Getting Visa Transferred to New UK Passport.

[PostmanPat]

Hi. I wrote an email to British Embassy Bangkok on this and they didnt even reply. Sad sign of the times!

In August I will return to Thailand with a new UK passport but my "retirement visa" ( permission to stay) in the old cancelled passport.

I am told the Thai Immigration will only "transfer" validity from old to new passport with a letter which has to be obtained from the British Embassy.

Does anyone know how to get this letter? I live in Chiang Mai so hoping I dont physically have to travel to Bangkok to get the letter. Can it be requested by mail, if so, what do you have to send to Bangkok as I dont want to post my old and new passports by mail if this can be avoided.

Thanks in advance for assistance. It seems this forum is more helpful than the British Embassy itself !!

[williewolf]

Are you renewing your passport in the uk? If so ask them for a letter confirming you have been issued with a new passport.

I renewed my passport here in BKK via trendy and when my new passport came back the form was with it. I filled it in and posted it to British Embassy and it came back within a couple of days. There is also an option to email it. Took passports to immigration all that had to be was transfered pretty painless.

[ubonjoe]

Moved to the Thai visas forum

[ubonjoe]

They send the letter by EMS from the embassy after you send them an email with all the info about your old and new passports.

The correct email and contact info for the consular section of the embassy is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-bangkok#our-services

[i claudius]

Just done this got new passport in UK,returned with old and new passport,3 days later went to jomtien and they transferred retirement visa into new passport ,no need to contact British embassy

[ubonjoe]

Just done this got new passport in UK,returned with old and new passport,3 days later went to jomtien and they transferred retirement visa into new passport ,no need to contact British embassy

Jomtien is one of the few offices that do not normally ask for the letter.

The OP will be using the Chiang Mai office and they do ask for it.

[i claudius]

I wonder why they want a letter from the embassy , seems a bit much ,so simple here in Pattaya

[OJAS]

Are you renewing your passport in the uk? If so ask them for a letter confirming you have been issued with a new passport.

I renewed my passport here in BKK via trendy and when my new passport came back the form was with it. I filled it in and posted it to British Embassy and it came back within a couple of days. There is also an option to email it. Took passports to immigration all that had to be was transfered pretty painless.

No chance of HMPO giving the OP a suitable letter in the UK, I'm afraid. And, even if they did, Immigration might well jib at the fact that it was not issued by the Embassy!

For his benefit I have attached the notice which the With-It Tower Mob issue with new passports and sets out how he can about obtaining the Embassy letter.

150211 Visa Transfer Letter Final.docx

[HollyT]

This post has been helpful for me too, thanks everyone.

Just to clarify - I'm going to the UK next month and plan on getting a new passport as mine only has a few pages left (and a couple of years), will they let me keep my old passport and then when I arrive in Thailand with my new and old passports, I can enter on my old one (with my nonB visa in it)? Then I just need that letter from the embassy to transfer my visa to my new passport at my local immigration office? It will be my 90 day check in a few days after I return from England..

[ubonjoe]

They will give your old passport back to you.

If you have a valid visa in you old pass[port you will use both passports on entry.

Immigration does not transfer visas. If you have an extension of stay they will transfer it to your new passport.

Your 90 day report will not be due until 90 days from the date you enter the country including that date in the count.