UK Passport Renewal

[STEVE G]

Thanks

I have a long way to go with my passport (expiry May 2014) but never like to leave things to the last minute. As a matter of interest, how far in advance will they renew?. Second thoughts, it should tell me on the embassy website.

Considering what they charge for a UK Passport, about £100 and ten times what some other countries think appropriate, why would you renew it so early?

[Houdi]

As promised, my final update on my new UK passport.

I went to immigration today to renew my Non Immigrant Visa which had to go in my new passport. I was first in line when they opened. There is a form that Immigration have to fill in when you change passports. This process alone took 35 minutes. I had to make several more copies of every visa in the old passport. The first two pages of the new passport have been filled with what I assume is cancellation of the old visas even though they are no longer valid. The fee for this was 500 Baht and I was not unhappy with this as it took a lot of time, form filling and innumerable new stamps by the Immigration guy (and Yes I was given an official receipt). We then set about the new Visa and Re-entry permit. This also took a long time as there had to be two more copies of various pages from each passport. Finally, everything was completed after 65 minutes. The fee was the usual for the Non Immigrant and the Re-entry.

In summary. It took a long time but the guy was very helpful and frequently apologised that it was taking so long. I had to pay for 15-20 extra copies even though I had taken two copies of everything with me but they are only 3 Baht per copy so no big deal. I now have my brand new passport even if 4 pages are already full of stamps !

So, if you are changing passports, my advice is go early and be patient.

[richard]

There has been some correspondence on renewing UK passports on the Forum. I just wanted to share my recent experience with anyone who has to renew their UK passport soon.

I started with the British Embassy website in Bangkok. This pointed me to the Honk Kong embassy site. It took a while to read everything and some of the information about what to send was a bit conflicting.

In the end, it was extremely easy.

You fill in an Online application form. Print it and sign it. You need 2 passport photos and one of these needs to be endorsed by someone who knows you. They also need to sign the appropriate section of the application form.

You do NOT need to send your current passport. But you do need to send a photocopy of the page with all your details on it.

You fill in a credit card authority form.

You then send all of this to the embassy address in Hong Kong. (I went to the Post office and sent it recorded delivery).

They only charge the fee to your credit card after they have checked that all the information supplied by you is correct. To my surprise, only 10 days after I sent my application, I checked my credit card on line and the appropriate fee had been charged by the embassy so everything is in order.

Within 3 to 4 weeks my new passport should arrive by courier from the UK. I will post again when I get it.

In summary, the process look bit tedious and there seems to be no way of checking with Hong Kong on progress (although I assume they contact you if anything is wrong with your application).

In spite of my concerns it worked !!

And by the way, it seems that within a couple or three years ALL UK passport renewals from overseas will be processed in the same way BUT will be handled directly through the UK (and not Hong Kong for us).

Followed your instructions and the Embassy website. New passport arrived today. Total time 15 days. That was the easy bit. Now to get my visa info transferred

[sateeb]

Followed your instructions and the Embassy website. New passport arrived today. Total time 15 days. That was the easy bit. Now to get my visa info transferred.

Also easy + 500baht

[Winkie]

Can anyone confirm that its OK to sen a passport copy when renewing a Child's passport? Website says just send photocopy, but Form C2 and the accompanying guidance Notes both tell you to send original.

In addition, it seems to OK to have a non-UK Citizen Countersign the Photograph, am I correct?

Thanks for your help, don't wish to screw this one up, as passport (and Hence Visa) expire on 19th Nov - so looks like we are heading for a problem anyway

Thanks again

[STEVE G]

In addition, it seems to OK to have a non-UK Citizen Countersign the Photograph, am I correct?

I've recently done this for a colleague here to renew his childrens passports, you have to fit their guidelines for being a responsible person but for some reason calling myself an "Engineer" worked! (I'm a technician really.)
I'll see him later this morning and I'll ask if he had to send the originals.

[Frank Hovis]

No need to send the original - I added a bit in the 'notes' part pointing out that the form asked for an original but the website says a copy is OK (or the other way round). Included just a copy and had no problem at all for a child passport.

[REEM]

I went to immigration today to renew my Non Immigrant Visa which had to go in my new passport. I was first in line when they opened. There is a form that Immigration have to fill in when you change passports. This process alone took 35 minutes. I had to make several more copies of every visa in the old passport. The first two pages of the new passport have been filled with what I assume is cancellation of the old visas even though they are no longer valid. The fee for this was 500 Baht and I was not unhappy with this as it took a lot of time, form filling and innumerable new stamps by the Immigration guy (and Yes I was given an official receipt). We then set about the new Visa and Re-entry permit. This also took a long time as there had to be two more copies of various pages from each passport. Finally, everything was completed after 65 minutes. The fee was the usual for the Non Immigrant and the Re-entry.

I went to immig. recently, just before Xmas to renew a retirement extension. I have a new UK passport this time, entering the country in August with it, my visa and extension to stay were in my old clipped passport.

I was told that transfering the visa from my old passport into the new one was impossible without a letter from the British embassy verifying that I do indeed have a new passport to replace the old one, notwithstanding that I had both old and new passports in my hand.

I know others here who have transferred visas from old to new passports with nothing more than a payment of 500b, for which no receipt is given.

The immigration officer was polite and apologetic, but said that there are rules and regulations that must be followed, and that a certificate from the British embassy was needed, this rule having been in force for about 12 months now.

After much light hearted cajoling and pleading by myself it was suggested that for an increased "fee" it could possibly be done, and after consulting with the senior officer there who signs off all the paperwork I was told that for an extra 500b the visa could be transferred. I had actually expected a request for a much larger sum.

Well, seeing that a trip to Bangkok, 2 visits to the embassy and a 2000b consular services fee were the alternative I reluctantly agreed to pay the extra to save the massive inconvenience and extra expense of going to Bangkok.

The lengthy paperwork involved in the transfer was completed, politely and efficiently, and my 12 months extension given.

It seems as if some people may get asked for the embassy certificate and some may not, some may be asked to pay extra, some may not.

I dont know whether the embassy certificate is a mandated requirement or not. I just wish that the immigration requirements for all their procedures were clearly stated and understood, but I know that it will never happen.

It is a shame that civil servants sometimes request extra "fees" to carry out their duties for the public, but this is Thailand, and we must respect its culture!

[lomuamart]

I think that this certificate request is becoming quite common now around the country. The British Embassy must be laughing all the way to the bank.
Also, I don't believe that your visa gets transferred. Rather it's your permission to stay but I'll be corrected on that point.
I'm going to have to get a new passport next year - the earlier the better. When I did my annual extension this August (renewal date was September 11th), Imm could only give me permission to stay until the passport's expiry date which is May next year - I knew that was going to happen. However, they stamped my passport saying that when I got a renewal they would give me the extra time. This stamp went in just before the goalposts changed whereby I won't be given the extra time between May and September. I wonder whether Imm will honour that?
I'm not holding my breath and the thought of getting a certificate from the Embassy galls me but I suppose it's going to have to be done.

[Big Boy]

Can this certificate be requested as part of the passport renewal process? Has anybody asked/tried? Maybe you could be a guinea pig lomu

[lomuamart]

That's a thought, BB.
I've got to get my act in gear early in the NY. Maybe a covering note to the passport office in Liverpool asking for authentication might not go amiss?
However, Imm are asking for Embassy certification and the passport dosn't go anywhere near them any more.
I'll try though.

[REEM]

Also, I don't believe that your visa gets transferred. Rather it's your permission to stay but I'll be corrected on that point.

You are correct, it's not a replacement visa as such, but its the permission to stay, although they do also transfer details of the original visa and also details of the old passport and date of first arrival in Thailand using that visa and details of the most recent permission to stay. Lots of signatures and stamps verifying that the information is a true copy etc.etc.etc. It takes up two whole pages.

Masses of photocopying also required, every page of the old passport, the front pages and visa page in triplicate, duplicate copies of the new passport and any entry stamps etc. The officer did all the photocopying and didnt charge. The amount of paperwork passing around in that office is quite staggering.

the thought of getting a certificate from the Embassy galls me but I suppose it's going to have to be done.

It's cheaper and more convenient to take the "extra fee" option if it is offered, even though the gall factor might be the same.

It might be worth popping in and asking one of the officers there exactly what the procedure entails, if they say no embassy certificate is required then you could arrange to see that same officer when you go to get it done.
They are generally quite helpful there.

[richard]

just received an email from the embassy confirming that when I apply for a letter confirming income they will issue a letter advising authentication of new passport for free

[lomuamart]

Richard,
Are you saying that you'll get a new passport and hold on to it without transferring the new stamps until you need the Embassy letter for your next extension and then do everything at once?
The reason for the question is that I don't fancy leaving it to the last minute to apply for a new passport and hopefully time things to coincide with my extension date. And I wonder how recent the income letter needs to be? I've heard some that some offices accept up to 6 months old but I always get mine a few days before extension time for HH. I wouldn't want to try even a 3 month old letter of income.

[richard]

my extension renewal is due in late March. I will get my papers required in late Jan including my letter regarding the new passport and submit all to immigration at the end of February. Allowing one month to sort problems out