a minute by simply Googling the phrases "us passport" and "add extra pages" which took me straight to the info on the US State Department's website.

I'm ever amazed by the many questions that get asked here on TV.com that could so easily and quickly be answered my simply using Google.

I have to get pages added to my passport soon. I saw the post headline in the email, featured topics and clicked. I was curious to see what other expats had done concerning adding passport pages, interested in where they went, time frames, and difficulties that might have occurred. What I learned from this post is that there are other options available to me besides just adding pages, I can renew. I now know that there is a slight price difference between adding pages and renewing. If I renew, what problems might occur that I might not have considered. I learned that there are 2 add page options. I learned how long other expats waited for their passport to arrive. I learned where it might be best to exercise any of these options. I don't believe the state departments website provides the personal experiences and insight that the OP's question has generated.

I'm ever amazed by the never ending negativity on TV, particularly from the most senior members. In stark contrast to most online communities, the senior members on TV are nearly always responsible for the most trollish, negative, denigrating comments. I have an idea after living in LOS for the past year and my interactions with the expat community, that to a large extent the expat community in Thailand is predominately a bunch of social misfits unable to function in the west and come here because the Thai's tolerate their BS.

I mean really, what required you to spend one moment of your time to reply, and add NOTHING to the conversation? In the future, if you think it's a question below your clearly superior intellect, <deleted> and move on.

In closing, thank you OP for the question and thank you TV community for your experiences and insight, I for one learned something today because of you.

[Suradit69]

I just found the answers to your question in about half a minute by simply Googling the phrases "us passport" and "add extra pages" which took me straight to the info on the US State Department's website.

I'm ever amazed by the many questions that get asked here on TV.com that could so easily and quickly be answered my simply using Google.

" that could so easily and quickly be answered by simply using Google"

... and with less contradictory, conflicting "information."

[Thailaw]

Do not get a new passport if you do not need to. You will not have the entry stamp and Arrival Card in your new passport. Your old passport and your new passport will need to be "linked" and your entry stamp and Arrival Card transferred to your new passport. This must be done by Thai immigration (in BKK on Soi Suan Plu) and requires a letter from the US Embassy. It is not in any way difficult and has no cost (except for a few photocopies), but does require an additional trip to Thai immigration (maybe you could do it by mail, not sure) and a wait. All in all, including travel, it took me half a day -- good thing to avoid if you can. My passport was full and I was told at the airport that if I came through again without more pages they would refuse me. The US Embassy would not add more pages -- the limit is 4 times -- so I had no choice but to get a new passport even though that passport was only 4 years old (I travel a lot).

They will only do the "double pages" on the first page addition. After that, it is single only. So, if this is your first page addition, get the double pages. I do not think it is automatic, so be sure. The cost is the same. I just had my fourth page addition in my new passport about 4 months ago, and I was told that next time it would need to be a new passport. I will not enjoy doing that.

[lopburi3]

Immigration has not been at Soi Suan Plu for Americans, and most others, for years. And there is no requirement to change anything at immigration in Bangkok unless you have an extension of stay from Bangkok. If you have an extension from elsewhere you do it there. If you do not have an extension of stay and are here on visa or visa exempt entry you just take care of it when you exit the country.

[IsaanUSA]

I don't live in Thailand, but I do travel abroad frequently. My old-style passport was full of so I had extra pages added without doing any research. I really regret my decision because my passport is very bulky now (it tripled the thickness). I didn't know you could renew a valid passport.

My advice is to renew your passport. (Unless you're a tinfoil hat person and don't want the biometric RFID version)

[Nana Cowboy]

I never had any banking problems after getting a new passport. I've withdrawn a lot of cash from the counter using my bank book opened with my old passport

[ericthai]

I'd go the renewal route - they put double the pages in the new passports versus the old ones, and a new passport isn't much more than the cost of adding pages.

Here in Chiangmai in 2012, I applied at U.S. Consulate for passport renewal. I received the new passport in the mail, from the passport issuing place (a contractor) down in Bangkok area, in less than 7 days. (that's what I call good service!)

All new passports come from the USA. The USA does not use any contractor.

Adding pages is done at the embassy, last time I had it done in BKK was I think around 2003 took about 1hr. I also had pages added in Ho Chi Minh, which was much fast I was in and out in about 30 minutes. to the OP I suggest you add pages, otherwise you will need to wait about 2 weeks to get you passport.

[ubonjoe]

For either option of adding pages or a new passport be sure you make an appointment. They are mandatory and you will not even get through the front door without one (unless a real emergency).

[SkyRider]

I just found the answers to your question in about half a minute by simply Googling the phrases "us passport" and "add extra pages" which took me straight to the info on the US State Department's website.

I'm ever amazed by the many questions that get asked here on TV.com that could so easily and quickly be answered my simply using Google.

I have to get pages added to my passport soon. I saw the post headline in the email, featured topics and clicked. I was curious to see what other expats had done concerning adding passport pages, interested in where they went, time frames, and difficulties that might have occurred. What I learned from this post is that there are other options available to me besides just adding pages, I can renew. I now know that there is a slight price difference between adding pages and renewing. If I renew, what problems might occur that I might not have considered. I learned that there are 2 add page options. I learned how long other expats waited for their passport to arrive. I learned where it might be best to exercise any of these options. I don't believe the state departments website provides the personal experiences and insight that the OP's question has generated.

I'm ever amazed by the never ending negativity on TV, particularly from the most senior members. In stark contrast to most online communities, the senior members on TV are nearly always responsible for the most trollish, negative, denigrating comments. I have an idea after living in LOS for the past year and my interactions with the expat community, that to a large extent the expat community in Thailand is predominately a bunch of social misfits unable to function in the west and come here because the Thai's tolerate their BS.

I mean really, what required you to spend one moment of your time to reply, and add NOTHING to the conversation? In the future, if you think it's a question below your clearly superior intellect, <deleted> and move on.

In closing, thank you OP for the question and thank you TV community for your experiences and insight, I for one learned something today because of you.

Thank you for that Clarkeman - and thank you to everybody else who gave constructive input on this topic. I appreciate it.