Retirement Visa & Renewing Passport Abroad

[davejones]

I have a retirement visa and plan to visit the UK in a few months time. I'll be getting a re-entry permit before I leave and plan to renew my passport in UK, as it's almost full. Will this cause any problems? The last time I renewed my passport I'm pretty sure they cut the corners off the old one. If they did this again my visa and re-entry permit would become invalid.

An alternative would be to renew while I'm here by applying to Hong Kong office. If I did that, would I need to transfer my retirement visa into new passport before I leave? If so, how do I do that? Just turn up at immigration and ask?

Is it possible to renew more quickly if I go to Hong Kong and renew in person? Does that present the same issues though, as my visa would be in the old passport?

[ubonjoe]

If you get your passport while in the UK your re-entry permit will still valid in the your old passport. The cancellation of a passport does not invalidate a valid visa or re-entry permit in it.

You will need to use both passports to show your re-entry permit in old passport when you return to Thailand.

Then you will need to go to immigration to have your extension stamp and visa entry info annotated in your new passport.

UK passports are no longer applied for via Hong Kong you now send them directly to the UK passport office. There is an ongoing topic about this. See: Changes to British passport services in Thailand

If you get a new passport while in Thailand you go to immigration to have the stamps transfered as soon as you have the new one.

[davejones]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

[ThaidDown]

If you are in the UK you can get a new passport in less than a day, with additional fee. You have to make an appointment first.

Info https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

[evadgib]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

Sign up here & you'll receive applicable updates:

https://www.gov.uk/government/email-signup?document_type=announcement_type_all

HTH

Mods: How about pinning this link as a sticky?

[Soutpeel]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

HK Stopped on 10 Dec 13

[KIWIBATCH]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

HI I am a Kiwi (New Zealander) I live in Bangkok.....

Just to throw a wee bit of light on this....although similar in nature to what you are planning re renewal/RT......my NZ process went like this (no doubt the UK procedure might be slightly different)

I needed a new PP to comply with the RT visa renewal. (1 year clear expiry/validity before RT able to be renewed)

Sent off (from BKK) by courier to the NZ PP Office...a renewal application form and my current PP.

NB. With an enclosed letter from me asking that they return my "old cancelled PP"

Received my new/old PP via courier ex NZ.

The NZ PP office had affixed a "Cancelled" stamp across the first page of the old PP...and cut a corner of the second page (the page that has their security code on it)

Took my Old/new PP into Thai Immi....explained to them the old and new issuance....they transferred all the "necessary" visa stamps (arrivals/departures etc etc) into my new PP........and renewed my RT at the same time (all done with a smile - from them - cost for transferring old to new info 1900 baht

Hope this helps

[davejones]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

HI I am a Kiwi (New Zealander) I live in Bangkok.....

Just to throw a wee bit of light on this....although similar in nature to what you are planning re renewal/RT......my NZ process went like this (no doubt the UK procedure might be slightly different)

I needed a new PP to comply with the RT visa renewal. (1 year clear expiry/validity before RT able to be renewed)

Sent off (from BKK) by courier to the NZ PP Office...a renewal application form and my current PP.

NB. With an enclosed letter from me asking that they return my "old cancelled PP"

Received my new/old PP via courier ex NZ.

The NZ PP office had affixed a "Cancelled" stamp across the first page of the old PP...and cut a corner of the second page (the page that has their security code on it)

Took my Old/new PP into Thai Immi....explained to them the old and new issuance....they transferred all the "necessary" visa stamps (arrivals/departures etc etc) into my new PP........and renewed my RT at the same time (all done with a smile - from them - cost for transferring old to new info 1900 baht

Hope this helps

This is what I've decided to do. I don't need to send my old passport to UK, so I can keep that, although they say it will be invalid once I apply for the new one. So I just hope an emergency doesn't arise while I'm waiting for my new one. They say it takes 4 weeks. Don't know why they don't hire more staff and provide a proper service. Should all be done in a day, or a few at most. But 4 week? What do they do - shove it in a drawer for 3.5 weeks? LOL.

[Jonmarleesco]

First of all, your visa etc is not invalidated by issue of another passport; you simply carry both with you. Second, you will need enough time in the UK to process it, though you can still get one issued same day by visiting the passport issuing office, but these days, for a premium. There is also a middle option which is cheaper and has the passport mailed to you around a week after application. If you go the HK route, be aware that they do not issue the passport, only process it; it goes to the UK for issue. They expect it to take four weeks, or so, but when I applied for a 48 page passport last August, I received it back one day after the receipt, and some two weeks after couriering it to HK.

[Jonmarleesco]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

HK Stopped on 10 Dec 13

Not according to my last contact with them, in August last year. They don't issue, just process and the UK issue. They told me that this year - March, I believe - the whole process is being moved to the UK. Whether that will result in a reduced fee no one could say, but knowing the government, I have my doubts.

[Jonmarleesco]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

HI I am a Kiwi (New Zealander) I live in Bangkok.....

Just to throw a wee bit of light on this....although similar in nature to what you are planning re renewal/RT......my NZ process went like this (no doubt the UK procedure might be slightly different)

I needed a new PP to comply with the RT visa renewal. (1 year clear expiry/validity before RT able to be renewed)

Sent off (from BKK) by courier to the NZ PP Office...a renewal application form and my current PP.

NB. With an enclosed letter from me asking that they return my "old cancelled PP"

Received my new/old PP via courier ex NZ.

The NZ PP office had affixed a "Cancelled" stamp across the first page of the old PP...and cut a corner of the second page (the page that has their security code on it)

Took my Old/new PP into Thai Immi....explained to them the old and new issuance....they transferred all the "necessary" visa stamps (arrivals/departures etc etc) into my new PP........and renewed my RT at the same time (all done with a smile - from them - cost for transferring old to new info 1900 baht

Hope this helps

This is what I've decided to do. I don't need to send my old passport to UK, so I can keep that, although they say it will be invalid once I apply for the new one. So I just hope an emergency doesn't arise while I'm waiting for my new one. They say it takes 4 weeks. Don't know why they don't hire more staff and provide a proper service. Should all be done in a day, or a few at most. But 4 week? What do they do - shove it in a drawer for 3.5 weeks? LOL.

See my response re HK closure. Unless things have changed since August - possible, I suppose - your sending your application direct to the UK will simply result in them sending it back - and I suspect NOT returning the fee.

[Jonmarleesco]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

HI I am a Kiwi (New Zealander) I live in Bangkok.....

Just to throw a wee bit of light on this....although similar in nature to what you are planning re renewal/RT......my NZ process went like this (no doubt the UK procedure might be slightly different)

I needed a new PP to comply with the RT visa renewal. (1 year clear expiry/validity before RT able to be renewed)

Sent off (from BKK) by courier to the NZ PP Office...a renewal application form and my current PP.

NB. With an enclosed letter from me asking that they return my "old cancelled PP"

Received my new/old PP via courier ex NZ.

The NZ PP office had affixed a "Cancelled" stamp across the first page of the old PP...and cut a corner of the second page (the page that has their security code on it)

Took my Old/new PP into Thai Immi....explained to them the old and new issuance....they transferred all the "necessary" visa stamps (arrivals/departures etc etc) into my new PP........and renewed my RT at the same time (all done with a smile - from them - cost for transferring old to new info 1900 baht

Hope this helps

This is what I've decided to do. I don't need to send my old passport to UK, so I can keep that, although they say it will be invalid once I apply for the new one. So I just hope an emergency doesn't arise while I'm waiting for my new one. They say it takes 4 weeks. Don't know why they don't hire more staff and provide a proper service. Should all be done in a day, or a few at most. But 4 week? What do they do - shove it in a drawer for 3.5 weeks? LOL.

See my response re HK closure. Unless things have changed since August - possible, I suppose - your sending your application direct to the UK will simply result in them sending it back - and I suspect NOT returning the fee.

A quick check online has the timetable being changed, so it is now the UK and Liverpool. Notice the fee has, predictably, not reduced, which makes renewing from abroad now an expensive con. If you intend to return to the UK, anyway, why not renew there and pay the standard fee instead of the inflated overseas one?

[davejones]

Good point. But I think I'd rather get it sorted now. Might not be in UK for long and don't want to spend it hanging around passport offices. Also, won't be staying in one place so won't really have anywhere to post it to. Would be much easier getting it done now. I'll check the prices though to make sure it's not too outrageous. But if it's only an extra £20 or so, then it's worth it to save the hassle in UK.

Just checked the prices for Jumbo passport.

Normal price £85.50

Same day service £137.00

From overseas £174.36

So quite a big difference. Almost £100.

[davejones]

The application form asked for proof of address which needs to be some kind of official document. I don't have anything like that to prove my address here. What have others used? Seems like a right hassle.I suppose if I renewed in UK they'd also want proof of address for here. They certainly like making our lives difficult.

[mrfaroukh]

Just make sure they do not make hole or tear that visa page with your re entry visa. I did the same and not problem. When you arrive show both passport. In immigration you have to spend more time to renew your retirement visa. They take 2 days to transfer your visa from old passport to the new passport and then when you come back after 2 days the will give you new visa in your new passport. You should then again get your re entry in your new passport in case you want to travel. Good luck

[Soutpeel]

Thanks. Sounds very straightforward. I didn't know passport issuing had stopped in Hong Kong, so will check out the waiting time for UK. Might be better to get it sorted now, then I'll be good to go for another 10 years,.

HK Stopped on 10 Dec 13

Not according to my last contact with them, in August last year. They don't issue, just process and the UK issue. They told me that this year - March, I believe - the whole process is being moved to the UK. Whether that will result in a reduced fee no one could say, but knowing the government, I have my doubts.

And that Aug not Dec Go and read the website then, its says as of 10 Dec 13 and my last contact with HK was on 13 Dec 2013 and they confirmed the same and presently there are no reduced fees

[ubonjoe]

Just make sure they do not make hole or tear that visa page with your re entry visa. I did the same and not problem. When you arrive show both passport. In immigration you have to spend more time to renew your retirement visa. They take 2 days to transfer your visa from old passport to the new passport and then when you come back after 2 days the will give you new visa in your new passport. You should then again get your re entry in your new passport in case you want to travel. Good luck

Where did it take 2 days to transfer the stamps? Immigration does it while you wait.

Visas are not transferred. Extensions are transferred and visa/entry info is annotated. There are re-entry permits not re-entry visas.

[Jip99]

When doing an extension is there any requirement for 6 months validity on your passport ?

[ubonjoe]

If you apply for an extension it will only be valid up to the date your passport expires.

There is no requirement to have 6 months remaining on your passport to apply for any extension if stay.

[Jip99]

If you apply for an extension it will only be valid up to the date your passport expires.

There is no requirement to have 6 months remaining on your passport to apply for any extension if stay.

Thank you.

If you get a new passport is the 'balance' of a 12 month extension then applied to the new passport ?

[Mario2008]

Not in the case the passport has expired.

[ubonjoe]

If you apply for an extension it will only be valid up to the date your passport expires.

There is no requirement to have 6 months remaining on your passport to apply for any extension if stay.

Thank you.

If you get a new passport is the 'balance' of a 12 month extension then applied to the new passport ?

No you have to apply for a new extension when the shortened extension ends. They no longer give you the remainder of the extension. This is what the change of rules were about in August of last year.

[Soutpeel]

Just make sure they do not make hole or tear that visa page with your re entry visa. I did the same and not problem. When you arrive show both passport. In immigration you have to spend more time to renew your retirement visa. They take 2 days to transfer your visa from old passport to the new passport and then when you come back after 2 days the will give you new visa in your new passport. You should then again get your re entry in your new passport in case you want to travel. Good luck

Where did it take 2 days to transfer the stamps? Immigration does it while you wait.

Visas are not transferred. Extensions are transferred and visa/entry info is annotated. There are re-entry permits not re-entry visas.

And who puts the hole or tears the page ?, renewing from thailand you don't send the passport to the UK, two days to transfer stamps last I did this it took the best part of a whole 15 minutes !