Transcript of the above video:

Usually when we are talking on this channel we are talking about Visas. In this particular video we are going to be talking more about passports. Obviously the passport is the underlying travel document so if you can't get your passport sorted out, visas can become a real difficulty here in Thailand because you have got to have a passport to get a Visa.

I recently was reading an article from ASEAN NOW, aseannow.com, the article is titled: Getting a Visa or passport to travel overseas may take longer. Quoting directly: "If you happen to be in the UK, the current processing times are up to 10 weeks to receive your passport. They say there are different turnaround times if you are applying from another country. British Nationals can apply or renew their British passports in Thailand. They need to book an appointment through BangkokHMPO@VFShelpline.com and apply in person once the appointment has been set. 

-The cost of an Adult standard 32-page passport is 10,000 THB – this includes the cost of the passport and service fee. 

-The cost of an adult jumbo 48-page passport is 11,000 THB - this includes the passport and service fee." 

The reason I am bringing this up is in an American context. We have been seeing a lot of issues here too. Mostly what I am seeing is delays for folks that are in the US. Folks that are over here and they are dealing with American Citizen Services at the US Embassy in Bangkok, a lot of those people it has been my experience, they are finding that things are moving quite efficiently; and hats off to ACS for that. In fact, I myself had to deal with some passport stuff here recently and they turned it around pretty quick. So if you are already ready abroad, and you are dealing with for example a US Embassy, this is for Americans out there, delays yeah there is going to be sort of a lag time between requesting the new passport and getting it issued but it is pretty straightforward. Within the US it has been my experience in the past few months it has actually moving kind of slow, all things considered. 

So something to think about. Obviously, Brits, some information in there for those folks, British citizens. For us Americans, yeah the delays it is an issue. It is something to keep in mind when dealing with trying to get back into the United States; trying to get a new passport issued; trying to get a new Visa, that can all come up in the context of any of those things.