Renewing your U.K. Passport (Bangkok) May 2014

[mikebairdartist]

The rules for renewing a U.K. Passport has changed again (APRIL 2014)

Now you will have to contact [email protected] and give them a choice of 3 dates that are convenient for you to come to BANGKOK (IN PERSON) for an interview.

They will Email you back picking one of your dates.

Well, this week I went to Bangkok for my appointment time of 9-00 a.m. at THE TRENDY BUILDING. Sukhumvit Road. Soi 13. (Near THE MIAMI HOTEL)

When you get to the front of the Building you walk through the huge open glass doors and walk to the right or left to the LIFTS BEHIND the coffee area.

You will then get into one of four huge Lifts and go up to the 28th Floor.

When the door opens the VFS Visa Processing Office is straight in front of you and there was about 20 people each side waiting.

The Thai Attendant at the entrance asked "What Country passport do I need to replace."

And he points you into one of four rows.

You show the girl behind the desk the papers you have and she gives you a NUMBER.

You turn to your LEFT and there is a metal detector door frame which you have to walk through plus you must leave your papers and bags in a plastic tray on the side.

Once through you have to lift your arms up for the guy to scan your body with a hand held detector.

You then turn to your RIGHT and it opens up to a huge room and there are more glass doors.

There are very well dressed Female Attendants outside every door and one checks your number and she tells you where to go inside.

You go inside - This opens up like a huge airport lounge - There are 23 Rows - Mine was row 11. The room had about hundreds seats in it.

You wait until they call your number (Bit strange as some numbers have letters in front so you are not sure if it`s your number or not)

Then I was called up to counter 11 - and a very pretty English speaking Thai girl checked my papers/photos/address in Thailand.

After that she gets you to sign a paper stating what size passport you need and confirming the correct price.

YOU CAN ONLY PAY WITH A VISA CARD - ETC (NO CASH)

You should have filled in a paying form beforehand. (Which you should have downloaded from the British Embassy website).

They tell you "If you haven't got a visa card - use your friends".

She then gives you a form to sign stating they have received a copy of every page of your passport - two photos - and proof of address. Plus you have to give her your E-Mail address and your phone number in Thailand.

She said if everything goes O.K. she will contact me in about 4 weeks.

Then you have to go back to Bangkok and pick up the Passport - You will have to show your old passport and the form you have just signed.

That’s it.

So that’s a blow by blow account on how you apply for a replacement U.K. Passport.

[uptheos]

I will time a trip home to coincide with getting a new passport.

Sorry.......thanks for all the information.

Edited May 19, 2014 by uptheos

[chiang mai]

Ouch, sounds very restrictive and cumbersome, two trips to BKK, must pay by CC, hmm, not an improvement in any way, apart from the very attractive English speaking Thai girl perhaps..

[Jip99]

There is already a long running thread on this subject and the OP's experience would be better off merged with that.

[theoldgit]

This subject is already being discussed here http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713867-changes-to-british-passport-services-in-thailand/

I will close this thread, feel free to add to the numerous comments in the long running thread.