How do I renew my US passport and transfer my visa while in Thailand?

Question

I'm a US citizen running out of pages in my passport.  The US embassy website says they prefer you to mail your passport in when getting a new one, but I don't feel comfortable with that so I'm going to make an appointment and go in person.

Couple questions.  Will the Embassy take my current passport while I wait for my new one?  And once I receive my new one, how do I get my current visa transferred from the old passport (which they will presumably keep and destroy) to the new one?

Any details you can supply for how the US embassy handles this would be appreciated.

Ask Thailand · Answer

A US citizen in Thailand is inquiring about the process of renewing their passport and transferring their visa. They express discomfort with mailing their passport to the embassy for renewal and plan to visit in person. Responses clarify that while the embassy typically prefers passport mail-in renewals, it is indeed possible to renew in person. Most users confirm that the embassy will take the old passport and mail back both the new and old passport, which will contain the visa stamp. Several commenters suggest keeping digital copies of important passport pages as a precaution.

Mike ******** · Answer

And it takes about 5 weeks..

Linda *********** · Answer

Use mail method. Most people do.. I have used & simple/ no problems. Once passports received take both to immigration and they transfer visa info. Easy/peasy!

Josh ********* · Answer

Yes, they take passport. They will only mail the new one. Thai immigration will give new visa stamp.

Jeremy ******** · Answer

Welcome to the Post Covid World, this is how you renew your passport now...once you send it in you will be passport less until a new is issued to you

Frank ********** · Answer

When I applied for a new passport while I was still in the states I also had to mail them my old passport which they retuwith holes in it. So pretty much the same procedure. Like someone else said take pictures.of your old passport.

Steve ********** · Answer

I did the mail renewal.  It took less than 2 weeks and was insanely simple to complete.

Brandon ************ · Answer

Yes they will take your passport while you're waiting for the new one. They're also going to mail your new passport and old passport to you, you cannot pick it up from the embassy. So regardless of what you do, your passport is going in the mail.

Jackie *********** · Answer

Keep photos on your phone of all important pages, latest visa, entry stamp, admitted until stamp, 90 day report, tm30.  Send it in immediately after your next 90 day report.  Ain't nobody gonna hassle you while you're waiting for a passport renewal.  Once you get the new and old back, you go to immigration and they transfer the visa and stamps

Jackie *********** · Answer

Just mail it in.  You don't get faster service showing up in person.  It will take 5-6 weeks. You get the old passport back

[url redacted]

Lynnette ******* · Answer

Why would you not be comfortable with this? It's what most people do. Perfectly safe. I'm not sure you can get an appointment to renew, but maybe that's changed since last year.

How do I renew my US passport and transfer my visa while in Thailand?

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