Putting in a Good Word for American Consulate/CM

[Frank James]

On July 31 I went to ACS Chiang Mai to renew my passport. The old one doesn't expire until April, but I am going into Immigration at the end of this month to renew my one year retirement visa, so the stamp can go directly into the new book. Also, I didn't want to be caught short with a passport that has less than six months to run. Sometimes the airlines are finicky about that.

 

Got an email today (Aug 6) that the new book is ready for pickup, and can be retrieved without an appointment any Tues or Thurs between 1:30 and 3:30. That's astoundingly fast, considering that they told me the application gets transmitted to the States, and they make  up the books over there. Best news of all, the standard book and the extra pages book are now the same price. I'm not sure exactly what it cost, because I paid (in baht, cash)  for another service at the same time (the income verification affidavit.). The information sheet quotes $110, which sounds about right.

 

They estimated it would take two weeks, and yet it got done in less than a week. That's what I call good service. Thanks, my Beloved USA!

[mania]

+1

 

Yes I have always had good service over the years there

I usually go there for residence certificates etc.

 

But always a pleasant experience. Nice folks working there.

 

 

 

 

[Thighlander]

Only downside is that pages can no longer be added.  I got my new one in the US, last December, and I wish that I had done it here in September.  Mine took about three weeks, but it was over the Holidays.  A lot of people go into the local PO, but they are wasting 25 USD, and it doesn't speed up the process, at all.

 

Did they let you hang on to your old one during the wait?  In the US, it comes back a few days after you get the new one.

[OccamsRazor]

Our timing was pretty close to the same.  I applied for mine a week before yours and 9 days later got the e-mail notification which did surprise me.  Picked it up Tuesday afternoon this week, no appointment needed and staff were quite friendly.  $110.00 USD is correct for the fee. 

 

And I was a bit confused when I applied and checked the 28 page book as they then pointed out the 52 page book was no extra charge so I figured no telling where I will be going for the next 10 years so opted for it.

[OccamsRazor]

 

Did they let you hang on to your old one during the wait?  In the US, it comes back a few days after you get the new one.

 

This is my 3rd US passport renewal in Thailand and they always let you keep the old one while the new one is being processed.  Came in and they had me verify the passport information was correct then red stamped the main page Cancelled and punched two sets of holes in the front and back of the passport and left with both of them.  Gave me the letter to immigration along with it.
 

[hml367]

Only downside is that pages can no longer be added.  I got my new one in the US, last December, and I wish that I had done it here in September.  Mine took about three weeks, but it was over the Holidays.  A lot of people go into the local PO, but they are wasting 25 USD, and it doesn't speed up the process, at all.

 

Did they let you hang on to your old one during the wait?  In the US, it comes back a few days after you get the new one.

 

When did they stop adding pages to passports?
 

[mesquite]

 

Only downside is that pages can no longer be added.  I got my new one in the US, last December, and I wish that I had done it here in September.  Mine took about three weeks, but it was over the Holidays.  A lot of people go into the local PO, but they are wasting 25 USD, and it doesn't speed up the process, at all.

 

Did they let you hang on to your old one during the wait?  In the US, it comes back a few days after you get the new one.

 

When did they stop adding pages to passports?
 

 

 

I had pages added in May.  No problem.  $82.

[OccamsRazor]

 

Only downside is that pages can no longer be added.  I got my new one in the US, last December, and I wish that I had done it here in September.  Mine took about three weeks, but it was over the Holidays.  A lot of people go into the local PO, but they are wasting 25 USD, and it doesn't speed up the process, at all.

 

Did they let you hang on to your old one during the wait?  In the US, it comes back a few days after you get the new one.

 

When did they stop adding pages to passports?
 

 

 

The US state department still shows pages can be added - http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/services/pages.html

[landtrout]

Only downside is that pages can no longer be added.  I got my new one in the US, last December, and I wish that I had done it here in September.  Mine took about three weeks, but it was over the Holidays.  A lot of people go into the local PO, but they are wasting 25 USD, and it doesn't speed up the process, at all.

 

Did they let you hang on to your old one during the wait?  In the US, it comes back a few days after you get the new one.

 

  Dead wrong. 

 

  As usual.

[zeichen]

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

[OccamsRazor]

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

 

Ask the Brits how long it takes for them to get a passport renewal.  In comparison the US service is exemplary. 

 

And when I did my 1st renewal 20 years ago it was done in Bangkok rather than sent to the US and a few days turn around.  Have to say my experience is different than yours in the 21 years here as it seems to have improved.  Never heard of Singapore handling the passports unless it was an intermediate courier service.  Obviously my last one was 10 years ago and nearly the same turn around time as this one.

[junglechef]

They have always done a good job due to their effort in doing their best! Once there was a problem with forms on the website and I mentioned it to the CM US Consulate General. He told me to email him the details and a Thai guy from his office got back to me, was very polite, friendly, communicative and helpful and got it fixed. A small hick-up but it ended well and it wasn't a painful experience! 

I'm in the middle of trying to get some things done at the Israeli Embassy in BKK and have been treated atrociously by the Thai staff and the Israeli staff just tell me that they will take care of me. Canceled my trip there because of it! (the Israeli Consul of the Consulate who the top person in the Consular Dept. personally told me my GF will be approved for a visa) but after 60 phone calls and many emails just to get a form to fill out to find out what I need to fill out a visa application for my GF and still nowhere closer to getting it.  I don't need the stress.

So the service at the US Embassy here shows that anyone can be helpful and do a good job, it is easily possible if the powers that be care enough to be sure it works.

Also I did add pages 2 yrs ago, no knowledge of policy since then. 

[khwaibah]

As a US passport holder when applying over seas you are always given the larger  passport (52 pages) for the same price. Also The US Consulate gives the standard reply of a two week wait for a new passport.  A 6 day turn around is normal  for the US Consulate and all passports are made in the USA. 

[hml367]

As a US passport holder when applying over seas you are always given the larger  passport (52 pages) for the same price. Also The US Consulate gives the standard reply of a two week wait for a new passport.  A 6 day turn around is normal  for the US Consulate and all passports are made in the USA. 

 

I think that is an option you must check the box for.  It is, however, no additional cost.  The application indicates it would be no additional cost no matter where you apply.

 

When I renewed mine I did not get the extra pages and added them later.

 

Requesting a Larger Passport Book When Renewing

If you travel frequently, you may request a larger passport book with 52 pages, at no additional cost. To request a larger (52 page) passport book, check the '52 page' box at the top of your passport application.

Please note: We are able to honor most requests for larger passport books, but due to supply limitations we cannot guarantee you will be issued a larger passport book.

 

 

[khwaibah]

They have always done a good job due to their effort in doing their best! Once there was a problem with forms on the website and I mentioned it to the CM US Consulate General. He told me to email him the details and a Thai guy from his office got back to me, was very polite, friendly, communicative and helpful and got it fixed. A small hick-up but it ended well and it wasn't a painful experience! 

I'm in the middle of trying to get some things done at the Israeli Embassy in BKK and have been treated atrociously by the Thai staff and the Israeli staff just tell me that they will take care of me. Canceled my trip there because of it! (the Israeli Consul of the Consulate who the top person in the Consular Dept. personally told me my GF will be approved for a visa) but after 60 phone calls and many emails just to get a form to fill out to find out what I need to fill out a visa application for my GF and still nowhere closer to getting it.  I don't need the stress.

So the service at the US Embassy here shows that anyone can be helpful and do a good job, it is easily possible if the powers that be care enough to be sure it works.

Also I did add pages 2 yrs ago, no knowledge of policy since then. 

 

You may add pages for 82 USD or get a new passport for 110 USD.

[fredge45]

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

 

+1

 

And since the Bozo Bush administration so much more expensive as well.  Someone has to pay for Iraq and Afghanistan?

 

Passport before this last one -
$25 and had my driver do the processing at the US emassy in Jakarta - 3 hours.

 

Last one - $55, went through the hassle at Chiang Mai consulate (was told by a mouthy Thai employee that if I didn't like the price I should write my Congressman) - 90 days and then I had to call them to see when it had arrived.

 

Now $110, make an appointment for application.

 

So glad to see how our tax dollars are spent/wasted.

[mesquite]

 

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

 

+1

 

And since the Bozo Bush administration so much more expensive as well.  Someone has to pay for Iraq and Afghanistan?

 

Passport before this last one -
$25 and had my driver do the processing at the US emassy in Jakarta - 3 hours.

 

Last one - $55, went through the hassle at Chiang Mai consulate (was told by a mouthy Thai employee that if I didn't like the price I should write my Congressman) - 90 days and then I had to call them to see when it had arrived.

 

Now $110, make an appointment for application.

 

So glad to see how our tax dollars are spent/wasted.

 

 

Sounds horrible! 

 

Maybe you can do this:  http://renunciationguide.com/

[Cyclist]

Based on personal experience you will need to transfer your current visa to your new passport before they will extend your retirement visa.

[khwaibah]

Based on personal experience you will need to transfer your current visa to your new passport before they will extend your retirement visa.

 

Visa are never transferable. Extension to stay stamps are.

[OccamsRazor]

 

Based on personal experience you will need to transfer your current visa to your new passport before they will extend your retirement visa.

 

Visa are never transferable. Extension to stay stamps are.

 

 

True, but the information of the original visa is transferred along with the permission of stay information.
 

[wales01]

 

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

 

Ask the Brits how long it takes for them to get a passport renewal.  In comparison the US service is exemplary. 

 

And when I did my 1st renewal 20 years ago it was done in Bangkok rather than sent to the US and a few days turn around.  Have to say my experience is different than yours in the 21 years here as it seems to have improved.  Never heard of Singapore handling the passports unless it was an intermediate courier service.  Obviously my last one was 10 years ago and nearly the same turn around time as this one.

 

British passport took me five weeks to get before they got swamped in April this year. I know people in the UK that waited nine weeks! Good old British service, cant fault it.

[junglechef]

 

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

 

+1

 

And since the Bozo Bush administration so much more expensive as well.  Someone has to pay for Iraq and Afghanistan?

 

Passport before this last one -
$25 and had my driver do the processing at the US emassy in Jakarta - 3 hours.

 

Last one - $55, went through the hassle at Chiang Mai consulate (was told by a mouthy Thai employee that if I didn't like the price I should write my Congressman) - 90 days and then I had to call them to see when it had arrived.

 

Now $110, make an appointment for application.

 

So glad to see how our tax dollars are spent/wasted.

 

 

It's called economics, are you getting payed the same now as when you payed $25 for a new passport?

[zeichen]

"It's called economics, are you getting payed the same now as when you payed $25 for a new passport?"

 

actually in CM for teachers we are actually paid less than we were 10 years ago.

 

But you are correct in general.

 

My only issue is the online appointments and basically no questions or help anymore.

[Frank James]

I can't imagine ever wanting to renounce my American citizenship, for any reason whatsoever. America has given me a wonderful life, even though I am very far from rich. I don't like a lot of things that our government has done. Governments and politicians come and go. I don't live there now, but I am American to my dying day.

 

As for a 52 page passport, completed in one week, costing $110...words fail me. It's the most important document you will ever possess. It costs money to process. Iraq and Afghanistan and Bush and (your favorite complaint goes here) have little or nothing to do with it.

[junglechef]

"It's called economics, are you getting payed the same now as when you payed $25 for a new passport?"

 

actually in CM for teachers we are actually paid less than we were 10 years ago.

 

But you are correct in general.

 

My only issue is the online appointments and basically no questions or help anymore.

 

Sorry I meant in the real world 

[fredge45]

 

 

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

 

+1

 

And since the Bozo Bush administration so much more expensive as well.  Someone has to pay for Iraq and Afghanistan?

 

Passport before this last one -
$25 and had my driver do the processing at the US emassy in Jakarta - 3 hours.

 

Last one - $55, went through the hassle at Chiang Mai consulate (was told by a mouthy Thai employee that if I didn't like the price I should write my Congressman) - 90 days and then I had to call them to see when it had arrived.

 

Now $110, make an appointment for application.

 

So glad to see how our tax dollars are spent/wasted.

 

 

It's called economics, are you getting payed the same now as when you payed $25 for a new passport?

 

 

Nope.  I'm retired now and drive myself.
 

[fredge45]

 

 

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

 

+1

 

And since the Bozo Bush administration so much more expensive as well.  Someone has to pay for Iraq and Afghanistan?

 

Passport before this last one -
$25 and had my driver do the processing at the US emassy in Jakarta - 3 hours.

 

Last one - $55, went through the hassle at Chiang Mai consulate (was told by a mouthy Thai employee that if I didn't like the price I should write my Congressman) - 90 days and then I had to call them to see when it had arrived.

 

Now $110, make an appointment for application.

 

So glad to see how our tax dollars are spent/wasted.

 

 

Sounds horrible! 

 

Maybe you can do this:  http://renunciationguide.com/

 

 

My, my... getting a bit techy now are we? 

 

How did that saying go back in the '60's - 'merica, love it or leave it? 
 

[mesquite]

 

 

 

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

 

+1

 

And since the Bozo Bush administration so much more expensive as well.  Someone has to pay for Iraq and Afghanistan?

 

Passport before this last one -
$25 and had my driver do the processing at the US emassy in Jakarta - 3 hours.

 

Last one - $55, went through the hassle at Chiang Mai consulate (was told by a mouthy Thai employee that if I didn't like the price I should write my Congressman) - 90 days and then I had to call them to see when it had arrived.

 

Now $110, make an appointment for application.

 

So glad to see how our tax dollars are spent/wasted.

 

 

Sounds horrible! 

 

Maybe you can do this:  http://renunciationguide.com/

 

 

My, my... getting a bit techy now are we? 

 

How did that saying go back in the '60's - 'merica, love it or leave it? 
 

 

Well, for you it's either that or fork out $110 soon and then more every ten years.  Spending that kind of money seems to cause you pain. 

 

Though, I guess another option would be for you to come out of retirement and go back to work to make these unreasonable payments.

 

[northernjohn]

 

 

 

Funny that you think that is good service. When I did mine 2 years back I got mine in 3 days.  They told me less than a week. When I had my passport redone 12 years ago took 3 weeks and came from Singapore.

 

I wouldn't give CM consul any credit for it though. In the past few years, I think that the US Consulate here in CM has become increasingly less helpful.

 

+1

 

And since the Bozo Bush administration so much more expensive as well.  Someone has to pay for Iraq and Afghanistan?

 

Passport before this last one -
$25 and had my driver do the processing at the US emassy in Jakarta - 3 hours.

 

Last one - $55, went through the hassle at Chiang Mai consulate (was told by a mouthy Thai employee that if I didn't like the price I should write my Congressman) - 90 days and then I had to call them to see when it had arrived.

 

Now $110, make an appointment for application.

 

So glad to see how our tax dollars are spent/wasted.

 

 

Sounds horrible! 

 

Maybe you can do this:  http://renunciationguide.com/

 

 

My, my... getting a bit techy now are we? 

 

How did that saying go back in the '60's - 'merica, love it or leave it? 
 

 

 

Actually he was being realistic. You seem to be hung up on the money.

 

The topic is a good word for the American consulate in Chiang Mai not about the cost of service or the rising inflation. I have had nothing but excellent service from them. New Passport in less than a week. It took that long to get it back in the states and they woulden't take my money made me go to the bank and get a check. Go in tell them how much I make a month they give me a notarized guaranteed for it to give to immigration.

 

I have to make my appointment on line and that is easy. Considering I am tech challenged it is beyond dime how any one else would have a problem with it.

[CMfoodie]

Well you should expect good servie from the consulate. The fees imposed on all services they provide subsidize their existence.

Now how many of you Americans got invited to their 4th of July private party?