Since my arrival in Thailand, I had to get a new passport from the British Embassy in Bangkok, the old one expiring. The whole thing was handled very efficiently.
What astounded me, however, was that in taking both passports to the Immigration Service to have the visa stamps etc transferred over, I was informed I had to have a letter from the Embassy confirming they'd issued me a new passport (or possibly the receipt for the cost would have sufficed). I must admit to being very surprised, almost a touch insulted and certainly first time anyone has had cause to suggest this important, difficult to reproduce? document could be a fake.
Now I do realise it's possible to get almost anything copied here, but the passport does have security elements incorporated, presumably easy to check by staff in the know.
The funny thing was the Immigration Service happily accepted my letter from the Embassy as proof. Just what would have been more difficult to manufacture a fake - the passport or letter?.

This has been a requirement for a number of years.....at least back to 2003. Don't know the reason for the letter, but the folks at the American Embassy used to provide it without asking. Don't know if that's the case now.
I remember my Nongkai trip with my new passport....expected to pop in/out to get my visa transferred. Seems like it took 20 different stamps in each passport, along with the official's initials before I was done.

Yes,it seems absolutely crazy doesnt it !
I'm sure these guys in Immigration are just awkward for the sake of it,sometimes.
Just make more hassle for the farang can be their policy.
Like you say,what is the easiest to fake - the passport or the letter
Welcome to the reality of Thailand.

Zidane

I am just curious what will happen when I get my new passort while on my return to USA in a few months. When I get to BKK Airport, my passport will be empty..? Is this correct? (I have a Non-O retirement visa). Will I need to show Immigration at the airport my old passport? Will they transfer what is needed while I am there in the long line?

Mainer wrote:I am just curious what will happen when I get my new passort while on my return to USA in a few months. When I get to BKK Airport, my passport will be empty..? Is this correct? (I have a Non-O retirement visa). Will I need to show Immigration at the airport my old passport? Will they transfer what is needed while I am there in the long line?

Here you go, found this on TV. Rather long winded,but provides quite a bit of detail.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php ... l=transfer

papaguido wrote:

Mainer wrote:I am just curious what will happen when I get my new passort while on my return to USA in a few months. When I get to BKK Airport, my passport will be empty..? Is this correct? (I have a Non-O retirement visa). Will I need to show Immigration at the airport my old passport? Will they transfer what is needed while I am there in the long line?

Here you go, found this on TV. Rather long winded,but provides quite a bit of detail.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php ... l=transfer

Thanks....But, that does not sound like something I want to happen when I arrive at the BKK airport!! Would they send me to an office within the airport?

Would it be best to wait until I get back to Thailand to get a new passport? I should be back in Thailand by August and I got until December to renew my passport. I could do this all in BKK, I suppose. How long does it take to be issued a new passport by the US Embassy there? Anyone know?

What are my other options? Go to Vientiane and then back to Nong Khai who I have been dealing with since I got my original Non-O retirement visa.

Papaguido

Thanks for finding the 'tale' of the guy arriving here with new passport - not to be recommended it would seem. He appeared to have great patience and sense of humour. I think my remaining hair would have fallen out!

It would seem wise to get a new passport from your embassy in Thailand and have existing visa/stamps transferred over, before having reason to leave the country.

Occasionally, having to face the Immigration Service might deter less strong personalities from wanting to get into the country anyway.

Thanks....But, that does not sound like something I want to happen when I arrive at the BKK airport!! Would they send me to an office within the airport?

From my research on TV, posters with similar experiences entered Thailand showing both passports and concluding the transfers outside the airport at an immigration office.

Would it be best to wait until I get back to Thailand to get a new passport? I should be back in Thailand by August and I got until December to renew my passport. I could do this all in BKK, I suppose. How long does it take to be issued a new passport by the US Embassy there? Anyone know?

There is still the question of the letter from the Embassy requesting the transfer of stamps. Whether required or not I don't know (apparently it's required in NK). But if you renew in the US, the subject letter isn't provided with your new passport. So that means a trip to the Embassy to acquire one.

If you renew here, then the letter is provided by the Embassy. However, it's a 2 week turn around for a new passport.

Here's the link for the Embassy:

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

What are my other options? Go to Vientiane and then back to Nong Khai who I have been dealing with since I got my original Non-O retirement visa.

For passport renewal? Best be prepared to hang out for a while. According to their website, it's a 2 week turnaround for new passports.

Brian Davis wrote:Papaguido

Thanks for finding the 'tale' of the guy arriving here with new passport - not to be recommended it would seem. He appeared to have great patience and sense of humour. I think my remaining hair would have fallen out!

It would seem wise to get a new passport from your embassy in Thailand and have existing visa/stamps transferred over, before having reason to leave the country.

Occasionally, having to face the Immigration Service might deter less strong personalities from wanting to get into the country anyway.

Yes that would be ideal. However, IMO I don't really think that it's that big of a deal to enter on two passports (old/new). Then go to the Embassy, apply for passport and conclude the transfers. Either way you slice it, it's a PITA

WOW, since I've been in Udon I've had 2 new passports, both due to it's predecessor filling up with Laos visa's, I've never been asked for a letter........ Have merely gone to the bridge when my time is due, showed the guy at the booth I have an old and new passport and been sent to the office behind.

Both times the Immigration guy in there has checked both asked a couple of questions ("why did you get a new passport? where did you get it from?" etc) and duly done the deed and put the stamp into the new one. No letter, no charge.......thank you have a nice day...

The only hiccup I had was with the latest passport, when re-entering Thailand the first time the immigration guy only gave me 30 days......I showed him the stamp done an hour or so earlier and showed him I'd entered the visa number etc into the arrivals card, but he insisted on seeing the original visa (no problem) then said "Original visa no good as passport finished".............he then disappeared. After 15-20 mins and a pissed off line of people trying to enter Thailand he finally reappeared and said "All OK, in future you must carry both passports"........... Well, I don't and have been in and out of Thailand a number of times with no problems.....

Brian,

It might be worth your while emailing a 'user friendly' Thai Consulate in the States and asking them if they can transfer your visa into your new passport.
I know the consulates in the UK will do this (for about $40 from memory) for unused multiple entry Tourist or non imm O visas. I am unsure about a retirement visa though, but it will cost you nothing to ask the question of them via email.
I know to most countries entering with a new passport with a visa in your old one would give zero problems...but this is Thailand...
If you are at all concerned then the new passport via the embassy is at least a route that you know will work.....

It's a bigger pain in the arse when you come in with a new passport from home and try to transfer visas. In Aus we can get ours renewed at a post office, who's going to keep a debit card receipt and try to get any sort of certification from them?

I mean none of this bullshlt is required when comming through Immigration at the airport with 2 passports (one expired but has the visa).

If it wasn't for TW being in her Puya Baan uniform, smiling nicely, when we were in NK getting the transfer, I'm sure they would have forced me to goto the embassy in Bangkok.

In October 2006 I came back into Thailand with a new passport. The old one was ok leaving Thailand but for some reason would not scan in Australia. Had it replaced and when I arrived in Thailand just showed both old and new passports. the old one had cancelled stamps on the blank pages.

All the Immigration officer did at swampy was enter the date my extension expired (9 march 2007) and wrote Visa and some Thai word below the stamp.

On my next 90 day report to NK they transfered the information to my new Passport.

John

That was the info I was looking for, John. Thanks for that.