When I arrived back in Australia 31/8/2006 my passport would not scan. Being a fine specimen of Australian manhood they let me in anyway.

A few days ago I rang the passport mob and was told to go to the passport office in Brisbane to have it checked. They had it out the back for 45 mins and finally admitted they could not find what was causing the error so a new passport would be supplied gratis.

They asked if I wanted it posted out and I agreed and told them not to cancel any pages containing my non o, extension and re-entry permit. They told me the old passport would be destroyed as that was the normal procedure. I threw a wobbly and told them it was not normal for a 10 year passport to curl up its toes after 2 years and it would cost me a small fortune to go through the procedure again, they agreed to discuss it among themselves and let me know the result. End result is I will get my old passport with the machine readable data strip cut off and blank pages cancelled.

I then e-mailed the Thai Consul in Brisbane and advised him of the problem. He replied and told me to present both passports at the Thai airport and the official will transfer the information from the old to the new. Anyone else had this problem?

I also asked him about having both my divorce decree and pension statement translated and verified at the consulate and he seemed to think that would be sufficient for the Thai authorities. The pension statement is for my retirement visa next march. Does anyone have first hand knowledge about this? I know US citizens do not need a pension statement as their embassy will give them a letter.

John

I only know that when my passports have expired,I take the old one to immigration and they transfer the stamps!

Likewise Wokka. I've renewed my passport whilst in Thailand (at the Embassy here) and then took both the old and the new to the Immigration office and they transferred the stamps across. Took them about 15 minutes!!

Wok,Why do you have to have your pension statement translated to Thai,If it is proof,you should ask your embassy for a letter showing the embassy the proof of income.I went to all kinds of trouble finding my divorce papers and then getting them translated ,but that was for getting married.Many guys just say they have never been married.Thailand doesn't check,so there is never going to be a problem unless you are still married.

I meant to say I would get my pension statement verified at the consulate in Brisbane to save a trip to the embassy.

I suppose when I come in they will give me 30 days VOA and I will have to see immigration at AEK or Nong Khai and have the stamps transferred. On reflection I think the consul may have been optimistic thinking the transfer would take place at the airport.

I want to get my divorce papers translated just in case.

Thanks for the replies

Wokka, I would certainly try and get the Immigration Official at the airport to do it, as advised by the Thai consulate in Brisbane. There maybe a means to do it, by for example taking you off to a separate office (to do it). You certainly want to ensure that they properly understand your situation before advising you accordingly.

That would certainly then place you in the correct postion - visa wise, rather than letting them stamp a 30 day VOA at the airport and then having to try and argue your case later with immigration. They may later say you had negated your earlier visa, but not dealing with things correctly upon arrival at the airport.

Just an update. I presented both my old and new passports to immigration at the new airport on sat night. I pointed out my Non O, extension and reentry permit in the old passport and they stamped me in until 9th march 2007 which is the expiry date for both extension and reentry permit. A trip to AEK on friday to sort out the rest.

John

That sounds good John. Welcome back.

You've timed it well, it hasn't rained for a while. (seems to have stopped raining).