Passport Renewal

[Thingamabob 3,610]

Why have you allowed this process to be carried out by contractors ? 

[Upnotover 2,830]

Only the donkey work is done by "contractors", VFS and DHL.  Payment, acceptance/rejection of applications and issue of passports is done by HMPO in the UK.  Worked fine the last time I did it and a good excuse for a jolly day out in Bangkok.

[OJAS 3,033]

On 11/28/2020 at 11:03 PM, Upnotover said:

a jolly day out in Bangkok

  ...is an oxymoron IMHO. And to make matters worse 2 such days several weeks apart need to be endured, of course!

 

 

Edited December 1, 2020 by OJAS

[NanLaew 22,608]

On 12/1/2020 at 10:25 AM, OJAS said:

On 11/28/2020 at 11:03 PM, Upnotover said:

a jolly day out in Bangkok

  ...is an oxymoron IMHO. And to make matters worse 2 such days several weeks apart need to be endured, of course!

 

Don't forget that for most, it will be a whole ten years between these huge, life-changing inconveniences as well.

Edited December 2, 2020 by NanLaew

[sungod 4,633]

On 12/2/2020 at 11:58 AM, NanLaew said:

On 12/1/2020 at 10:25 AM, OJAS said:

On 11/28/2020 at 11:03 PM, Upnotover said:

a jolly day out in Bangkok

  ...is an oxymoron IMHO. And to make matters worse 2 such days several weeks apart need to be endured, of course!

 

Don't forget that for most, it will be a whole ten years between these huge, life-changing inconveniences as well.

 

And dont forget you dont have to even attend in person!

[richard_smith237 26,057]

The grandeur and might of the British Empire rapidly diminishes as one enters the trendy building to broken escalators, rickety photocopy machines and flaky translation services in one of the cheapest rental buildings in Bangkok. 

 

In true British fashion the evidence of budget cuts is visible throughout the process. 

 

 

It's like arriving at Manchester Airport, dodging the cones and broken travelators as one steps off the air-gate. 

 

That said; my passport was recently renewed in 5 weeks, so not that bad (I’d been e-mailed to inform me it would take 8 due to Covid-19). 

 

 

 

[champers 9,778]

On 12/14/2020 at 6:42 PM, richard_smith237 said:

The grandeur and might of the British Empire rapidly diminishes as one enters the trendy building to broken escalators, rickety photocopy machines and flaky translation services in one of the cheapest rental buildings in Bangkok. 

 

In true British fashion the evidence of budget cuts is visible throughout the process. 

 

 

It's like arriving at Manchester Airport, dodging the cones and broken travelators as one steps off the air-gate. 

 

That said; my passport was recently renewed in 5 weeks, so not that bad (I’d been e-mailed to inform me it would take 8 due to Covid-19). 

 

 

 

They have left the Trendy building, now in AIA tower at Sathorn Rd (seen on here the other day).

Richard, how long did it take you to get an appointment date after your E Mail request? I have E Mailed to them today about my renewal.

[richard_smith237 26,057]

8 minutes ago, champers said:

They have left the Trendy building, now in AIA tower at Sathorn Rd (seen on here the other day).

Richard, how long did it take you to get an appointment date after your E Mail request? I have E Mailed to them today about my renewal.

 

I e-mailed for an appointment on 15th Oct and received a reply the following day offering an appointment on 30th Oct. 

The VFS replied to my e-mail within 24 hours and offered an appointment in two weeks time. 

I collected my renewed British Passport from VFS at Trendy building last week (5 weeks from submission).

 

 

To avoid confusion for anyone reading: I was at the VFS HMPO a week ago, its most definitely still on the 28th Floor of the trendy building (unless they’ve moved in the past week and not announced it on their website !)

 

https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/th/en/hmpo

 

[British Consular Team 152]

Just to confirm, the Embassy has now moved (from Wireless Road) to the AIA building. VFS (a partner company that manages passport applications/renewals and visas) is still at the Trendy Office Building. 

[safarimike11 36]

Went into Bangkok to deliver my completed documents for renewing my UK passport yesterday - 6th January 2012. If you are driving in - and driving down Asok road to the large junction with Sukhumvit road, this might help: at the junction turn right (into Sukhumvit road) and almost immediately do a U-turn at soi 11. When you have turned, you will come to soi 13 soon on your left - so turn into it. The Trendy Building is about 100 yards down on the right and at the far end is the opening that leads up to the car park which is on floors 3 thru 5. Go up to level 5, turn left, drive to the end and park. Leave your car and go into the building, turn right and go through the glass doors. There is a girl with a temp. gun and hand sanitizer. Upon asking her (where the passport office was) she directed me to go down to the ground floor - via the escalators. Head to the elevators and go to the last one which is at the end. Go up to the 28th floor, exit the elevator and turn left and you are at the entry to the passport office.

Once you have finished your business, exit the passport office and go down in the same elevator to the 8th floor Exit the elevator, turn left and head to the fire exit door; walk down 3 floors to level 5, go in through that fire exit door, turn right and you are back to the girl with the temp. gun.