Renewing a passport in Bangkok

**Mendip** · 23-02-2023, 11:40 AM

I've noticed lots of comments and innuendos about my trips to Bangkok to renew passports. The thing is, I have two current passports, children's passports only last for five years and if course I have offshore medicals to take every two years and there's a host of other things that Korat just does not cater for.

Anyway, I hope to take the daughter to the UK again this summer but guess what... her passport needs renewing beforehand!

Some people may be daunted by renewing a child's passport in Bangkok but it really is easy and the intention of this thread is to show just how straight forward the whole process is. You could argue that with all my experience I make it look easy but I really do believe that just about anyone could do it.

First up... follow this link.

Applying for a passport from outside the UK: how to fill in the application form - GOV.UK

But of course experience has taught me a few tricks that aren't on the UK Government website...

The paperwork is fairly straightforward. A difficulty may be finding a countersignatory if you live in a remote, arse-end of no-where kind of place like Korat. The problem is, you have to find a British citizen to countersign the documents and the back of one of the passport photos to prove you are who you say you are.

I checked and double checked, and to my amazement they will accept a Welshman for this so my luck was in. And who says standards are falling?

I got my Welsh mate to countersign the documents and the back of one of the daughter's passport photos. And don't forget... you also need to take the old passport with you and a photocopy of every single page (because they let you keep the passport). I'll be taking my passport along as well for ID purposes.

'Countersigned'... well, what can you really expect?

And then all that's left to do is prepare for the trip to Bangkok. You have to book an appointment at the Trendy Offices on Sukhumvit Soi 13 where the agents who take care of all this for the UK Government are based. Appointments can be booked 08:30-11:00 and 13:00-14:00 Monday to Friday. If you are a busy person living in a place like Korat which is at least 4 to 5 hours away from Sukhumvit, I recommend booking either the last available appointment on a Friday or the first available appointment on a Monday. That way you could theoretically wangle the weekend in Bangkok and only lose one day of work.

Being the cautious type I booked a Friday afternoon slot but have decided to go down a day early in case of traffic problems. Mittrapap Road can be a real b@stard at times and Friday is a busy day.

So, all that was left to do was to pack a few shirts and some suitable footwear.

Then pop out for a couple of last minute chores...

You can of course make many transactions electronically these days but cash is king on a passport renewal trip. I like to have a wad of beer vouchers in my wallet when walking about Bangkok.

Would ya believe it... my bank is SCB... but he didn't take long.

And then a last minute hair cut. I like to look my best in the big smoke but why get stung for Bangkok barber prices?

I had better luck here... the only customer was just leaving as I rocked up.

In and out in under 4 minutes and as cheap as chips... my kind of place!

I always go for the top of the board 80 Bahter and being a flash git I leave a 20 Baht tip. I have no idea what I could get for the 140 Baht bottom of the board but this isn't really the kind of place I want any extras.

Then all that's left to do is to double check the passport renewal paperwork and then get the Gardener to drop me off at Korat bus station. OK, so I'm not that flash... I'll take a taxi when it's for work and I can put it on expenses but for private use I take the 209 Baht bus. It goes just as fast!

**Stumpy** · 23-02-2023, 11:47 AM

Nice Job Mendy. I have renewed my passport here a few times at the US consulate on wireless road. Cake walk quite frankly.

I noticed you packed up your proper ( look dry and crispy) "Jesus Slippers" for a night out and about.

Safe travels and have fun.

**DrWilly** · 23-02-2023, 11:56 AM

Fucking Jesus slippers! Are you trying to not pick up?

**nidhogg** · 23-02-2023, 12:01 PM

Mendy, not sure your countersignature will meet the standard.

Page 13
https://assets.publishing.service.go...ide_the_uk.pdf

**DrWilly** · 23-02-2023, 12:10 PM

This is why he needs to attend weekly on passport renewals. I’m sure he’s happy to be rejected on this trip and have to return again next week…

**Mendip** · 23-02-2023, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Mendy, not sure your countersignature will meet the standard.

Page 13
https://assets.publishing.service.go...ide_the_uk.pdf

Thanks Nid, but Welsh are definitely OK. I checked.

Ha... joking aside he does actually have qualifications in engineering and countersigned the daughter's previous passport renewal and a couple of mine. The thumb print was a joke. He's literate as well!

**nidhogg** · 23-02-2023, 12:20 PM

^ Cool. All good.

**armstrong** · 23-02-2023, 12:36 PM

They accepted me as a countersignature so the bar can't be that high

**Headworx** · 23-02-2023, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Mendip

I have no idea what I could get for the 140 Baht bottom of the board but this isn't really the kind of place I want any extras.

Judging from the pics you post of yourself, you should have sprung for the 140 Baht option

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Fucking Jesus slippers! Are you trying to not pick up?

Pretty sure having to take these as his only footwear would be a condition of being able to trawl Bangkok on solo trips...

**Stumpy** · 23-02-2023, 03:46 PM

So I have this image of Mendy getting all spruced up in his top flight room, after shave, new hairdo. He tosses on his white light pants, takes out that wrinkled tropical shirt and slips on those crispy dried out Jesus Slippers. He heads on down to Nana with that BeeGees Saturday night fever song in his head, strolling along while all the women look on in amazement.....

**katie23** · 23-02-2023, 04:33 PM

^Lol. I'm now imagining Mendy strutting down Sukhumvit Road to the music of "Staying Alive" (especially the intro). I did notice the Jesus sandals - am not fond of them. I wonder what Ms Pajama-girl will say about them. Girls do have a fashion sense and will find some things unacceptable....

**DrWilly** · 23-02-2023, 04:41 PM

**malmomike77** · 23-02-2023, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by katie23

girls do have a fashion sense and will find some things unacceptable....

its no good just making that statement Katie. Us blokes need examples and direction, not being laughed at or blanked in our tank tops and white socks.

**Stumpy** · 23-02-2023, 04:53 PM

Here we go. Mendy crossing over Rama iV bridge into BKK on the baht bus then heading to Nana....

**DrWilly** · 23-02-2023, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by malmomike77

its no good just making that statement Katie. Us blokes need examples and direction, not being laughed at or blanked in our tank tops and white socks.

Blokes that wear that shit deserve to be blanked!

**malmomike77** · 23-02-2023, 05:25 PM

^ what else do you wear after a round in the 19th hole

**Stumpy** · 23-02-2023, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by malmomike77

^ what else do you wear after a round in the 19th hole

Silk Pajamas sipping a Leo

**dirk diggler** · 23-02-2023, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by malmomike77

^ what else do you wear after a round in the 19th hole

A towel, while you go smoke a victory cigar on the balcony and find out where the lads are.

**Mendip** · 24-02-2023, 06:07 PM

I see some mirth regarding my footwear. I will never apologise for having a finely tuned sense of fashion.

And anyway, walking around I see some beautiful girls wearing those horrible clunky Crocs or even wearing flip flops with woolly socks... does that kind of thing really put you off, guys?

To help ensure a relatively comfortable voyage down to Bangkok from Korat, always remember the acronym SOPH.

Yes, Starboard Out, Port Home. Bangkok passport renewal trips may well be the origin of this word.

This keeps you out of the sun and allows you to watch pre-downloaded episodes of Death in Paradise on your phone with minimal glare to spoil the experience.

The tips just keep on coming.

The VSO agents who stand in for the British Embassy for passport renewals are based in the Trendy Offices on Sukhumvit Soi 13.

I had a 13:30 appointment and with a mild hangover wearing off went along a bit early to grab some lunch before going in. One of the great things about visiting Bangkok is tha availability of fabulous food from all around the globe.

I went for a 7-Eleven double cheese and ham toasted sandwich. There's a 7-Eleven a few shops up from the Trendy offices... remember to ask them to heat up your toastie.

But even the most meticulously planned operation can come across glitches... but at least a pigeon looked happy about it.

And then I went in, up the lift to the 8th Floor, and did my business. A children's passport renewal now costs £94.51 including the hefty agent's fee... which is a rip off of course because it's not as though they individually DHL each application back to the UK.

But anyway, all my business done and dusted in no time at all... OK, so I did go in a bit before my allotted appointment time.

Before I get too up myself about what a perfect passport renewal this was, I had completely forgotten about the requirement to prove my daughter's address in Thailand. Luckily I did have a copy of her birth certificate in my document wallet (from past visa applications) and this included our address in Korat but what they really wanted was a certified translation of the house book. Fingers crossed this won't slow down anything as they quote 11 weeks for the new passport and we hope to get over to the UK this summer. I have heard however that things have been speeding up lately.

And then a much deserved lunch.

Whenever I go 'POSH' I am always disappointed. My sea bass came with only two chips and they weren't even proper chips... they were bread crusts, the same things that the daughter cuts off her bread and get fed to the chickens. That red stuff wasn't proper ketchup, either. Tomorrow I meet up with an old mate for lunch and I will have a proper cod and chips, with peas and ketchup.

My lunch did bring back one long forgotten memory however. We used to get these cuckoo spits in the garden lavender bushes when I was a kid and I haven't seen one in years.

I haven't been away on a work trip since last May and have become very used to being at home with the family... I've become too comfortable with it all to be honest and it makes being away from home harder than it used to be. Today the wife sent me a couple of pics of little Lola and it made me realise how much I miss her.

I've really bonded with that little puppy.

**malmomike77** · 24-02-2023, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mendip

I went for a 7-Eleven double cheese and ham toasted sandwich.

as a connoisseur of these i'd like to point out that is a ham and cheese toasted croissant.

Originally Posted by Mendip

Today the wife sent me a couple of pics of little Lola and it made me realise how much I miss her.

And so you should given she's thought of you enough to send you the pics, you are married after all.

**DrWilly** · 24-02-2023, 06:36 PM

Soooooo

you are the guy who buys 7/11 food!

**Joe 90** · 24-02-2023, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Stumpy

So I have this image of Mendy getting all spruced up in his top flight room, after shave, new hairdo. He tosses on his white light pants, takes out that wrinkled tropical shirt and slips on those crispy dried out Jesus Slippers. He heads on down to Nana with that BeeGees Saturday night fever song in his head, strolling along while all the women look on in amazement.....

Lock up your soi dogs!
Mendys in town

**malmomike77** · 24-02-2023, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Soooooo

you are the guy who buys 7/11 food!

I assume you mean me given the accompanying red for my post

**DrWilly** · 24-02-2023, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by malmomike77

I assume you mean me given the accompanying red for my post

no.

buzz off

**malmomike77** · 24-02-2023, 06:51 PM

^ oh ok then, it was just you being the witless twat you are

. Is there some German in you? aside from when you and the Kraut loon meet up in Malaysia

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