Valid Visa in Passport with Less Than Six Months

[DumbFarang]

Hi folks,

My American passport expires in mid-February, 2015. I recently received my double-entry tourist visa in this passport and used the first entry a couple of weeks ago. I am planning to use the full 90 days of this visa and then hopefully take a trip to some interesting places before returning and using the second entry.

It has only just occurred to me that my passport will be less than six months from expiration by the time I am ready to use the second entry.

The visa is absolutely valid and was issued when my passport had more than six months on it. I am assuming that there will be no problems but I wanted to get you guys' opinion.

(Also, since you guys are clever and will no doubt bring this up: traveling to other countries around that time will not be a problem because I will be using my UK passport for those trips, which is only a couple of years old.)

Thanks a big pile,

DF

[wayned]

The problem that you will have will not be with Thailand but with the countries that you intend to visit as they require 6 months validity. You should immediately make an appointment and go to the US Embassy and apply for a new passport. The cost is $110 and it takes about 10 days. Your old passport will remain valid until the new one arrives and you just show tha visa in the old passport for your second entry. You can also do it in Chang Mai.

[ubonjoe]

To enter Thailand you only need a passport for your length of stay. But to enter any other country in ASEAN you will need 6 months.

You need to be sure you use your 2nd entry before the use before the use before date on your visa.

You could swap passports if you are flying out on your trips. You cannot do it a border crossings.

If you are going to be here for a couple weeks you should consider getting a new passport at the embassy. Average time to get one is about 10 days. It will cost $110 to get it. It is bargain here because to get it back that fast in the states would cost you an extra $60 for expedited service.

Then you could use your tourist visa for your remaining entry by showing the old passport on entry to use your visa.

[DumbFarang]

Okay I was under the impression I would never see my old passport again once I applied for the new one, or at least that it would become completely meaningless along with everything inside it. It sounds like that is not the case and I can go ahead and get the new passport now without losing my visa.

Thanks guys.

[Suradit69]

The problem that you will have will not be with Thailand but with the countries that you intend to visit as they require 6 months validity. You should immediately make an appointment and go to the US Embassy and apply for a new passport. The cost is $110 and it takes about 10 days. Your old passport will remain valid until the new one arrives and you just show tha visa in the old passport for your second entry. You can also do it in Chang Mai.

"The problem that you will have will not be with Thailand but with the countries that you intend to visit as they require 6 months validity. "

He seems to have spoken to that issue in the OP

...traveling to other countries around that time will not be a problem because I will be using my UK passport for those trips, which is only a couple of years old.)