Changes To British Passport Services In Thailand

[Jip99]

Anyone know what the current renewal processing time is working out at ?

[digitalchromakey]

Anyone know what the current renewal processing time is working out at ?

Fastest reported recently was 6 weeks from trendy - trendy, most recent slowest (with suspected address confirmation issues) is sixteen weeks and still climbing.

This is also of particular interest to me as I plan to make 2x more applications to make for my kids in October

[hughben]

Did anyone see this?

Couldn't he have got an emergency passport and done a visa run with that?

Passport wrangle landed Lindley chef in packed Thai detention centre for three weeks

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/passport-wrangle-landed-lindley-chef-7775738

[ukrules]

Did anyone see this?

Couldn't he have got an emergency passport and done a visa run with that?

Passport wrangle landed Lindley chef in packed Thai detention centre for three weeks

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/passport-wrangle-landed-lindley-chef-7775738

I hadn't seen this but I suspect there are more cases like this.

Incompetence with issuing new passports by the UKPO mixed with the Thai's need to imprison anybody who's foreign is a recipe for disaster.

I note that the passport office didn't seem even slightly bothered that this guy was in prison due to their bad service.

The UK ambassador should have personally intervened to make sure this guy got his passport pronto and get him out of jail.

[soihok]

Anyone know what the current renewal processing time is working out at ?

Fastest reported recently was 6 weeks from trendy - trendy, most recent slowest (with suspected address confirmation issues) is sixteen weeks and still climbing.

This is also of particular interest to me as I plan to make 2x more applications to make for my kids in October

May the force be with you.

Please let us know how it goes

[digitalchromakey]

Did anyone see this?

Couldn't he have got an emergency passport and done a visa run with that?

Passport wrangle landed Lindley chef in packed Thai detention centre for three weeks

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/passport-wrangle-landed-lindley-chef-7775738

I hadn't seen this but I suspect there are more cases like this.

Incompetence with issuing new passports by the UKPO mixed with the Thai's need to imprison anybody who's foreign is a recipe for disaster.

I note that the passport office didn't seem even slightly bothered that this guy was in prison due to their bad service.

The UK ambassador should have personally intervened to make sure this guy got his passport pronto and get him out of jail.

The callous attitude of the HMPO officer speaks volumes about the 'can't do ' attitude that is embedded there:

A spokesman for HMPO said: “It is not unusual during peak periods for HMPO to operate with high numbers of applications in the

system at any one time, with this year seeing the highest levels for 12 years”.

The HMPO officer is talking like Andrew Sharp had to unfortunately shell out 5 quid extra, whereas in fact he spent THREE WEEKS IN PRISON AND WAS THEN DEPORTED FROM THAILAND as a direct result of HMPO's incompetence - this is why the head of HMPO Paul 'no problem here' Pugh should be fired on the spot with no compensation - a complete incompetent in charge of a bunch of useless paper pushers.

The British government should be ashamed that it literally, in person, threw its overseas citizens to the dogs, whilst the passport fiasco unraveled into a full blown train wreck of a disaster.

Where is the British government's admission of failure, why no apologies, why no compensation?

[watso63]

Did anyone see this?

Couldn't he have got an emergency passport and done a visa run with that? Passport wrangle landed Lindley chef in packed Thai detention centre for three weeks

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/passport-wrangle-landed-lindley-chef-7775738

No mention of what the delay was, but wouldn't it be ironic if it was because he failed to forward the required information about his address in Thailand (which appears to be a major delaying factor) but which is totally irrelevant anyway as we all have to travel to Trendy to post and collect, no matter where in Thailand we may be based. I wonder if the IDC is acceptable??? If his passport had failed to arrive, just how long would he have been expected to stew in there? Remember the British Officials charged with looking out for its citizens around the world have no powers to have someone released from detention. It would also be good to know what they actually did in this case as the article is fairly brief. Anyway HMPO is still a shambles, the process is a shambles and third class expats are less news worthy than a family of four that have two crying children that are having to miss out on a two week trip of a lifetime to Disney World aaaagggghhhh!!!

[lovelaos]

Is it possible to get additional pages added to 32 page UK passport. I have 6 pages left and 2 years, wish to travel a bit, if not

please advise.

Thanks in advance

nope.... they stopped that many many moon's ago, when they still issued the "black" British PP, never could add pages to the British "EU" passport...

Correct. What infuriates me is the French (and many others) can get a new passport FREE when theirs is full. They just pop along to their embassy and in 24 hours they have a new passport. I hate being a Brit expat.

[Ace of Pop]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

[OJAS]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

Out of interest how long did he have to wait for his new passport after his renewal application was submitted?

[phutoie2]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

Out of interest how long did he have to wait for his new passport after his renewal application was submitted?

Submitted my application on 4 Aug, HMPO Liverpool deducted the fee on 8 Aug from my CC.

Monday 22 Sep, town postie at my house with big DHL envelope, which at first thought would be my new passport but it was just the original docs and one x photo returned.

At 4.00pm phone call from Trendy, very polite lady informing me that my new passport had arrived and I could come and collect. Going down next week, bit of a trek from Phetchabun but a night out!.

[bigsteve]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

Out of interest how long did he have to wait for his new passport after his renewal application was submitted?

Submitted my application on 4 Aug, HMPO Liverpool deducted the fee on 8 Aug from my CC.

Monday 22 Sep, town postie at my house with big DHL envelope, which at first thought would be my new passport but it was just the original docs and one x photo returned.

At 4.00pm phone call from Trendy, very polite lady informing me that my new passport had arrived and I could come and collect. Going down next week, bit of a trek from Phetchabun but a night out!.

So your own home address is acceptable for them to send back your identification documents such as birth certificate, but not to send you your new passport. Go figure.

[digitalchromakey]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

Out of interest how long did he have to wait for his new passport after his renewal application was submitted?

Submitted my application on 4 Aug, HMPO Liverpool deducted the fee on 8 Aug from my CC.

Monday 22 Sep, town postie at my house with big DHL envelope, which at first thought would be my new passport but it was just the original docs and one x photo returned.

At 4.00pm phone call from Trendy, very polite lady informing me that my new passport had arrived and I could come and collect. Going down next week, bit of a trek from Phetchabun but a night out!.

That's just over 7 weeks - things are improving a little.

However., let's not get too excited - a 7 week turnaround for such an important document is still a laughingly poor service in this day and age.

[digitalchromakey]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

Out of interest how long did he have to wait for his new passport after his renewal application was submitted?

Submitted my application on 4 Aug, HMPO Liverpool deducted the fee on 8 Aug from my CC.

Monday 22 Sep, town postie at my house with big DHL envelope, which at first thought would be my new passport but it was just the original docs and one x photo returned.

At 4.00pm phone call from Trendy, very polite lady informing me that my new passport had arrived and I could come and collect. Going down next week, bit of a trek from Phetchabun but a night out!.

So your own home address is acceptable for them to send back your identification documents such as birth certificate, but not to send you your new passport. Go figure.

Doesn't take a lot of deduction to figure out that HMPO are seemingly incapable of intelligent thought or analysis - being the incompetent rabble that they are.

They apparently don't even try to hide the fact that their new 'high security' procedures for overseas applications are at best just a bad joke.

[Ace of Pop]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

Out of interest how long did he have to wait for his new passport after his renewal application was submitted?

..!2 We went 12 August,Ready to collect Friday 19Sept.

[OJAS]

Just to say my Wife collected the English Mans P/port today from Trendy, no probs they were most curteous.Thank to all who helped us get this done for him. .

Out of interest how long did he have to wait for his new passport after his renewal application was submitted?

..!2 We went 12 August,Ready to collect Friday 19Sept.

5 weeks and 4 days, then, which is just within HMPO's current target of 6 weeks. An encouraging improvement by the sound of it, but still way above the 4 weeks it took for my passport to be renewed via Hong Kong in Jan 2013!

[theoldgit]

5 weeks and 4 days, then, which is just within HMPO's current target of 6 weeks. An encouraging improvement by the sound of it, but still way above the 4 weeks it took for my passport to be renewed via Hong Kong in Jan 2013!

And way above the ten calendar days it took last year, also via Hong Kong, from the time my card was debited to the time the DHL guy handed me my new passport.

I think it's called progress.

[parryhandy]

Did anyone see this?

Couldn't he have got an emergency passport and done a visa run with that?

Passport wrangle landed Lindley chef in packed Thai detention centre for three weeks

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/passport-wrangle-landed-lindley-chef-7775738

It says in the article that this guy actually reported himself to immigration and asked for help so immigration being understanding has now gone out the window.

As I have stated before if you now need a replacement passport for whatever reason (loss, theft..) and you do not have at least 10 weeks left on your permission to stay(3/4 weeks for Trendy appointment + 6 weeks minimum for passport) you could easily end up like this guy UNLESS YOU FLY BACK TO THE UK on an emergency passport.

I have yet to hear a single report of somebody either

1. using an emergency travel document to do an in/out and get another 90 days (30 would likely be not enough )with a new visa

2. getting Thai immigration to extend their permission of stay without a physical passport being present.

It seems the ONLY option is to fly home ? can anybody tell me different ?

As it now stands every expat outside of Europe has a genuine case for needing 2 passports just in case.

[OJAS]

As it now stands every expat outside of Europe has a genuine case for needing 2 passports just in case.

A second passport would not be of any use, though, if the passport containing your latest entry stamp into LOS was the one that got lost or stolen. You would not be allowed to use your other passport to exit LOS in such circumstances.

[Ace of Pop]

If You receive a Phone call to say its ready they let my Wife in at 8.30. befeore the 10 Am Trendy open hour.Had a call from Old Brit,said there was a Yellow Stamp you should remove inside P/Port. Hes taken it off, nothing there, so hes stuck it back again.Ive had enough now, out of wack.

[Franky Bear]

This girl helped us a lot when getting my daughters UK passport. It was her that told me it had been in Trendy 6 weeks!!!

Lorraine Williams
Examiner, Overseas Team 7
2nd Floor, Her Majesty's Passport Office
101 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9HQ

E: [email protected]

Tel: 0151 471 6556
www.gov.uk/hm-passport-office

[parryhandy]

As it now stands every expat outside of Europe has a genuine case for needing 2 passports just in case.

A second passport would not be of any use, though, if the passport containing your latest entry stamp into LOS was the one that got lost or stolen. You would not be allowed to use your other passport to exit LOS in such circumstances.

so how do you exit Thailand if you lose your passport ? an emergency travel document wont have an entry stamp either so surely a lost/stolen form from the police/embassy saying please accept this passport in lieu of the previous passport will suffice ?

[AlanAunuum]

now entering my 17th week since i put my application into Trendy building,it has passed all the uk security checks,but is now being pssed over to their overseas collegues for further checks (e mail received 9th september) dispite 5 calls to T Kanokporn consulr oficer and 1 visit to UK embassy Bangkok no one can tell me Jack shit what the reason of delay is, Now on overstay as of 12th september. SO WHAT DO I DO NOW HAND MYSELF IN TO IMMIGRATION OR GO BACK TO UK EMBASSY AND REFUSE TO LEAVE TILL I GET ANSWERS

[OJAS]

As it now stands every expat outside of Europe has a genuine case for needing 2 passports just in case.

A second passport would not be of any use, though, if the passport containing your latest entry stamp into LOS was the one that got lost or stolen. You would not be allowed to use your other passport to exit LOS in such circumstances.

so how do you exit Thailand if you lose your passport ? an emergency travel document wont have an entry stamp either so surely a lost/stolen form from the police/embassy saying please accept this passport in lieu of the previous passport will suffice ?

Read the thread at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742924-lost-uk-passport-but-i-have-2-for-work-purposes/, in particular ubonjoe's advice at post #3.

[parryhandy]

As it now stands every expat outside of Europe has a genuine case for needing 2 passports just in case.

A second passport would not be of any use, though, if the passport containing your latest entry stamp into LOS was the one that got lost or stolen. You would not be allowed to use your other passport to exit LOS in such circumstances.

so how do you exit Thailand if you lose your passport ? an emergency travel document wont have an entry stamp either so surely a lost/stolen form from the police/embassy saying please accept this passport in lieu of the previous passport will suffice ?

Read the thread at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742924-lost-uk-passport-but-i-have-2-for-work-purposes/, in particular ubonjoe's advice at post #3.

needs the guy to report back on the outcome

[OJAS]

so how do you exit Thailand if you lose your passport ? an emergency travel document wont have an entry stamp either so surely a lost/stolen form from the police/embassy saying please accept this passport in lieu of the previous passport will suffice ?

Read the thread at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742924-lost-uk-passport-but-i-have-2-for-work-purposes/, in particular ubonjoe's advice at post #3.

needs the guy to report back on the outcome

You could always send him a PM.

[digitalchromakey]

If You receive a Phone call to say its ready they let my Wife in at 8.30. befeore the 10 Am Trendy open hour.Had a call from Old Brit,said there was a Yellow Stamp you should remove inside P/Port. Hes taken it off, nothing there, so hes stuck it back again.Ive had enough now, out of wack.

Yellow sticker inhibits the RFID Chip embedded in the passport, needs to be removed before passing any attempted customs passport scan.

[digitalchromakey]

now entering my 17th week since i put my application into Trendy building,it has passed all the uk security checks,but is now being pssed over to their overseas collegues for further checks (e mail received 9th september) dispite 5 calls to T Kanokporn consulr oficer and 1 visit to UK embassy Bangkok no one can tell me Jack shit what the reason of delay is, Now on overstay as of 12th september. SO WHAT DO I DO NOW HAND MYSELF IN TO IMMIGRATION OR GO BACK TO UK EMBASSY AND REFUSE TO LEAVE TILL I GET ANSWERS

It is 90% certain that your problem is inadequate evidence of name and address, as you only sent a photocopy of the business card for the address where you are/were staying at.

[digitalchromakey]

This girl helped us a lot when getting my daughters UK passport. It was her that told me it had been in Trendy 6 weeks!!!

Lorraine Williams

Examiner, Overseas Team 7

2nd Floor, Her Majesty's Passport Office

101 Old Hall Street

Liverpool

L3 9HQ

E: [email protected]

Tel: 0151 471 6556

www.gov.uk/hm-passport-office

Once the 'head' of HMPO Mr. Paul Pugh finds out this person was helpful to an overseas UK Citizen, I have no doubt she will be demoted to orange application form storage box cleaning and logistics operations.

On a serious note, the poor girl will now probably be snowed under with literally hundreds of contacts from frustrated overseas passport applicants - don't being envy her inbox.

[soihok]

now entering my 17th week since i put my application into Trendy building,it has passed all the uk security checks,but is now being pssed over to their overseas collegues for further checks (e mail received 9th september) dispite 5 calls to T Kanokporn consulr oficer and 1 visit to UK embassy Bangkok no one can tell me Jack shit what the reason of delay is, Now on overstay as of 12th september. SO WHAT DO I DO NOW HAND MYSELF IN TO IMMIGRATION OR GO BACK TO UK EMBASSY AND REFUSE TO LEAVE TILL I GET ANSWERS

Nightmare.

I think the Embassy would be the first move, followed by immigration.

Best of luck to you mate.

What a predicament.