Renewing UK Passport and existing visa

[lomuamart]

Jeeze. My new one turned up 10 minutes ago by DHL courier from Liverpool.
Now I need that blooming letter from the Embassy stating it's a proper passport. I know it's free and am hoping they'll send it to me here in HH without having to go to BKK. Will email consular section later on.

[PeteC]

What a fiasco to get a passport - travel to Bangkok to submit your application and then the same again to collect it, so from HH about a 6+ hour return journey each time and if you go by taxi, at least 2000 baht each time on top of your passport fee.

What Richard quotes above is exactly what the US Embassy has been doing for a long time. You get the option of EMS delivery of the Passport rather than pick-up. I didn't read the above links but perhaps that option is in there. Pete

[Dannie Boy]

What a fiasco to get a passport - travel to Bangkok to submit your application and then the same again to collect it, so from HH about a 6+ hour return journey each time and if you go by taxi, at least 2000 baht each time on top of your passport fee.

What Richard quotes above is exactly what the US Embassy has been doing for a long time. You get the option of EMS delivery of the Passport rather than pick-up. I didn't read the above links but perhaps that option is in there. Pete

It says you have to deliver and collect in person, bringing your old passport as proof of i.d.

[Huahinian]

Thought the following may be useful.

Thank you for your email. Please send your appointment booking to BangkokHMPO@vfshelpline.com
Making your application
You’ll need to book an appointment by email. Include your name and surname and 3 alternative dates and times. You will receive an email confirming your appointment.
UK Visa Application Centre
The Trendy Office Building,
28th Floor,
Sukhumvit Soi13,
Klongtoey-Nua,
Wattana,
Bangkok
10110,
Thailand
Email: BangkokHMPO@vfshelpline.com
CHANGES TO BRITISH PASSPORT SERVICES IN THAILAND

We are making important changes to the way we deliver British passports. From 26 March 2014, you should submit your application, in person by appointment only, to the UK Visa Application Centre. Your application will then be sent on to Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the UK for processing. All the information needed to complete the passport application process, including address and contact details for the UK Visa Application Centre, is available on the GOV.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports.

If you cannot find the information you need on the GOV.UK website, please contact the Passport Adviceline on +44 300 222 0000 (operates from 8am-8pm UK time) or e-mail: overseasNewportCCC@hmpo.gsi.gov.uk.

You should avoid leaving applying for your passport until the last minute. You can apply to renew your passport at any time. Any remaining validity up to nine months will be transferred from your old passport to your new one.

You should not book travel until you have received your new passport. The British Government cannot accept responsibility for costs incurred if travel is booked and subsequently cancelled before the passport has been received. Information on processing times can be found on the GOV.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports.

Your passport and supporting documents will be delivered to the UK Visa Application Centre - you must collect them in person. They will contact you - using the details in your application form - when your passport and documents are ready to collect. You must bring photo ID with you.
________________________________________
NATIONALITY ENQUIRIES
The Home Office is the lead government department on nationality matters. If you have an enquiry about eligibility for British citizenship or nationality, information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/british-passport-eligibility.

________________________________________
URGENT TRAVEL
If you need to travel urgently but your normal passport is not available, you should contact the nearest Consular Assistance team at the British Embassy, Bangkok +66 2 305 8333, email: consularenquiriesbangkok@fco.gov.uk. In certain circumstances our staff may be able to issue an Emergency Travel Document but this is not a substitute for a full UK passport.

Regards,
Consular Section

[buksida]

Any one know a contact email address that they actually respond to? Sent my son's UK passport for renewal in February and have heard nothing since.

[Huahinian]

It took 7 days for me to receive a reply.

[Huahinian]

I have now received an appointment to renew my British passport - please see below.

"Up to 6 months is worrying and may make you want to rethink when to apply.

Dear, Sir/Madam

We apologies for email reply too late concerning to internet system.

We confirm your appointment is 30 Apr. 2014 time is 11.30 am.

*The application who apply in Bangkok, Thailand will process and considered by HMPO in the UK (at least 4 weeks upto 6 months)

*Please provide your original document and prepare all color copy of all documents


earliest opportunity

Thank You,

--------
HMPO Officer
--------
VFS GLOBAL
EST. 2001 | Partnering Governments. Providing Solutions.
The Trendy Office Building, 28 Floor, Sukhumvit soi 13, Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
E mail : BangkokHMPO@vfshelpline.com website : www.vfsglobal.com

[richard]

Bloody 'ell. I was lucky (as were you Lomu) to get mine done all by post prior to this debacle. Panic stations for anyone who's passport runs out in the next 6 months or so.

[Dannie Boy]

Bloody 'ell. I was lucky (as were you Lomu) to get mine done all by post prior to this debacle. Panic stations for anyone who's passport runs out in the next 6 months or so.

Mine doesn't run out until 2017, but based on this new procedure I will try to coordinate my passport renewal with a visit to the UK.

[richard]

What's the earliest you can renew many may ask? 6 months, 12 months, 18 months before expiry ?????

[chopsticks]

What's the earliest you can renew many may ask? 6 months, 12 months, 18 months before expiry ?????

Up to you but a maximum of 9 months expiry date credit will be carried forward.

[lomuamart]

I've seen that time frame quoted elsewhere. Now I don't know if this is the case but many thought it was a misprint and should have said 4-6 weeks. 6 months is ridiculous.
Whilst we're on the subject, I meant to update on getting the letter from the Embassy confirming the new passport was genuine - Imm want to see this now.
Anyway, the Embassy were most accommodating after I emailed them and once I'd scanned the details pages of both old and new passports and supplied them with a bit more information regarding visa type and address, they EMSed the letter to me for no charge. (Believe that Richard also got his for free but at the same time as his income letter. Mine was stand alone). Long may that continue!!

[chopsticks]

In UK they quote 4-6 weeks for passport renewals so it shouldn't take 6 months.
Getting something free from UK Home Office, UKBA, or Passport & Immigration Service (or whatever their latest name is) is quite amazing unless it was factored into the renewal cost !!

[lomuamart]

Today I activated my new passport and renewed my annual retirement visa. In and out in 20 minutes.

Took:

- Old and new passports
- Letter from the embassy confirming my income and confirming my new passport
- One photo
- 2400 baht
- copy of first page of new passport
- copies of every page of old passport
- map showing my address
- annual visa renewal form

Things to note:

- confusion over income and new passport being on one letter...soon resolved by senior official
- embassy letter must be the original .........copy not accepted
- every page of old passport was scrutinised in detail...........looking for gaps no doubt
- 500 baht charged (no receipt)for the 6 stamps and scrawls inserted on 3 pages of my new passport
- number of stamps in passport may vary depending on number of times you have re-entered Thailand
- my 90 day report was adjusted to be 90 days from today
- no stamp bears the word Retirement on it as it did in my old passport but does have a Thai word

All very smoothly done with a pleasant smile and the odd joke from the officer concerned

I'm going to have to activate my new passport later this week. Looking at the list above, can you give me a steer on which items were required for this process, Richard? Forget the renewal of extension which will be done later.
Old and new passports, obviously.
Embassy letter confirming new passport is genuine
Copy of details page of new passport
Copy of every page of old passport - was this necessary? It would seem like it. And did that include empty visa pages?
Was a photo necessary?
Was there a specific form for this transfer of stamps?
Map of where I live
500 THB.

Some of the above may just be for the extension.
Thanks for any advice.

[richard]

I'm going to have to activate my new passport later this week. Looking at the list above, can you give me a steer on which items were required for this process, Richard? Forget the renewal of extension which will be done later.
Old and new passports, obviously.
Embassy letter confirming new passport is genuine
Copy of details page of new passport
Copy of every page of old passport - was this necessary? It would seem like it. And did that include empty visa pages?
Was a photo necessary?
Was there a specific form for this transfer of stamps?
Map of where I live
500 THB.

.

As I was renewing the new passport and renewing my extension it is difficult to tell. I always go with loads of paperwork to cover everything. If I remember correctly he processed the extension first but in doing so all details were entered into the new passport. Usually I get back unwanted copies but on this occasion I received nothing back. I only took copies of stamped pages. The photo was necessary for the the extension only I think. He fished out a special form for the activation of the new passport. None were on display outside of the building.

He was very thorough (knew what he was doing), polite and jocular. Kept complaining that all his stamps were falling apart. Hope it helps