Renew U.S. Passport -- need later appointment

[Acharn]

I need to renew my U.S. passport. I live in Nakhon Sawan, 250 km from Bangkok. When I went to the appointment site, all the times available are in the morning. The latest time available is 9:00 AM. For normal business at the consulate (income affidavit every year) I've been able to make appointments at 1:00 PM. Is there any way to do that for a passport renewal? All I'm doing is dropping off the signed form, the photograph, and paying the fee. Is there some reason they can't allow me to drop off the form in the afternoon and give it to their passport specialist the next morning? How would I go about requesting such an exception to policy? I've already sent an email to [email protected], which is the only contact address on their web site that I was able to find, but I'm hoping someone here will know the story.

[khwaibah]

Try the US Consulate in Chiang Mai. There more user friendly. http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov

[ubonjoe]

They changed the appointment schedules back in December. Passports is 7:30 to 9:00, notary is 9;15 to 11:00 and afternoon appointments are only for birth registration now.
They will probably make an exception if you email them at ACSBKK at state.gov that is shown in several places on the ACS pages of the website.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Joe

They allowed notarials in February in the morning, 0730 hrs. I need it early on, then spiit out to Sam Khok, Pathum Thani, to hit Immigration well before noon for extension and re-entry permit.

Just checked appointments for notarials, none before 0915 hrs, this is going to screw up my timing next February.

Mac

[JLCrab]

There is a US Embassy Consular Outreach scheduled for Udon Thani May 13, 2016. If you hold out that long much easier to deal with than either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. No appointment required and they will mail the new passport back to you if you like.

[ubonjoe]

Joe

They allowed notarials in February in the morning, 0730 hrs. I need it early on, then spiit out to Sam Khok, Pathum Thani, to hit Immigration well before noon for extension and re-entry permit.

Just checked appointments for notarials, none before 0915 hrs, this is going to screw up my timing next February.

Mac

The started out with notary services form 7:30 to 9:00 and then changed it after complaints about it being to early for people that were traveling from outside of Bangkok to get there that early.

A income affidavit that is up to 6 months old will be accepted by immigration. No need to get it on the same day.

[ubonjoe]

There is a US Embassy Consular Outreach scheduled for Udon Thani May 13, 2016. If you hold out that long much easier to deal with than either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. No appointment required and they will mail the new passport back to you if you like.

I think Pattaya on the 6th of May would be closer since he is in Nakhon Sawan.

[JLCrab]

There is a US Embassy Consular Outreach scheduled for Udon Thani May 13, 2016. If you hold out that long much easier to deal with than either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. No appointment required and they will mail the new passport back to you if you like.

I think Pattaya on the 6th of May would be closer since he is in Nakhon Sawan.

Sure -- but unless the week makes a difference, who wants to go to Pattaya if they don't have to?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Joe

"A income affidavit that is up to 6 months old will be accepted by immigration. No need to get it on the same day."

Yes, but doing such on same day is easier given the traffic pattern from east of Rangsit.

50 km down to Wireless, 60 or so north to Sam Khok, then 50 east back to my place

Guess I could stop for lunch somewhere between Wireless and Sam Khok.

That early appointment, tho, works out well as it just about fits in with a stop at Future Park for lunch.

Mac

[mackayae]

[email protected] is the correct email address for US citizen services.

[Smokin Joe]

Joe

They allowed notarials in February in the morning, 0730 hrs. I need it early on, then spiit out to Sam Khok, Pathum Thani, to hit Immigration well before noon for extension and re-entry permit.

Just checked appointments for notarials, none before 0915 hrs, this is going to screw up my timing next February.

Mac

I've showed up two hours early for notary service and they still handled every customer on a first come, first served basis. Once inside the actual appointment time did not matter.

This was about a year ago.

[Acharn]

Try the US Consulate in Chiang Mai. There more user friendly. http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov

Hmmm. It's farther, 454 km, but Google says driving time is only 5½ hours. Difficult, but maybe possible. I'd prefer to keep total travel time less than sixteen hours, if possible, and I have to rely on busses.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Acharn

[Acharn]

There is a US Embassy Consular Outreach scheduled for Udon Thani May 13, 2016. If you hold out that long much easier to deal with than either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. No appointment required and they will mail the new passport back to you if you like.

Udon Thani is even further that Chiang Mai, over six hours. I guess I need to get someone to drive me over to the airport and see what they have going. I'm thinking I maybe should start thinking about mailing the paperwork. In 36 years I've only been asked for my passport two times that I can remember, except for using a credit card. Having only a copy wouldn't be very risky.

[Acharn]

They changed the appointment schedules back in December. Passports is 7:30 to 9:00, notary is 9;15 to 11:00 and afternoon appointments are only for birth registration now.

They will probably make an exception if you email them at ACSBKK at state.gov that is shown in several places on the ACS pages of the website.

Thanks for the email address. I looked for it but didn't see it. The only email address I could find was mailto:irc.state.gov. I just got notification that the email was undeliverable because the address doesn't exist.

[JLCrab]

A Consular outreach requires no appointment and they will mail the passport back to you EMS if you like. No travel to Bangkok. Much less wear and tear on one's self. My new passport JAN 2015 took about 2 weeks total. Up to you.

[Acharn]

There is a US Embassy Consular Outreach scheduled for Udon Thani May 13, 2016. If you hold out that long much easier to deal with than either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. No appointment required and they will mail the new passport back to you if you like.

I think Pattaya on the 6th of May would be closer since he is in Nakhon Sawan.

Sure -- but unless the week makes a difference, who wants to go to Pattaya if they don't have to?

LOL. But seriously, I was stationed at Camp Samae San, at Sattahip, and in 1973 Pattaya was lovely. Officers had their wives living there at their own expense. Even in 1985 it was still fun, but starting to get dingy.

[JLCrab]

In 1973, you were probably lovely too. But if you have never been to a consular outreach versus a trip to the embassy or CNX consulate, you would be in for a treat.

Edited April 9, 2016 by JLCrab

[Acharn]

In 1973, you were probably lovely too. But if you have never been to a consular outreach versus a trip to the embassy or CNX consulate, you would be in for a treat.

The consular outreach is a thoughtful suggestion, but they only go to Phuket, Pattaya, Khon Kaen, and Udon, all farther from Nakhon Sawan than Bangkok and harder to get to. I'm going to have to try contacting ACS by email and if I can't get a workable appointment that way mail the paperwork.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Acharn

[ubonjoe]

In 1973, you were probably lovely too. But if you have never been to a consular outreach versus a trip to the embassy or CNX consulate, you would be in for a treat.

The consular outreach is a thoughtful suggestion, but they only go to Phuket, Pattaya, Khon Kaen, and Udon, all farther from Nakhon Sawan than Bangkok and harder to get to. I'm going to have to try contacting ACS by email and if I can't get a workable appointment that way mail the paperwork.

They will likely give you a later appointment. They will certainly not allow you to mail in your current passport and paperwork.

You do have the option of traveling to Bangkok the day before and spending the night. Perhaps stay somewhere near the BTS or MRT. Then take BTS to Phloen Chit or MRT to Lumphini stations.

[JLCrab]

if it were me in Nakhon Sawan -- which it obviously isn't -- I would rent a car with a driver and head to Udon Thani to be at the Centara Hotel at 8 AM, be out of there within a few hours (while the driver sleeps) and head back to NS the same day & then have the Passport mailed back to me EMS.

[ubonjoe]

There is a US Embassy Consular Outreach scheduled for Udon Thani May 13, 2016. If you hold out that long much easier to deal with than either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. No appointment required and they will mail the new passport back to you if you like.

I think Pattaya on the 6th of May would be closer since he is in Nakhon Sawan.

Sure -- but unless the week makes a difference, who wants to go to Pattaya if they don't have to?

LOL. But seriously, I was stationed at Camp Samae San, at Sattahip, and in 1973 Pattaya was lovely. Officers had their wives living there at their own expense. Even in 1985 it was still fun, but starting to get dingy.

Pattaya is good for short visits. In my early days here I lived there but since 2002 Ubon has been home for me.

I will be doing the outreach in Pattaya next month for my income affidavit. Flying down with my family to DMK and from there to Pattaya and back again. Making a 4 day holiday trip to visit our son and get the affidavit. No need to muck about in Bangkok to get it at the embassy.

[longball53098]

They changed the appointment schedules back in December. Passports is 7:30 to 9:00, notary is 9;15 to 11:00 and afternoon appointments are only for birth registration now.

They will probably make an exception if you email them at ACSBKK at state.gov that is shown in several places on the ACS pages of the website.

A few weeks back I ran in to the same problem. I did as Joe suggests. Emailed the ACS folks and they responded with the following:

We no longer have afternoon appointments available for services other than Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. If you have a compelling reason why you cannot make an appointment in the morning, then we can manually move the appointment to 1pm.

All the best,

ENW

American Citizen Services │U.S. Embassy Bangkok │ 95 Wireless Road │Bangkok, Thailand 10330

Phone: 02-205-4049 (inside Thailand); +66-2-205-4049 (outside Thailand)

Fax: 02-205-4103 (inside Thailand); +66-2-205-4103 (outside Thailand)

Email: [email protected] │Website: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service.html │Twitter: @acsbkk

Enroll with us to receive emergency messages and information for U.S. Citizens: www.step.state.gov

[Acharn]

if it were me in Nakhon Sawan -- which it obviously isn't -- I would rent a car with a driver and head to Udon Thani to be at the Centara Hotel at 8 AM, be out of there within a few hours (while the driver sleeps) and head back to NS the same day & then have the Passport mailed back to me EMS.

(sigh) Boy, I wish I had your money.

[JLCrab]

if it were me in Nakhon Sawan -- which it obviously isn't -- I would rent a car with a driver and head to Udon Thani to be at the Centara Hotel at 8 AM, be out of there within a few hours (while the driver sleeps) and head back to NS the same day & then have the Passport mailed back to me EMS.

(sigh) Boy, I wish I had your money.

There was a suggestion above that you have the option of traveling to Bangkok and spending the night there. I don't see that that a 1-day rental car in Nakhon Sawan with a driver would cost any much more than that.

[ubonjoe]

if it were me in Nakhon Sawan -- which it obviously isn't -- I would rent a car with a driver and head to Udon Thani to be at the Centara Hotel at 8 AM, be out of there within a few hours (while the driver sleeps) and head back to NS the same day & then have the Passport mailed back to me EMS.

(sigh) Boy, I wish I had your money.

There was a suggestion above that you have the option of traveling to Bangkok and spending the night there. I don't see that that a 1-day rental car in Nakhon Sawan with a driver would cost any much more than that.

I don't think so. I am sure the cost of a hotel would be much less than extra 563 km from Bangkok to Udon.

[JLCrab]

Nakhon Sawan to Udon Thani via Bangkok in a car -- OK. Good luck to him wherever he goes.

Edited April 9, 2016 by JLCrab

[wayned]

Glad you aren't a Taxi driver who in their right mind would go to Bangkok from Nakhon Sawan to get to Udon Thani? Muang NS to the US Embassy is approximately 250 kilometers south, NS to Udon Thani is approximately 500 kilometers northeast through Phetchabun and Nong Bus Lamphu, I've driven both, Bangkok is easier.

Do as suggested in post 22, email ACSBKK, explain the situation and ask them to move your appointment. They have been very accommodating in the past.

[JLCrab]

Glad you aren't a Taxi driver who in their right mind would go to Bangkok from Nakhon Sawan to get to Udon Thani? Muang NS to the US Embassy is approximately 250 kilometers south, NS to Udon Thani is approximately 500 kilometers northeast through Phetchabun and Nong Bus Lamphu, I've driven both, Bangkok is easier.

Do as suggested in post 22, email ACSBKK, explain the situation and ask them to move your appointment. They have been very accommodating in the past.

... who in their right mind would go to Bangkok from Nakhon Sawan to get to Udon Thani?

See post #25 The Consular outreach in Udon Thani is pleasant -- I have been to the Udon Thani US Consular Outreach many times. Whatever you might say about a passport renewal trip to the US Embassy on Wireless or to Pattaya, pleasant they are not..

Edited April 9, 2016 by JLCrab

[Acharn]

if it were me in Nakhon Sawan -- which it obviously isn't -- I would rent a car with a driver and head to Udon Thani to be at the Centara Hotel at 8 AM, be out of there within a few hours (while the driver sleeps) and head back to NS the same day & then have the Passport mailed back to me EMS.

(sigh) Boy, I wish I had your money.

There was a suggestion above that you have the option of traveling to Bangkok and spending the night there. I don't see that that a 1-day rental car in Nakhon Sawan with a driver would cost any much more than that.

You're right, it probably wouldn't. I can't afford either. Well, actually guess I could, but it would leave me right on the edge of hardship for a couple of months. If I had known a few months ago about this I could have been sticking a thousand baht a month in a hidden place and be able to do it. Since I did not know to prepare for it, it's a problem.

[joeyg]

There is a US Embassy Consular Outreach scheduled for Udon Thani May 13, 2016. If you hold out that long much easier to deal with than either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. No appointment required and they will mail the new passport back to you if you like.

I think Pattaya on the 6th of May would be closer since he is in Nakhon Sawan.

Does anyone know the location of the May 6th 2016 Outreach in Pattaya? Last time it was at the Amari on Beach Road. The previous one was at the Dusatani across the street

Unfortunately location is not given yet...

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/consular_outreach.html

Edited April 13, 2016 by joeyg