Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing "lost or stolen" passports in Thailand. I thought of making this video actually after reading a recent comment on our channel. Quoting directly: "Hi Ben, I'm not sure if you read the comments here but if you do, I have seen many reports on social media such as YouTube, as well as other places, of Americans travelling to Thailand and other countries who arrive only to find out that their passports have mysteriously been flagged as "lost" or "stolen" unbeknownst to them and they are refused entry. It seems to be occurring more and more often and not just anecdotal or rumour" - well I haven't heard about it, and this seems kind of anecdotal - quoting further: 'I'm on a Retirement Visa here in Thailand. If someone like myself were to go to do my 90-day extension or my annual renewal only to find out that my passport has been deemed lost or stolen, can you advise on that steps?" First off, and I'll get into this here in a minute, the notion of it being deemed "lost" or "stolen", that doesn't sound right to me; let me keep going. - "Also, would your firm be able to help someone out of a jam like this? Would be great to see you make a video addressing these reports and associated concerns. Kob Khun Krub." 

Okay, so first off, the notion of a passport being deemed lost or stolen, that seems strange to me. What I mean to say there is look if you lose a passport or a passport is stolen and you are an American here in Thailand then you go down to the police station you make a report, or you go to the Embassy and just tell them directly, "hey, I lost my passport." Generally speaking, they are going to want you to make some sort of report, likely with the Thai Police, and then they'll go ahead and likely in the meantime, issue a new passport; sometimes they'll even quickly issue a temporary passport. 

Long story short is, you have to do that. I have to be honest with you, in nearly 20 years, over 18 years at this point practicing US Immigration Law and dealing with being an expat, I have never heard of a passport being "deemed" lost or stolen without the knowledge of the passport holder, that seems odd to me. Now there are things like International Megan's Law which may place certain markers on a passport. There is also the possibility of the IRS directing the Department of State to rescind a passport if someone has $50,000 or more in arrears owed in taxes to the IRS, that is certainly a possibility. You can see a passport rescinded due to again tax payments; you can also see a passport pulled due to child support. I've done videos in the past on that where a passport, if someone is deficient in their child support, then the State Authorities can notify Federal Authorities of that and that person's passport can be effectively suspended until they get up to date, the same deal with the IRS. That said, I have not personally been party to or witness to a situation where a passport is deemed lost or stolen without the knowledge or consent of the passport holder. That sounds odd to me. 

Again, I would really like to know the underlying facts in a given case where that situation presents itself; I'd like to know sort of the background there. That being said, maybe we'll get some further clarification if this is a phenomenon that is happening. We will certainly be keeping you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.