Answered3 years ago
How can I renew my US passport through the Thai consulate without traveling to America?
Has anyone renewed their US passport through the Thai consulate? Mine is expiring soon and I am looking at alternatives to making a trip to America.
Answer summary
Many expats have successfully renewed their US passports through the US embassy in Bangkok or by mail while residing in Thailand. The process can often take about 2 to 4 weeks, which is significantly quicker than renewing from within the US, where it may take several months. It's essential to make an appointment if you plan to visit the embassy directly, as they can be backed up. For those mailing their passports, maintaining a photocopy of your passport and any necessary visa stamps is crucial, especially when checking into hotels or booking domestic flights. Some users also noted that after receiving a new passport, bringing both the old and new passports may help avoid confusion at immigration checkpoints.
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Keith ************
4 weeks for me, in September., by mail.
VaiAna **********
Hubby had his done last year in Bangkok @ the US Embassy . They gave him a temporary until his new passport came in .
Darrell ***********
I just completed it by Mail - took four weeks. I couldn’t get an appointment to do it in person, because it had to be made on line and their system wouldn’t take me to appointment calendar, kept coming back to page saying mail it in. So, I did the Mail-in process - instructions a little confusing Re the return envelope process, but it worked. I used a photocopy of my passport and visa page to check into hotels while awaiting my new passport, no problem.
Tony **************
I did it in Bangkok US embassy. Got my jumbo passport (I believe 14 more pages) in 6-7 weeks. I was staying in Pattaya so I decided to mail my passport through DHL to the embassy. There are few steps you have to do and I recommend you watch the video(s) on renewing passport outside of the US. The renewal fee payment link was super difficult to find and I eventually went to US embassy in Singapore for the link.
Craig ********
@Tony *************
a normal passport is 28 pages, the larger one you get from renewing overseas is 50 pages.David **********
Since the current passport must be mailed to the Embassy, what to use for ID when checking into hotels or domestic flights? Passport copy? Or just stay home until the new passport arrives?
Bennett ********
@David *********
You renew the passport when you don't have any travel plans & have time to get the new one back before doing any traveling. I had my 90-day check in coming up, so waited until after that to renew the passport, when I wouldn't need it for a month or 2. (Didn't take that long, just in case.)Richard *********
@Bennett *******
exactly< My 90 day was last tuesday< sent for new passport yesterdayNOTE ; EVEN IF it doesn't come in 87 days i can use the mail in service for the 90 day report!! dont need present passport for that
Brandon ************
@David *********
take a photocopy. If you have a Thai drivers license that will work better but many places will accept a copy of your passport as long as it's not for international travel.Tony **************
@Brandon ***********
Make sure you also take a photo of latest visa stamp as well.
Burnard ************
I did it in Myanmar in 2019. They renew passports at all US Consulates.
Just a note to avoid hassle. When you get the new passport and you enter a country you have previously entered with the old passport (Esp. Thailand) make sure you present both passports to the agent because their computer will show a different passport number. They flag that as suspicious because they think sometimes foreigners get new passports to hide how long they have spent in Thailand (that trick used to work but they use databases now)
Just a note to avoid hassle. When you get the new passport and you enter a country you have previously entered with the old passport (Esp. Thailand) make sure you present both passports to the agent because their computer will show a different passport number. They flag that as suspicious because they think sometimes foreigners get new passports to hide how long they have spent in Thailand (that trick used to work but they use databases now)
Marty *********
You mean the US embassy in Bangkok. I did this in April. Everything done by mail. It took 30 days for me. They changed the process for paying for the return envelope. Good luck with that.
Joseph *********
Two weeks by mail. Safe and secure.
David **********
@Joseph ********
Note that the instructions say 6-8 weeks.Joseph *********
@David *********
Sometimes sooner. 😄Richard *********
LOL
u get a US passport by mail: JUst applied for mine
u get a US passport by mail: JUst applied for mine
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Cherie ********
I did mine here last year…2 weeks vs 3-4 months for friends in US
Garrett ***********
Yes, it's much quicker to renew your passport form abroad than from inside the US. Did mine in bkk, took exactly 10 days to get my new one. You have to make an appointment and they're pretty backed up so you should do that soon.
Tony **************
@Garrett **********
I doubt it was new US passport book since they do have to send everything back to the US for processing.David **********
@Garrett **********
How to make an appointment at the embassy for passport renewal? What documents are required?Richard *********
Richard *********
Robert *******
@Richard ********
agree just did mine 100%correct
Melissa *********
@Garrett **********
agreed!!!! I added more pages back in 2014 while living in Oman and I renewed my passport in 2018 at embassy in Singapore. Both Super fast!Richard *********
@Melissa ********
what happened 9/ 5 years ago is 100% irrelevant!!Melissa *********
@Richard ********
fair enough
Allen **********
OP@Garrett **********
on the web it says that I can do the whole thing by mail. Not sure that I trust that.
Andy *******
@Allen *********
mail is normal and works but must follow directions to the TActivity
18 joined18
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