Reader submission Annual Visa: Please note when applying for a new passport at the embassy in Bangkok
At the end of September I went to the embassy in Bangkok where I applied for a new passport against payment of 5.320 Baht. I immediately enclosed a stamped and self-addressed envelope.
The lady behind the counter kindly asked me if she could disable the passport immediately and after 10 minutes my passport was a kind of Swiss cheese and therefore disabled. I immediately asked her for proof of the decommissioning and that I have applied for a new passport at the embassy. The measly receipt was all she had for me, was her answer.
After almost a month my new passport was neatly delivered by EMS, so I immediately went to Immigration to transfer the passport and the annual visa, but they immediately asked where I had obtained the passport and whether I had proof of this. In good spirits I showed her the receipt from the embassy, she laughed and asked if that was a receipt from the 7/11? She couldn't do anything with it. I had to have an official letter from the embassy plus a copy of the old and a copy of the new passport.
Called the embassy where I got the answering machine and if I wanted to continue talking in Dutch I had to key in a 1, neatly keyed in a 1 whereupon a Thai lady asked me in English if she could help me. Asked if there was also a Dutch-speaking employee, she told me that there were no Dutch at that time. After explaining what I needed, she told me that I had to come to Bangkok to get the required letter at the embassy against payment of 1200 Thb. Now you have your passport sent to you properly, but you still have to go to the embassy for that statement.
Why don't they tell you that at the embassy so that you can immediately pay that 1200 Thb immediately and send everything to your home address at the same time? Indeed, I also had to reapply for my visa that I received in July.
Thought this was actually important to tell so that not everyone doesn't have to go to Bangkok twice for this.
Submitted by Hank
Hello Henk, you're just unlucky, an immigration officer who got out of bed on the wrong side.
For me, that receipt with a copy of a passport was sufficient.
Each office has its own rules and the embassy cannot do anything about that.
I had to pay 500 baht for the free service, otherwise no transfer stamp.
Hallo,
Normally they make a cheese of your old passport, but leave the page with the current Thai visa untouched so that you do not have to experience any problems with the transfer.
That's my experience and it was hassle-free!
It seems to me that you have encountered a corrupt official. What do you mean proof of payment for a new passport for immigration? After all, you submit a valid document, namely a passport.
I had a new passport in June and no one asked for proof of payment. Besides, I couldn't show it because after receiving my new passport I threw it away.
No problems at all, not even a receipt, but a copy of the old and new passport and completely free visa placed a week later, new year visa and no problem at all; was soi 5 Jomtien !
If you apply for a new passport and have the valid passport invalidated upon application, you are doing something stupid. You then stay in Thailand without being in possession of a valid passport. You can also apply for a new passport in the Netherlands on presentation of your old passport, which you keep and hand in or have it invalidated when the new passport is issued. The lady asks if you agree and the answer must be no. Save your 1200THB and envelope with stamp when you pick up your new passport and only then have your old passport invalidated. If you receive a receipt, you must ask for an additional statement on the spot if you opt for invalidation when applying for a new passport. Save yourself a second visit to the Embassy.
Gerardus, I don't understand your answer. As far as I can tell, you arrive at immigration with an old and new passport. But you don't have a receipt or an extra letter. So I don't understand what you're solving with this!
Your savings are nice, provided you live in Bangkok, but not if you first have to fly to Bangkok or something.
Also a new passport no problem at all with the immigration 10 minutes I was outside again.
Henk, at which immigration office did this happen? Bangkok? Pattaya? Phuket?
Next to the photo page it says neatly , This passport was issued to replace passport number N——- and also in English and French. so you don't need a letter or anything at all
The immigration service in Maptaput asks, according to the rules, that you submit a letter from the embassy. This letter states that the new passport replaces the old one. and done according to the rules. That this standard letter is not automatically drawn up and that 1.200 Baht is asked for is another discussion.
In Maptaphut I asked what is needed.
Same as what Ton says, letter from the Embassy in which the old and new passport number is stated, also a copy of the old and new passport. Transfer from Visa to new passport for free.
The Embassy has assured me that this letter will be processed upon request immediately upon collection of the new passport.
Make sure that no holes are punched in the valid Visa.
As far as I understand, asap. after obtaining the new passport, you will have to go to Immigration and the transfer will be arranged immediately.
The responses show that the rules are not the same everywhere, so ask Immigration in advance what is required.
Nico B
Hi Henk, I know this story. We sat together in front of the embassy that day and you drove all the way to Bangkok for that. I sat there with my future wife for another document.
In that sense, I would like to add something here. A little bit of complaining about the embassy and it sort of goes in the same direction:
I wouldn't have had to sit there with Henk if the embassy worked a little more decently. The information you get is not really clear.
The following had happened to me: I had to have my marriage documents confirmed by the embassy. What did I need according to the internet?
An income statement, to be requested from the Dutch embassy (see below).
A declaration of intention to marry, to be requested from the Dutch embassy (see below).
This is how it says on the website http://thailand.nlambassade.org/producten-en-diensten/consular-services/consulaire-verklaringen
Here's the thing: after I filled out the application form and paid the fees, I was asked if I didn't need a witness statement. Not according to my girlfriend and it seemed to be optional. NOTHING IS LESS TRUE! You DO need that witness statement. For that I had to go to the embassy a second time.
And now comes the icing on the cake: you also state your income per year on this statement. The first time I received a separate form for this.
So now I had: the declaration of intention to marry, an income statement and after the second run-up (and a finger at the amphur in Bangkok, where we wanted to get married) the witness statement with another income statement on it.
This joke, to be honest, this erroneous or incomplete information from the embassy cost me:
1050 baht for the income statement, 600 baht for its translation, 600 baht for the legalization of the translation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 300 baht extra because my translation agency in Hua Hin made a mistake, an extra night in Bangkok and a return trip Bangkok with my (still) girlfriend. Such a sloppy FOUR THOUSAND baht for a mistake that could have been avoided if the embassy worked better! For one form!!!!!
Yesterday I was at the amphur in Pranburi where our legalized and translated documents were checked. Why did I have so many documents, the lady there asked. My income statement? Completely unnecessary. After all, it was already on the witness statement! Double up.
So for those who only look at the website of the embassy: it is not correct what it says!
And another thing: when I left the document: intent to marry at the translation agency in Hua Hin, I was called an hour later. Why was my future wife's name not on the form? I found that strange. I should have filled that in on the application. When I got there and took a look, I didn't find anything that pointed to that either.
I immediately made a copy and sent it by email to the embassy asking what they could do for me now. After all, I paid for it. Well, it turned out that it was there… at the very bottom of the statement in tiny print, as if it didn't belong. Couldn't that be bigger??? It also cost me an extra day. And this day ended up costing me more, because it allowed us to go to Bangkok a day later, had less time there, because of a holiday and so on.
A tip for those who need to have a form legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Just go there with your (English) documents, go to the third floor and look very searching… there are about ten people walking around there who will have your documents handled for you. The translations are cheaper there than on the second floor and they know exactly which words to use in the translations. You can leave your documents to them, pay in advance and have it sent to your home by EMS. Four days later you have the documents. No waiting, no staying overnight, nothing.
The story outlined could have been prevented. The embassy employee/star informed whether a witness statement had to be made. Friend did not need advice (so does she know all the regulations?) Personally, I have very good experiences with the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok. (12 years living in Thailand)
When in doubt I always send an email and they respond nicely, in my experience there are often situations where the blame is placed on the Embassy. In the story, girlfriend is the culprit.
The only criticism is that there should be more opening hours (eg also in the afternoon) otherwise they do their job well.
Information on the website of the embassy is incorrect. It simply needs to be written in clear language. Then I had a witness statement stating income and a clear intention of marriage. They should have given Henk a note from the start. Ultimately, the one who has to run again is the one who depends on the wishes of the local officials.
Yes this problem is common.
I stood at immigration in Nong Kai and also asked for such a form.
I said wait a minute, that light is still in the car,
Walked out and put in 500THB tin the application and new passport.
Got no word, and had to wait,
FF late everything was resolved, And the officer "Until next time"
I don't understand all those stories. If you get a new passport, it will contain the number of the previous passport. To replace (is also included) the old one.
The new one is valid for 10 years..went to immigration in Pattaya with the new passport.
They just transferred all the stamps for my annual visa. Also the dates of the first entry
already 10 years ago. No satang paid.
The Dutch embassy does invalidate the old passport by making holes in it.
I sometimes criticize the embassy, but those holes do not damage old stamps and
residence permits of Thailand.
So all stories and receipts go into the trash.
Cor van Kampen.
The first paragraph was unknown to me. Is this new? Could possibly replace the letter.
Cor, in my current passport, Sept. 2011, does not contain the number of the old passport.
Just like Ton the question, is this new? Perhaps Immigration does not know that yet and that is why the letter is still being requested?
Incidentally, however ... I have the impression that this letter does exactly what Immigration wants, namely that the letter from the NL Embassy confirms that the passport has been issued by the Embassy and is not a false passport.
So still a function for this letter? It certainly looks like me.
I'm on the safe side and take that letter with me the next time and then discuss with my Immigration Office whether they still need that letter now that the old passport number has apparently been included in the new passport.
Nico B
This whole thing about that letter was at the Immigration in Sri Racha and that this is not a fable or just the wrong employee, it is from the fact that they immediately came up with a few examples from different Embassies
The Tenglisch-speaking employee of the Embassy also knew within a second which form I was talking about.
It is a Thai habit that employees can be bribed for 500 Baht, but in my case this was not possible (if I wanted to). Because I do not always feel like being stopped on every corner of the street or at any kind of document or whatever to stand around waving money to keep the people eating with their corrupt businesses.
It has also been known for years that all Immigrations are different. Yesterday Ronny wrote that transferring an annual visa from the old to the new passport is no longer possible.
It is also as Cor says that the most important sheets of paper in your passport remain undamaged and my question is how long ago that was with Cor because last time that was no problem for me either.
Ton ::as I said, I clearly asked for proof, but then the employee looked at me as if I came from another planet.
Cees1 ::my new passport also says that and if Immigration says you do need it, you just keep saying no ???
Gerardus :: Your cheese with holes is accepted by everyone and they invented the stamped envelope at the Embassy themselves, so next time let them point out that you DO need that letter at Immigration and that you don't have to come twice... the only thing you save is 2 baht for stamps with envelope and not 100 baht.
RuudNK ::what am I talking about proof of payment? Immigration must have proof of who issued you a new passport.
Jaco ::I was indeed outside again within 10 minutes. But then to make my new trip to Bangkok.
Jan Krikke ::That was at the Immigration Office in Sri Racha.
SjaakS .yes it was indeed nice to meet you there, but complaining about the Embassy? how do you get involved? They are just people like you and me, only you and I try to help each other a little here and there and they have that word unfortunately never heard of that.
It is absolutely impossible to have a normal conversation there because their word is law and we will not do anything about it. The word helpful also does not occur in their world. A little explanation and information via the people or the website of the Embassy would be very desirable. Take a look at the parking, for example, those few people who come by car are allowed to park a kilometer away for a few hundred baht, while there is plenty of space on their property, but that is also normal by their rules and there is no deviation from that, but I hope not to have to come there for the first 10 years.
Finally :: To avoid an eternal discussion of yes and no ::I have been treated like this and there is no lie about it, whether or not they ask for that proof at other Immigrations will vary per place. I have been coming for 8 years at the same Immigration and don't feel like traveling to Chiang Mai to validate my passport for a visa.They want that and I have to accept that and what my main concern was that I have asked the Embassy for a document or proof and they have not provided it to me whether or not for the amount of 1200 baht ..
I got my transfer stamp in my new passport from Mae Sai with walking out and back in (Thailand) and he wanted 200B for that for the 2 minutes without an autopilot and another stamp with 2 x a scribble at the back of my head…
I said: that's good man 🙂
With your new passport, the Belgian embassy will give you a letter for immigration stipulating that your old passport has been replaced by a new one. So there is no question of a corrupt official on migration, but a rule to follow.
Why the Dutch embassy does not do this spontaneously is a mystery to me, they must also be aware of the regulations in force.
When applying for a new passport, you keep your pass until you can pick up the new one, just explain that they only have the
title page need to perforate, so all visas remain intact.
I went with the new and old to the immigration in Bung kan where the retirement visa was put in the new passport, without further costs or problems.
I had the same last year. Personally applied for at the Dutch embassy in Bangkok. I got the following statement:
The Dutch Embassy no longer indicates in the passport that it was issued in Bangkok. This was the case on my previous passport. It only says that it replaces the previous document with the relevant number.
The Dutch embassy now has the passports made in Malaysia. Thai immigration therefore needs a statement that the passport was issued in Bangkok and that you therefore received it in Bangkok.
We close this topic. Thanks everyone for responding.