Changes To British Passport Services In Thailand

[sometimewoodworker]

However, I am sure that anything you can find out from your 'contact' at the FCO about how the 12 month extension stamp/sticker looks would be very much appreciated on this thread.

I don't have any more information at the moment.

But I remembered that I do have a passport that was extended. So that might be an indication of the stamp and size.

[digitalchromakey]

However, I am sure that anything you can find out from your 'contact' at the FCO about how the 12 month extension stamp/sticker looks would be very much appreciated on this thread.

I don't have any more information at the moment.

But I remembered that I do have a passport that was extended. So that might be an indication of the stamp and size.

Very interesting - thank you for taking the trouble to post that.

Ten years and 11 months extension - could just do with one of those right now!

[rajyindee]

I had to renew my passport 4 years early. Considering a bog-standard passport only had 25 pages available for stamps, you don't have to do a lot of travelling to fill up the pages after Thai Immigration has stuck in your extension of stay and a re-entry permit or two each year. If, like many expats in Thailand, you live close to a border, you're very likely to be crossing over on a pretty regular basis. The fact that you don't know anyone that does so, says more about you than digitalchromakey's 'claims'.

Anyone with that travel pattern would probably have 42 pages available for stamps as I do, and I did have one or two free before getting stuck in Liverpool.

Only if they'd renewed their passport after they had established a need for a larger one. I've just renewed mine and now have 42 pages - just like you.

Also you are basing your position on the Thai visa situation and with people "crossing over on a pretty regular basis."

That's what folk tend to do around here. Obviously not in your neck of the woods.

I know none of them needed to renew early because the passport was full.

On a positive note, you know at least one now.

[AyG]

The scale of the problem is immense.

From today's Guardian:

"there were currently 480,000 applications being dealt with"

"New applications were being received at the rate of 150,000 a week, and last week 160,000 new passports were issued"

So, the backlog is currently being cleared at the rate of 10,000 per week. If things carry on like this it will take almost a year to clear.

Oh, and the least surprising comment from the article:

"The Passport Office chief executive, Paul Pugh, has refused to resign"

But he did apologise, so that's OK, then.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/17/passports-chief-apologises-backlog

[kartman]

Must not let work get in the way of book reading then .

[digitalchromakey]

Must not let work get in the way of book reading then .

What's even more worrying is that when you get communications from HMPO there is always the sub message that 'things are improving' - reality may significantly differ from this.

The measures recently introduced may protect a significant number of near future applicants from the fiasco that many of us are currently caught up in, but in the short term will do little to alleviate the issue delay problem in the immediate future.

Now in place is free fast tracking for UK applicants with 'an urgent need to travel' - easily arranged by booking a reduced late booking holiday to create the 'urgency'.

For overseas applicants already in the system, our papers will be fighting it out now with a vast amount of free fast tracking, plus the inevitable upsurge in new applicants caused by the bad publicity last week, this only balanced by the fact that free 12 month extensions will somewhat reduce the rate of increase in the existing queues for overseas applicants.

My concern is that in the short term the delays will actually become significantly larger before there is any sign of reduction of the 480,000 back log, which according to the Guardian article HMPO only seem to be able to reduce by 10,000 passports per week.

At least the HMPO offices were tidy when this problem started, so hopefully they won't physically lose my application; although the last tracking email I got from HMPO confidently informed me that my application was now in Durham and would be with me within 6 weeks of my application date. Which is interesting because Trendy as far as I know only send applications to Liverpool and we all know someone who applied after 26 March who actually got their passport back in 6 weeks don't we ...........?

The 12 month extension would have been perfect for me, if only I hadn't tried to apply in good time........

Fate sometimes rewards the apathetic.

[theoldgit]

I have just learned that 200 Border Force staff are being diverted to assist with this problem, that'll robbing peter to pay and assisting with the problem that doesn't exist.

[sandyf]

The scale of the problem is immense.

From today's Guardian:

"there were currently 480,000 applications being dealt with"

"New applications were being received at the rate of 150,000 a week, and last week 160,000 new passports were issued"

So, the backlog is currently being cleared at the rate of 10,000 per week. If things carry on like this it will take almost a year to clear.

Oh, and the least surprising comment from the article:

"The Passport Office chief executive, Paul Pugh, has refused to resign"

But he did apologise, so that's OK, then.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/17/passports-chief-apologises-backlog

Saw that on Sky news this morning. The video clip showed the backlog as predominently orange.

[rikki]

The scale of the problem is immense.

From today's Guardian:

"there were currently 480,000 applications being dealt with"

So the PM stated last week that there was a backlog of 30000 passports....

And 3.7million applications this year? Hardly surprising that 10% of the population would want a new 10 year passport at any given time, is it?

[davejonesbkk]

OK so I still have an appointment at Trendy for June 25th to renew my passport, should I go to this then and start the process or should I do the 12 month extension thing? I need to point out that Im applying for a new passport as the current one is basically FULL (half a page left) and not expiring soon.

The situation is looking really, really grim now, I have enough space for my next 90 day report stamp extension thing and then my visa expires mid October when Im planning to go to the UK for a trip and also apply for a new visa, Im wondering if Im even going to get it back by then now if I start the process now...

[parryhandy]

June 25th is ok, all being well you'll have it back some time early/mid September. You can't get an extension if your passport is full.

[sometimewoodworker]

OK so I still have an appointment at Trendy for June 25th to renew my passport, should I go to this then and start the process or should I do the 12 month extension thing? I need to point out that Im applying for a new passport as the current one is basically FULL (half a page left) and not expiring soon.

The situation is looking really, really grim now, I have enough space for my next 90 day report stamp extension thing and then my visa expires mid October when Im planning to go to the UK for a trip and also apply for a new visa, Im wondering if Im even going to get it back by then now if I start the process now...

You can send it in and hope or pay the extra £128 or £137 to get the 4 hour service when you go to the UK.

You don't qualify for the extension and it won't help anyway. With the track record of HMPO I know which option I would choose.

Edited June 18, 2014 by sometimewoodworker

[evadgib]

Additional measures in place overseas to help British Nationals who need a new or replacement passport

Edited June 19, 2014 by evadgib

[sometimewoodworker]

Additional measures in place overseas to help British Nationals who need a new or replacement passport

That is a clarification of the measures put in place on June 14th. So while it is good to have there is no change since then.

The good point it has is to make some measures more clear.

[digitalchromakey]

More details on 12 Month UK Passport Extensions:

As posted above, more details are now on the HMPO Website re the 12 month UK Passport Extensions and Child ETDs.

Basically the details confirm what has already been posted by Sometime woodworker

Here is the link and the text:

https://www.gov.uk/get-an-emergency-passport-extension-or-child-travel-document

Get a passport extension or child emergency travel document

Get a passport extension

If you’re living overseas, you can apply to extend your British passport for 12 months. Child passports can also be extended.

You won’t be charged any extra fees.

Eligibility

All of the following must apply:

• you’re outside the UK
• you have a red passport
• you haven’t already applied to renew your passport
• your passport expired less than 6 months ago or will expire in the next 3 months (or in the next 6 months if you’re in or going to a country that says you must have 6 months left on your passport)
• the country you’re in or going to will accept extended passports - ask when you make your appointment
• your passport has at least 3 blank pages

Apply for an extension

1. Complete the application form.

2. The service is by appointment only - phone your nearest British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission and select the ‘Consular Services’ option.

3. Take your passport, application form (and 1 other form of photo identification if you have it) to your appointment - parents can attend on behalf of children, and husbands and wives can attend on behalf of each other.

Your passport will be extended for 12 months.

Emergency travel document for children

If you’re the parent or guardian of a child living overseas who needs to travel urgently, you can apply for an emergency travel document for your child instead of a new or renewed passport.

What you’ll need

You’ll need to provide evidence of 1 of the following:

• you have sole responsibility for the child
• anyone who has parental responsibility for the child agrees to the application

If your child hasn’t had a British passport before, you must also provide the same information you would for a first child passport.

Apply

You need to apply in person. Follow the steps for applying for an adult emergency travel document.

Edited June 19, 2014 by digitalchromakey

[sometimewoodworker]

More information from HMG

Passport extensions

British nationals living overseas whose passports have expired within the last six months, or are due to expire in the next seven months, can now have their passport extended for 12 months with an official stamp in their existing passport. This requires a minimum of three blank pages in the passport. Those who are eligible should contact their nearest Embassy or Consulate to make an appointment for this service. There will be no charge for this service.

Customers will need to bring their existing passport, and will need to complete an application form. Appointments are essential. We will check eligibility and confirm that the relevant country has agreed to accept passports extended in this way. Bookings for appointments are being taken now, and appointments will be available from 23 June, or as soon as we have received confirmation from the host country that they will accept the validity of passports extended in this way.

[digitalchromakey]

More information from HMG

Passport extensions

British nationals living overseas whose passports have expired within the last six months, or are due to expire in the next seven months, can now have their passport extended for 12 months with an official stamp in their existing passport. This requires a minimum of three blank pages in the passport. Those who are eligible should contact their nearest Embassy or Consulate to make an appointment for this service. There will be no charge for this service.

Customers will need to bring their existing passport, and will need to complete an application form. Appointments are essential. We will check eligibility and confirm that the relevant country has agreed to accept passports extended in this way. Bookings for appointments are being taken now, and appointments will be available from 23 June, or as soon as we have received confirmation from the host country that they will accept the validity of passports extended in this way.

I have confirmation that the British Embassy in Bangkok has already awarded appointments next week to apply for 12 Month Extensions, so Thailand is officially recognizing the UK 12 Month Extension.

Edited June 19, 2014 by digitalchromakey

[sometimewoodworker]

I've got information from my FCO contact that says that Thailand is also accepting ETD's

[watso63]

I've got information from my FCO contact that says that Thailand is also accepting ETD's

Next we'll be getting index linked OAP's...wake up...wake up!

[rajyindee]

I've got information from my FCO contact that says that Thailand is also accepting ETD's

Has been part of the FCO Travel Advice for ages ...

[recom273]

Does anyone know what the last appointment of the day would be ? .. I asked for a late appointment, the Trendy crew seem to ignored all my of my 3 options and give me a 1.30 PM slot on the last option. Seems like the passport office cant meet the demand for passports in the UK and trendy cant meet the demand for appointments in Bangkok. I can see an ever increasingly expensive nightmare looming.

Edited June 19, 2014 by recom273

[digitalchromakey]

Does anyone know what the last appointment of the day would be ? .. I asked for a late appointment, the Trendy crew seem to ignored all my of my 3 options and give me a 1.30 PM slot on the last option. Seems like the passport office cant meet the demand for passports in the UK and trendy cant meet the demand for appointments in Bangkok. I can see an ever increasingly expensive nightmare looming.

Latest appointment time possible at Trendy is 15:00 Monday - Friday.

For completeness, the earliest appointment time is 08:30 am.

[digitalchromakey]

Does anyone know what the last appointment of the day would be ? .. I asked for a late appointment, the Trendy crew seem to ignored all my of my 3 options and give me a 1.30 PM slot on the last option. Seems like the passport office cant meet the demand for passports in the UK and trendy cant meet the demand for appointments in Bangkok. I can see an ever increasingly expensive nightmare looming.

If you have three pages left in your passport and it's within 6 months of expiry, then go for the free 12 month passport extension at the Embassy.

Edited June 19, 2014 by digitalchromakey

[recom273]

No, it's full .. That's why I need an appointment

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[digitalchromakey]

Well I take back what I have been posting recently as regards the HMPO UK Helpline - I can now confirm that they also have the ability to be completely useless.

The service has seriously gone down hill over the last week with the call centre operatives now apparently being replaced by Muppets.

Guess after the s..t hit the fan last week the number of calls submitted probably went off the scale so I presume that they have had to take on a whole load more operators - who seem to know very little about HMPO and work from strict scripts (this in it self is not a bad thing, but these scripts don't seem to allow branch points so you have to move from a) - z) = super tedious).

Maybe they are super snowed under, but I have just come off two, 20 minute plus phones calls dealing with these 'scripted' helpline call centre operators.

1) Call number one spent 5 minutes plus trying to give my Application Reference number, whilst being asked for my name, dob, date of application, phone number, post code, etc - "No I don't want that , please tell me how we can help you".

Eventually gave the reference number to be asked "When do you plan to travel?" then when I said I was overseas " What country are you calling from Sir". "Is this your first passport application Sir?" Was told to phone back after 6 weeks if my passport hadn't arrived - hung up without exchanging pleasantries - call was a complete waste of my money - this particular operator was extremely patronizing and very very very unhelpful.

2) Second call - Thought I should better try again . Managed to give the application reference relatively quickly to next operator who was a bit less clueless than the first one I had experienced today. It seems that these generic helpline operators only have access to the most basic HMPO Website information, plus data on only the following application stages: i) Payment date = 'awaiting examination' ii) Date sent to printers. they don't have and thus can't give out any other progress information. They don't even seem to know if you are overseas.

Really starting to panic, if my passport hasn't gone to the printers by the 30th June I am now seriously looking at the option of formally withdrawing my passport application.

I am told that the only way I can withdraw my application is by writing to Trendy, although I asked if I could write to Liverpool and was given an address but no contact name/department number.

Apparently this process also 'takes several weeks' and I would (naturally) loose all my passport application fee.

However with my application being acknowledged as withdrawn by Trendy/Liverpool, I could then apply to the British Embassy for the free 12 month extension, which might just save my bacon at something approaching I minute to midnight.

Looks like timing may yet end up being everything....

Absolute last resort might be failing to mention to the British Embassy that I have already applied for a renewal and maybe them giving me a 12 month extension stamp unbeknown that I have an extant passport application.

The system is so much in chaos, I might just get away with this, after all it's not like I want to travel, I haven't left Thailand for years now; I just want to get a new Extension of Permission to Stay before July is out then renew my WP.

I am currently incandescent at the British Government/HMPO over this cluster f..k of a fiasco that I find myself currently tangled up in.

Not happy - if only there was a way of going nuclear......

Perhaps I should go to the British Consul and ask for his help.

[soihok]

Nightmare.

I gave up with the helpline as I couldn't seem to ever get through. The Newport lot answered my questions but took about 2 weeks to get an email.

Too early to think about replies to the 2 letters I sent off by registered mail. Due to system being a complete F...Up the last thing they will be doing is replying to letters from whingers, but at least I've done my bit. Haven't bothered applying in the end as there is no way I'm taking international flights to BKK "twice" to renew a passport.

Wonder how many other TV members have written? (Thanks for the address's Digi.)

Regarding the 12 month extension, I will try to get my girls passport extended here in KL at the Consulate (I expect they will tell me that as she is not Malaysia I will have to travel to Thailand to do this).

[AyG]

And now we learn the Passport Office makes a profit of £13 on every passport issued. Pity they couldn't use that profit to employ enough staff. Disgusting.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/20/passport-office-chaos-applications-profit-surplus

[evadgib]

Passport Office backlog still 53,000

[Jip99]

Well I take back what I have been posting recently as regards the HMPO UK Helpline - I can now confirm that they also have the ability to be completely useless.

The service has seriously gone down hill over the last week with the call centre operatives now apparently being replaced by Muppets.

Guess after the s..t hit the fan last week the number of calls submitted probably went off the scale so I presume that they have had to take on a whole load more operators - who seem to know very little about HMPO and work from strict scripts (this in it self is not a bad thing, but these scripts don't seem to allow branch points so you have to move from a) - z) = super tedious).

Maybe they are super snowed under, but I have just come off two, 20 minute plus phones calls dealing with these 'scripted' helpline call centre operators.

1) Call number one spent 5 minutes plus trying to give my Application Reference number, whilst being asked for my name, dob, date of application, phone number, post code, etc - "No I don't want that , please tell me how we can help you".

Eventually gave the reference number to be asked "When do you plan to travel?" then when I said I was overseas " What country are you calling from Sir". "Is this your first passport application Sir?" Was told to phone back after 6 weeks if my passport hadn't arrived - hung up without exchanging pleasantries - call was a complete waste of my money - this particular operator was extremely patronizing and very very very unhelpful.

2) Second call - Thought I should better try again . Managed to give the application reference relatively quickly to next operator who was a bit less clueless than the first one I had experienced today. It seems that these generic helpline operators only have access to the most basic HMPO Website information, plus data on only the following application stages: i) Payment date = 'awaiting examination' ii) Date sent to printers. they don't have and thus can't give out any other progress information. They don't even seem to know if you are overseas.

Really starting to panic, if my passport hasn't gone to the printers by the 30th June I am now seriously looking at the option of formally withdrawing my passport application.

I am told that the only way I can withdraw my application is by writing to Trendy, although I asked if I could write to Liverpool and was given an address but no contact name/department number.

Apparently this process also 'takes several weeks' and I would (naturally) loose all my passport application fee.

However with my application being acknowledged as withdrawn by Trendy/Liverpool, I could then apply to the British Embassy for the free 12 month extension, which might just save my bacon at something approaching I minute to midnight.

Looks like timing may yet end up being everything....

Absolute last resort might be failing to mention to the British Embassy that I have already applied for a renewal and maybe them giving me a 12 month extension stamp unbeknown that I have an extant passport application.

The system is so much in chaos, I might just get away with this, after all it's not like I want to travel, I haven't left Thailand for years now; I just want to get a new Extension of Permission to Stay before July is out then renew my WP.

I am currently incandescent at the British Government/HMPO over this cluster f..k of a fiasco that I find myself currently tangled up in.

Not happy - if only there was a way of going nuclear......

Perhaps I should go to the British Consul and ask for his help.

The quality of written responses is no better:-

My reply to Sally's fob off:-

Bullshit answer !

Stop guessing with the numbers!

What overseas documents - there were none!

I APPLIED FOR A JUMBO PASSPORT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: My credit card debit was GBP 100. 70

I can now see that GBP 91 + GBP 9.70 = GBP 100.70

WHY WAS I ISSUED WITH A 32 PAGE PASSPORT ??????????????????

From: Overseas Newport CCC <[email protected]>

To: xxx

Sent: Wednesday, 18 June 2014, 9:47

Subject: RE: Passport renewal - xxx



Good morning

Thank you for your email, the charges are as follows

Overseas documents secure delivery £10.16

Overseas passport delivery £9.70

Overseas postal standard renewal £83.00

Many thanks

Sally Sparrow

Customer Contact Centre

Operations

[digitalchromakey]

The quality of written responses is no better:-

My reply to Sally's fob off:-

Bullshit answer !

Stop guessing with the numbers!

What overseas documents - there were none!

I APPLIED FOR A JUMBO PASSPORT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: My credit card debit was GBP 100. 70

I can now see that GBP 91 + GBP 9.70 = GBP 100.70

WHY WAS I ISSUED WITH A 32 PAGE PASSPORT ??????????????????

From: Overseas Newport CCC <[email protected]>

To: xxx

Sent: Wednesday, 18 June 2014, 9:47

Subject: RE: Passport renewal - xxx



Good morning

Thank you for your email, the charges are as follows

Overseas documents secure delivery £10.16

Overseas passport delivery £9.70

Overseas postal standard renewal £83.00

Many thanks

Sally Sparrow

Customer Contact Centre

Operations

Unbelievable; these Muppets have f..ked up time and time again, but rather than saying sorry, they just dig a larger and larger hole for themselves.......

Paul Pugh should be first against the wall and there should be a long line of civil servants and politicians to follow, it appears also including your 'Sally Sparrow' (probably a nom de guerre). who is evidently an innumerate, employed at HMPO, presumably under equal opportunities, to 'balance' out the overseas agents' lack of literacy.

Isn't anybody ever going to be held to account for this Fiasco?