Changes To British Passport Services In Thailand

[Basset]

LETTER TO BRITISH COMMUNITY
CHANGES TO BRITISH PASSPORT SERVICES IN THAILAND
Her Majestys Passport Office is making important changes to the way it delivers British passports overseas. The goal is to ensure that all British nationals living overseas receive a consistent, trusted, secure and efficient service whilst keeping the costs as low as possible. In order to do that, on 10 December 2013, responsibility for handling passport applications in Thailand passed from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Her Majestys Passport Office.

Following on from this, from 26 March 2014, British nationals in Thailand will submit passport applications, in person by appointment only, to the UK Visa Application Centre. All the information needed to complete the passport application process, including address and contact details for the UK Visa Application Centre, will be available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

I know that this change will seem inconvenient, but the new measures being put in place support the wider public protection, helping to ensure that the risks of fraud and identity theft are minimised for those living and working overseas.

If you need to travel urgently but your passport is not available, you should still contact the nearest Consular Assistance team at the British Embassy Bangkok <deleted> In certain circumstances Consular staff may be able to issue an Emergency Travel Document but this is not a substitute for a full UK passport. So the best course of action is to apply as early as possible, and to make sure that you follow the new guidelines.

Please note that our Consular staff will not be able to take calls about individual passport applications and they cannot countersign passport applications. If you cannot find the information needed on GOV.UK you should contact the Passport Adviceline on +<deleted> (operates from 8am-8pm UK time) or e-mail: <deleted>

[thepool]

It is good info

See here

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

[ubonjoe]

Anyone know if I'd need a letter from the Embassy to certify my new passport. I'm going to Laos soon for a new visa old passports full so would need to stamp out on the the old one (just enough space) and enter Loas on the new one with the Loas visa inside.

Sent from my GT-P5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

it depends upon which crossing you are going to use.

Immigration at the bridge in Nong Kai will send you back to the immigration office to do the stamps. It was recently posted by a member that a visa run company advised him that he needed to get the letter before making the trip because he needed it to get the stamps transferred.

[digitalchromakey]

In my earlier post, I looked at the new procedures for Passport issuance throughout the ASEAN group

See post 140: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713867-changes-to-british-passport-services-in-thailand/?p=7617364

All applications one way or the other go back to Liverpool where the passports will actually be made:

1) Singapore, Malaysia, Phillipines, Vietnam use on-line application then a postal forward of application documents to the UK - new passport returned to home address by courier.

2) Cambodia - postal application to the UK then collect from Embassy in Phnom Penh.

3) Burma, apply to Embassy, papers are forwarded to UK the couriered back to embassy for subsequent collect by holder.

4) Laos, Indonesia and Thailand apply to non governemnt agency, papers are forwarded to UK the couriered back to agent for subsequent collect by holder.

So all of these systems are open to document theft and copying, there is no suggestion that passports/application papers will be moved through secure UK Governement Channels.

I don't think given the disparate methods employed within ASEAN alone that ID theft is the driving issue, it seems far more random than that.

I cannot anyway see how the ersatz civil servants at VFS, for example, who will almost certainly not be British citizens could easily identify fake UK applicants; I am minded to think of the 19 year old Iranian guy on MH370 who was reported as travelling on a stolen passport of a 59 year old Austrian and walked through KL Airport security apparently without any challenge.

If the British were so concerned about ID theft then surely the best approach would be a system run by UK Staff based at individual countries' embassies.

Edited March 28, 2014 by digitalchromakey

[Lite Beer]

UK changes passport application rules to boost security
Alasdair Forbes


Wanting to renew or replace your UK passport? You'll now have to go to Bangkok yourself, instead of just mailing documents.

PHUKET: -- With effect from Wednesday (March 26), British nationals in Thailand wanting to renew passports or replace lost or stolen ones must go to the Embassy in Bangkok in person, rather than mailing applications to HM Passport Office (HMPO) in Liverpool.

British Consul in Bangkok, Michael Hancock, explained to The Phuket News today, “The changes that have just been announced are a new service which has been introduced now that HMPO has taken over full responsibility for processing passport applications worldwide.

“There have been a number of changes as HMPO have taken over responsibility from the Foreign Office.”

Up until December last year applications had to be sent to the regional Passport Processing Centre in Hong Kong. When that was cancelled, they had to be sent direct to Liverpool instead.

Now, however, comes another change: applications must be made in person at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Bangkok which will then forward the application to the UK.

The new passport is returned from the UK to the VAC, from where it can be collected and the old passport cancelled.

Mr Hancock explained, “HMPO have said that these new measures are in place to protect the public and minimise the risk of fraud and identity theft.”

He added, “My understanding is that the timings remain the same as they have been for some time – four weeks for a renewal and six weeks for a first-time application or an application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport.”

The information needed to complete the passport application process, including the address and contact details for the VAC, is available on the Gov.UK website.

Alternatively, applicants can call the Passport Advice line – in the UK – at +44 300 222 0000, between 8am and 8pm UK, or e-mail [email protected].

Source: http://www.thephuket...urity-45416.php


-- Phuket News 2014-03-29

[Jip99]

I'm still trying to find out about proof of address?

Does anyone know for certain if you need a utility bill with your actual address or is a photocopy of your visa (entire passport) along with your current passport enough.

My problem is my bills are all in my landlords name.

If you don't know for certain don't answer me because all you do is confuse the issue

Look at the government website for supporting documents - then look at table A:-

PassportSupportingDocs.pdf

Table A

Identity, name and address evidence

All applicants must provide one document showing photo identity and one document as evidence of name and address dated within the last year.

Photo Evidence

Please provide one of the following:

• your British passport (if you are renewing)

• non-British uncancelled passport

• national identity card or equivalent (or colour photocopy)

• driving licence

• any government or local government produced document which includes a photograph as part of the document.

Name and address evidence

Please provide one of the following:

• visa or resident permit (or colour photocopy)

• tax record eg a letter from a tax authority

• educational record eg school report

• employment record eg official letter from your employer

• letter sent to you from a central, regional or local government department

• baptismal or naming certificate

• medical/health card

• voter’s card

• parents’ death certificates if applicable

• immigration documents.

[digitalchromakey]

Further research show that currently VFS Global offer a Courier system from 'Trendy Offices' to send processed UK visa applications, documents and passports to your house.

So apparently no issues with ID theft if your passport isn't from the UK.

Applicants can choose to have their processed visa application, documents and passport couriered to their house or office by paying a nominal additional charge.

So it sems there is to be one rule for UK Nationals (potentially inconvenient, time-consuming and costly) then another rule for every other citizen of the world (affordable and convenient) !!

[ubonjoe]

Just to add more pain to the misery, don`t forget that Immigration no longer transfer an existing visa stamp to a new passport. The whole visa extension application process has to be completed all over again for the new passport, even if the visa stamp in the old passport is still valid.

My British passport is due for renewal in December this year, so it seems, Bangkok here I come. If only I had known about these changes before.

Immigration WILL transfer visa stamps to a new passport.

What they won't do is grant an extention beyond the expiry date of your passport - understandable.

Simple answer just make sure you have at least 12 months validity on your passport when going for an extension. You only ever get short-changed once and HMPO will add up to 9 months unexpired term to the new passport.

Immigration does not transfer visas. If you have a valid visa you must use both passports on entry until the visa expires,

They will only do an annotation of a visa entry and then move the most recent entry or an extension of stay to the new passport.

[NanLaew]

^ Which IS a security issue. An expiring passport that is not canceled until the replacement has been received means that there is an undefined and uncontrolled period where there are two, same-name, totally legal and valid passports circulating. This is a security risk and an opening for passport fraud.

[khunphilip]

What concerns me is method of payment. As I dot not have a UK. credit or debit card as the UK. bank will not send them to me in thailand, however I do have a Bangkok Bank visa debit card will that be accepted. I have e-mailed the VFS. helpline so maybe they will reply.

[NanLaew]

Am i reading this thread correctly or is this a April fools joke.

The last time i applied for a British passport in the UK, i completed the form and sent the relevant documents with the money for

72 pound? By first class mail to my nearest passport office in the north of England,a couple of weeks later i received my passport by first class mail.As far as i know this is still the same procedure for a British citizen in the UK.

Now am i right in saying that a British citizen living for example in northern Thailand who wants to apply for a British passport must complete the same form,then email this VFS for an appointment,then travel on a possible 12 hour overnight bus journey,in order to be on time for your appointment,then be told you have to pay a lot more passport fee than you have to pay in the UK plus the DHL courier fee,plus a hotel for the night,then travel on another 12 hour journey the following morning back to north Thailand.

In the meantime this VFS firm send your application details to the same passport office that processed your passport application

When you applied in the UK.

Then after a month if you are lucky, you will receive an email saying your passport is ready and to collect it at the Bangkok office of VFS making you possible go through the rigmarole and expense of another two 12 hour journeys plus another overnight stay in a hotel. Then you still have to convince them that you are you.

If this is the best that the British (job for the boys lot) can come up with,well its nothing but discrimination against a British citizen in Thailand

Make sure you book a hotel with a swimming pool. There's not much difference in price.

[OJAS]

For my part I have sent an email to HMPO as below. The latest changes which they are foisting on us are the final straw as far as I am concerned.

I wish to lodge a formal complaint about what I consider to be the increasingly unreasonable and onerous burdens which have been imposed on British nationals based in Thailand needing to renew their passports since 8 March 2010, when the responsibility for processing applications passed from the British Embassy in Bangkok to the Regional Passport Processing Centre in Hong Kong. These procedures were further revised on 10 December 2013 when the responsibility for processing applications passed from the Regional Processing Centre in Hong Kong to HMPO’s Liverpool office – and yet again, barely 3½ months later, on 26 March 2014 when the responsibility for processing applications passed from HMPO’s Liverpool office to the UK Visa Application Centre in Bangkok!

There are a number of specific points which I wish to raise in connection with this complaint, as described below:-

1. Why are passport photos taken against a white background no longer deemed to be acceptable for renewal application purposes? When the responsibility for processing passport applications passed from the British Embassy in Bangkok to the Regional Passport Processing Centre in Hong Kong on 8 March 2010, such photos were initially deemed acceptable in the case of applications submitted from Thailand, bearing in mind that local professional photographers were, in general, only geared up to taking ID photos against a white background, but not against the normally-required cream or light grey backgrounds. However, the relevant statement to this effect on the Hong Kong Regional Passport Processing Centre’s website subsequently disappeared abruptly without any prior warning or justification, thus rendering it all but impossible, in practice, for renewal applicants in Thailand to obtain passport photos locally which complied with the stringent requirements regarding acceptable background colours in particular.

2. Why have British nationals based in Thailand no longer been able since 10 December 2013 to complete a passport renewal application form online, as had previously been possible with the smart form provided by the Hong Kong Regional Passport Processing Centre? To my mind it really beggars belief in this electronic day and age that applicants in Thailand are now expected to resort to the antediluvian method of physically completing a complex form in manuscript!

3. Why has it been considered so desperately essentially vital since 10 December 2013 for British nationals renewing their passports in Thailand to submit proof of their Thai address in an acceptable form with their applications, whereas this had not been previously required by the Hong Kong Regional Passport Processing Centre? If the purpose of this surreptitiously-introduced requirement was to verify the address to which a new passport was to be sent by DHL courier, what on earth is the justification for its continued retention given that applicants have, since 26 March 2014, been required to collect their new passports in person from the UK Visa Application Centre in Bangkok?!

4. Furthermore, in the majority of cases where applicants are unable to produce satisfactory proof of their Thai address, will the UK Visa Application Processing Centre in Bangkok flatly refuse to take any action in connection with their renewal applications, thus leaving them with no option other than to move back permanently to the UK before their existing passport expires. In many cases, this would, in practice, result in applicants being forcibly separated from their Thai families, which I, for one, would regard as a fundamental breach of human rights associated more with the North Korean regime than the British government!

5. Why have HMPO since 26 March 2014 been expecting British nationals renewing their passports in Thailand to run the gauntlet of life-threatening situations resulting from the current volatile Thai political situation, by requiring them both to submit their applications to, and subsequently to collect their new passports from, the UK Visa Application Centre in Bangkok? For the majority of applicants who live a considerable distance from Bangkok, this will, in particular, necessitate a couple of excessively lengthy, time-consuming and expensive journeys for these purposes. Why, at the very least, would it not be possible for passport renewal applications be submitted by post to the UK Visa Application Centre in Bangkok – or, indeed, continue to be so submitted direct to the Liverpool Passport Office – with only a single trip to the UK Visa Application Centre in Bangkok proving necessary in order to collect one’s new passport?

6. Moreover, what is to be the fate of those individuals who are physically unable, for whatever reason, to travel to the UK Visa Application Centre in Bangkok in person for renewal application submission and subsequent new passport collection purposes? Will they, in effect, be hung out to dry by HMPO and in due course forced to stay in Thailand illegally on an expired passport, with all the obvious repercussions which that would entail if and when they were caught by the local Immigration Police?

7. Have existing passports been deemed to be suitable photo ID for new passport collection purposes since 26 March 2014? If not and in the majority of cases where applicants possess no alternative form of photo ID, will they really be expected to go to the trouble, expense and inconvenience of obtaining some suitable form of photo ID solely in order to be able to collect their new passports?

8. Since applicants in a number of other SE Asian countries (e.g. Malaysia and Singapore) have since 10 December 2013 still been able complete their applications online, submit completed forms by post without the need for any proof of address and have their new passports delivered directly to them by courier, precisely what is the justification for HMPO’s decision to discriminate negatively against passport renewal applicants in Thailand through causing them the maximum amount of inconvenience possible?

9. Finally, why is it the case that, even following the implementation of fee reductions from 7 April 2014, overseas applicants will still be expected to pay £10.50 more to renew a standard adult 32-page passport than UK applicants renewing a similar passport with HMPO’s standard service? Surely the effort involved on HMPO’s part in processing passport renewal applications submitted by post is identical regardless of their geographical origins?

[Glen Garry]

I've just submitted an application for a first passport for my child born in Thailand at the Trendy Tower (28th floor).

For my proof of address they seemed happy to take a bank statement from a UK bank account with my Thai address on. Will see if its accepted at the other end!

They kept all the supporting documents such as birth certificates (but not parents passports) to send with the application (I presume).

When you arrive at the office, you still have to take a number and wait your turn. I think the appointment time is just a rough idea of when to go.

I had a print out of my email but you could easily make an appointment email in Word and print it out. No one seemed to check my name with any schedule of appointments.

The office is packed with non-Brits making applications for UK visas (I presume) and it was standing room only but I was seen within a few minutes of arrival.

You can take your phone in but cannot take it out of your pocket while inside.

There is also a passport photo machine and photocopier inside the room too incase you need to make a quick copy but there were queues for it.

There are coffee shops and a bar on the ground floor if you need refreshments.

Hopefully it will all go through ok and we will have a new passport in a few weeks/months.

Good luck!

[digitalchromakey]

Received this a few minutes ago from a colleague who travelled up from Pattaya today:

"Just tried to apply for 2nd uk passport in bkk...what a waste of time...they couldn't find the new forms,only for renewals and just told me to phone Liverpool!!!feel like banging my head off the wall...off to soi nana for beers!!!"

He's not a TVF member and I post this as an example. Don't know if anyone else has tried to apply for a second passport at VFS yet?

Interesting point.

On both following the HMPO Website chain of clicks plus searching, there is absolutely no information at all on second passport application procedures, either for the UK or overseas.

Maybe this is something they have quietly stopped doing to save money.

Guess the first port of call would be Overseas Newport email address below:

Overseas Newport CCC <[email protected]>

According to a post in this thread by Transam there is a HMPO UK help line at the moment that is not charging premium rates, maybe that's also worth a quick call.

[Soutpeel]

Thanks folks, a few ideas there. Seems like I might be able to switch nationalities if I fly out, but won't be able to do so at a land border.

The central issue seems to be that there's no way to know whether my existing UK passport has already been cancelled.

At least, no way other than by trying to use it to fly somewhere.

Can anyone tell me what the worst case scenario would be if I tried to use a cancelled UK passport to board a cheap local international flight?

If it's just a polite "sorry, cannot", and a taxi home, then I think it's worth the gamble.

But if the worst case scenario involves immigration police and being thrown in jail, then it's probably not!

You have submitted the application ?.....they have taken the money ?......your existing PP has been cancelled

[PREM-R]

While this thread is exclusively about UK passport renewals I think that it is interesting to see the way the US operates with regard passport renewal in Thailand.

This from a notice of a US outreach visit to Udon Thani:

"Passport renewal applications ($110.00 or Baht 3,410.00 for adult passports, and $105.00 or Baht 3, 255.00 for a child’s passport). There are two options for obtaining your new passport; (a) The mail back option: There will be prepaid Thailand Post envelopes (costing Baht 80.00) available for purchase if you wish to have your passport mailed back to you. Please note your current passport MUST be submitted to the consular officer if you will be requesting this option. ( Collecting in person from the Embassy: You may collect your passport in person from the Embassy in Bangkok. Or, you may give written authorization for someone to collect the passport on your behalf. Choosing this option will allow you to hold your passport until you pick up your new passport at the Embassy".

Notice that they allow a 'mail back' option and that the current passport MUST be submitted to the consular officer when choosing this method, which seems to suggest the US citizens do not have to have their passport available for inspection at all times as is required of UK citizens. Furthermore, the option to be able to nominate an authorized person to collect the new passport seems to be a useful and logical thing to offer.

Perhaps, as the new system evolves, the UK passport renewal process may become as easy as that of the Americans.

[ubonjoe]

While this thread is exclusively about UK passport renewals I think that it is interesting to see the way the US operates with regard passport renewal in Thailand.

This from a notice of a US outreach visit to Udon Thani:

"Passport renewal applications ($110.00 or Baht 3,410.00 for adult passports, and $105.00 or Baht 3, 255.00 for a child’s passport). There are two options for obtaining your new passport; (a) The mail back option: There will be prepaid Thailand Post envelopes (costing Baht 80.00) available for purchase if you wish to have your passport mailed back to you. Please note your current passport MUST be submitted to the consular officer if you will be requesting this option. ( Collecting in person from the Embassy: You may collect your passport in person from the Embassy in Bangkok. Or, you may give written authorization for someone to collect the passport on your behalf. Choosing this option will allow you to hold your passport until you pick up your new passport at the Embassy".

Notice that they allow a 'mail back' option and that the current passport MUST be submitted to the consular officer when choosing this method, which seems to suggest the US citizens do not have to have their passport available for inspection at all times as is required of UK citizens. Furthermore, the option to be able to nominate an authorized person to collect the new passport seems to be a useful and logical thing to offer.

Perhaps, as the new system evolves, the UK passport renewal process may become as easy as that of the Americans.

That is special provision for the outreach visits. I think if a person wanted their old passport back before getting the new one they could pay to have it sent back after the consular officers scan it But since it only takes about 10 days to get the new passport most people would not be concerned about the few days they would be without their passport.

If you apply in person you have the option of having your new passport sent to you by EMS.

I think the UK (and others) could learn a few things from the US about overseas passport renewals. All you need is an application form and your old passport to apply (plus the fee of course). They scan your old passport and submit the application digitally. My new passports issue date is the same as the date I applied.

Of course the big difference is that the embassy and the passport centers are under the same branch of government (State Department).

[Jip99]

While this thread is exclusively about UK passport renewals I think that it is interesting to see the way the US operates with regard passport renewal in Thailand.

This from a notice of a US outreach visit to Udon Thani:

"Passport renewal applications ($110.00 or Baht 3,410.00 for adult passports, and $105.00 or Baht 3, 255.00 for a child’s passport). There are two options for obtaining your new passport; (a) The mail back option: There will be prepaid Thailand Post envelopes (costing Baht 80.00) available for purchase if you wish to have your passport mailed back to you. Please note your current passport MUST be submitted to the consular officer if you will be requesting this option. ( Collecting in person from the Embassy: You may collect your passport in person from the Embassy in Bangkok. Or, you may give written authorization for someone to collect the passport on your behalf. Choosing this option will allow you to hold your passport until you pick up your new passport at the Embassy".

Notice that they allow a 'mail back' option and that the current passport MUST be submitted to the consular officer when choosing this method, which seems to suggest the US citizens do not have to have their passport available for inspection at all times as is required of UK citizens. Furthermore, the option to be able to nominate an authorized person to collect the new passport seems to be a useful and logical thing to offer.

Perhaps, as the new system evolves, the UK passport renewal process may become as easy as that of the Americans.

That is special provision for the outreach visits. I think if a person wanted their old passport back before getting the new one they could pay to have it sent back after the consular officers scan it But since it only takes about 10 days to get the new passport most people would not be concerned about the few days they would be without their passport.

If you apply in person you have the option of having your new passport sent to you by EMS.

I think the UK (and others) could learn a few things from the US about overseas passport renewals. All you need is an application form and your old passport to apply (plus the fee of course). They scan your old passport and submit the application digitally. My new passports issue date is the same as the date I applied.

Of course the big difference is that the embassy and the passport centers are under the same branch of government (State Department).

The UK could actually take lessons from the Thais.

Their passport renewal/issue process is as secure and simple as it needs to be.

Apply in person, fingerprinted, passport back in a week by EMS.

1,000 Baht, job done.

Edited April 26, 2014 by Jip99

[ubonjoe]

I agree with that but it only applies to here.

Overseas applications means going to an embassy or official consulate to apply and it can take up to two months to get the new one.

[Jip99]

I agree with that but it only applies to here.

Overseas applications means going to an embassy or official consulate to apply and it can take up to two months to get the new one.

I understand.

But it doesn't have to be like that.

If responsibility for issuing overseas passport renewals rested with the British Embassy the same system could apply.

As an earlier poster suggested, the embassy could hold a stock of passports - or if that was deemed too risky simply trigger approval for UK production then post out.

The personal application ensures security - fingerprinting, biometric data, whatever - the rest is down to production efficiency. The embassy could also cut the corners of the passport to remove any risks relating to the old passport.

[rajyindee]

Perhaps, as the new system evolves, the UK passport renewal process may become as easy as that of the Americans.

The UK system is a shambles simply because the UK Embassy interprets Thai law as saying you must carry your "passport". I'm not convinced that's what the actual law states ... I'm sure I read somewhere previously that it was more something along the lines of being able to prove your identity and/or your permission to be in the country and someone in the UK Consular offices interpreted that as meaning being in possession of your passport and clearly state on their website, "By law you must carry your passport with you at all times. Tourists have been arrested because they were unable to produce their passport." I could be totally wrong - but I must have read it somewhere. What does it say on the US Embassy website?

As an aside, it's interesting that the manager character at Trendy insisted that any enquiries should be addressed to the Consular folk at the UK Embassy, yet their automated email response contains the following info ...

[ubonjoe]

I agree with that but it only applies to here.

Overseas applications means going to an embassy or official consulate to apply and it can take up to two months to get the new one.

I understand.

But it doesn't have to be like that.

If responsibility for issuing overseas passport renewals rested with the British Embassy the same system could apply.

As an earlier poster suggested, the embassy could hold a stock of passports - or if that was deemed too risky simply trigger approval for UK production then post out.

The personal application ensures security - fingerprinting, biometric data, whatever - the rest is down to production efficiency. The embassy could also cut the corners of the passport to remove any risks relating to the old passport.

They will never revert back to the having a stock of blank passports on hand. That is just not feasible with the "high tech" process needed to do passports now. The days of pulling out a blank passport typing the info and sticking the photo on it are long gone.

They should be able to scan the old passport and submit the application digitally to the place where they now produce passports though.

It seems to me also that a good part the problem is the approval/review process that seems to take a long time. This from reading some of the replies that people have gotten when they Inquired about about their passport application.

[thatmanagain]

Thanks folks, a few ideas there. Seems like I might be able to switch nationalities if I fly out, but won't be able to do so at a land border.

The central issue seems to be that there's no way to know whether my existing UK passport has already been cancelled.

At least, no way other than by trying to use it to fly somewhere.

Can anyone tell me what the worst case scenario would be if I tried to use a cancelled UK passport to board a cheap local international flight?

If it's just a polite "sorry, cannot", and a taxi home, then I think it's worth the gamble.

But if the worst case scenario involves immigration police and being thrown in jail, then it's probably not!

You have submitted the application ?.....they have taken the money ?......your existing PP has been cancelled

That's not what I was told on the phone, when I made enquiries back in March. The man I spoke to told me that my existing passport would only be cancelled right at the end of the process, just before the new passport was mailed out to me.

As others have pointed out already though, not worth the risk either way.

[Soutpeel]

Thanks folks, a few ideas there. Seems like I might be able to switch nationalities if I fly out, but won't be able to do so at a land border.

The central issue seems to be that there's no way to know whether my existing UK passport has already been cancelled.

At least, no way other than by trying to use it to fly somewhere.

Can anyone tell me what the worst case scenario would be if I tried to use a cancelled UK passport to board a cheap local international flight?

If it's just a polite "sorry, cannot", and a taxi home, then I think it's worth the gamble.

But if the worst case scenario involves immigration police and being thrown in jail, then it's probably not!

You have submitted the application ?.....they have taken the money ?......your existing PP has been cancelled

That's not what I was told on the phone, when I made enquiries back in March. The man I spoke to told me that my existing passport would only be cancelled right at the end of the process, just before the new passport was mailed out to me.

As others have pointed out already though, not worth the risk either way.

My understanding is once they receive your application and take the money off you, your existing passport is cancelled, I renewed my PP earlier on in the year and was worried about getting it back on time to do some business trips and was told in no uncertain terms do not travel on the "current" passport, and if I need to travel get a temporary PP from the BE in BKK, in the end it all worked out as I got my pp back in 24 days door to door

[watso63]

Thanks folks, a few ideas there. Seems like I might be able to switch nationalities if I fly out, but won't be able to do so at a land border.

The central issue seems to be that there's no way to know whether my existing UK passport has already been cancelled.

At least, no way other than by trying to use it to fly somewhere.

Can anyone tell me what the worst case scenario would be if I tried to use a cancelled UK passport to board a cheap local international flight?

If it's just a polite "sorry, cannot", and a taxi home, then I think it's worth the gamble.

But if the worst case scenario involves immigration police and being thrown in jail, then it's probably not!

You have submitted the application ?.....they have taken the money ?......your existing PP has been cancelled

That's not what I was told on the phone, when I made enquiries back in March. The man I spoke to told me that my existing passport would only be cancelled right at the end of the process, just before the new passport was mailed out to me.

As others have pointed out already though, not worth the risk either way.

Of course it would be courteous and be very much appreciated to be informed that your passport had been approved and posted to you with a postal tracking reference.

Meanwhile, I still remain sitting around on my hands arguing (sorry for that) with TV Trollsters.

I think the current Trendy process is going to have to be reviewed. It really doesn't seem fit for purpose. Even with literate English speaking staff it still involves costly and unnecessary difficulties for many.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[tung tsz]

Payment

I notice on the instructions

"You must ensure that you have checked with your card provider that your card is valid, for this international transaction, and that adequate funds are available."
Does anyone know if the local bank cards can be used to pay this sterling charge?

I always thought they could only be used locally.

Does anyone know if you can pay cash to the Bangkok office if you don't have a credit card or a UK bank account?

Confused!!!!!

[watso63]

Payment

I notice on the instructions

"You must ensure that you have checked with your card provider that your card is valid, for this international transaction, and that adequate funds are available."

Does anyone know if the local bank cards can be used to pay this sterling charge?

I always thought they could only be used locally.

Does anyone know if you can pay cash to the Bangkok office if you don't have a credit card or a UK bank account?

Confused!!!!!

I registered my Bangkok Bank VISA card with Paypal to pay my 365sport.tv subscription no problems. If your bank card says VISA on it then I suppose it is subject to normal VISA rules. If you just have a normal card try registering it with Paypal first.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Jip99]

Payment

I notice on the instructions

"You must ensure that you have checked with your card provider that your card is valid, for this international transaction, and that adequate funds are available."

Does anyone know if the local bank cards can be used to pay this sterling charge?

I always thought they could only be used locally.

Does anyone know if you can pay cash to the Bangkok office if you don't have a credit card or a UK bank account?

Confused!!!!!

You cannot pay by cash.

It MUST be a credit/debit card. Find a friend if necessary.

Applying for a passport from outside the UK

Paying by Credit Card or Debit Card

Please fill in the instruction below and include it with your passport application. A separate

instruction should accompany

each

application. We accept Mastercard, Visa, Electron, Diners

Club and JCB. You must ensure that you have checked with your card provider that your card is

valid, for this international transaction, and that adequate funds are available.

The 16 digit number (14 digits for Diners Club only)

must

be included below. If this number is not

included payment will not be processed. Your application will be delayed if your card has run out

or you do not give your card's expiry date, or the security number. If you do not write the correct

fee in the instruction, we will still charge the correct fee for the service you have asked for.

Applicant's name:

Applicant's date of birth:

What card are you paying with?

Mastercard

Visa

Electron

Diners Club

JCB

Security Number:

(the last three numbers

shown on your card's

signature strip)

Card number:

(the number shown on the front of your card)

Expiry date

(MM,YY)

Valid from

(MM,YY)

Fee you are paying:

(application and courier fee)

£

.

Cardholder's signature:

Cardholder's name:

Cardholder's address:

(including postcode where applicable, and country)

Cardholder's telephone number:

(including the international code)

Cardholder's email address:

07.13

Edited April 26, 2014 by ubonjoe
Changed font size

[thatmanagain]

Thanks folks, a few ideas there. Seems like I might be able to switch nationalities if I fly out, but won't be able to do so at a land border.

The central issue seems to be that there's no way to know whether my existing UK passport has already been cancelled.

At least, no way other than by trying to use it to fly somewhere.

Can anyone tell me what the worst case scenario would be if I tried to use a cancelled UK passport to board a cheap local international flight?

If it's just a polite "sorry, cannot", and a taxi home, then I think it's worth the gamble.

But if the worst case scenario involves immigration police and being thrown in jail, then it's probably not!

You have submitted the application ?.....they have taken the money ?......your existing PP has been cancelled

That's not what I was told on the phone, when I made enquiries back in March. The man I spoke to told me that my existing passport would only be cancelled right at the end of the process, just before the new passport was mailed out to me.

As others have pointed out already though, not worth the risk either way.

My understanding is once they receive your application and take the money off you, your existing passport is cancelled, I renewed my PP earlier on in the year and was worried about getting it back on time to do some business trips and was told in no uncertain terms do not travel on the "current" passport, and if I need to travel get a temporary PP from the BE in BKK, in the end it all worked out as I got my pp back in 24 days door to door

Thanks for that. Hopefully mine will show up in the next week or so. 24 days sounds great, I've been waiting for more than double that already!

If it doesn't, do you know whether I can get an ETD from the Embassy and use that for a visa run? Would it allow me to travel to e.g. Cambodia, return to Thailand with a 30 day stamp, and then board my (booked and paid-for) flight from Bangkok to London in June, either on the ETD, or the new passport if it's arrived by then?

I guess I need to talk to the Embassy. Are they any more competent with email than UKPA? Or do I need to telephone, or show up in person?

What a system.

[thatmanagain]

Of course it would be courteous and be very much appreciated to be informed that your passport had been approved and posted to you with a postal tracking reference.

Meanwhile, I still remain sitting around on my hands arguing (sorry for that) with TV Trollsters.

I think the current Trendy process is going to have to be reviewed. It really doesn't seem fit for purpose. Even with literate English speaking staff it still involves costly and unnecessary difficulties for many.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Did you apply via Trendy, or directly to Liverpool?

I'm sure I remember a few posters saying they'd been informed by email when their passports were issued, before the March changes. Has this definitely stopped now? Or did it never happen in the first place?