====== Department of State ======

[[American Expat Retiree Financials | contents]]

Passport issuance.

Passports are good for 10 years.

NOTICE: Some use of the passport they require 6 months validity remaining on the passport.

Example. To get a one-year extension of stay on a Thai Visa, the applicant’s passport must be valid for that entire year. And it can take up to 2 months to complete a renewal. Therefore you must initiate your passport renewal a good 14 months before its expiry date.

First-time application for a new passport is done at a post office in-person.\\
https://www.usps.com/international/passports.htm

Renewal from within the US cannot be done in-person. It must be done by mail and the application can be filed online.\\
Allow 4 weeks to receive documents.\\
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html

Renewal from outside the US varies by country.\\
In most countries you apply in-person at the US consulate or embassy.\\
In some countries you may apply by mail.\\
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/outside-us.html

Renewal from Thailand.\\
By mail.\\
Allow 6 to 8 weeks.\\
https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/adult-passport-renew/

Instructions.
  - Fill out Form DS-82.  Print it and sign it.
  - Acquire two new passport photos.
  - Pay the fees online at [www.pay.gov](http://www.pay.gov).  Receive an email confirmation.
    - Passport Book Only – $130
    - Passport Card Only – $30
    - Passport Book and Passport Card – $160  (\~= 5,200 THB)
  - Go online to ThailandPostMart.
     - Sign in or create an account.
     - Pay 100 THB for a return envelope.
     - The envelope itself will be delivered to the US Embassy Bangkok.
     - Receive an email payment confirmation.
     - Receive a tracking number in a separate email.
  - Prepare a package of these 4 above items.
     - The form DS-82, filled out, printed and signed.
     - The two new passport photos.
     - The printed email electronic payment confirmation from [www.pay.gov](http://www.pay.gov).
     - The printed email payment confirmation from ThailandPostMart.
     - Send via Thailand Post or DHL to

Passport-by-Mail Service\\
***ACS/Consular Section***\\
U.S. Embassy\\
95 Wireless Road\\
Bangkok 10330, Thailand\\


https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/instructions-for-ds-82-processing-by-mail-and-online-fee-payment-for-u-s-citizens-residing-in-thailand/

After receiving the new book. Thai Immigration will transfer old stamps to the new book, including entry stamp, first non-o visa, and current retirement visa. 3000 THB to OS Thai Visa.