da Brand a Friend - #354 - Passport Inferno 2
The speaker planned a trip to Bangkok to renew their passport at the Italian embassy, anticipating complications. Despite being told the process would take time due to bureaucratic issues with their registration in Rome, they unexpectedly received their new passport immediately. However, transferring their visa from the old to the new passport proved problematic. The immigration office required the presence of their lawyer, leading to delays. The speaker had to cancel their travel plans and wait for further instructions, highlighting the unpredictability and complexity of bureaucratic processes abroad.
Key Points:
- Unexpectedly received a new passport immediately despite anticipated delays.
- Faced issues transferring visa to the new passport, requiring legal assistance.
- Had to cancel travel plans due to bureaucratic delays.
- Opened a Telegram channel to document the journey and challenges.
- Plans to resolve issues and continue travel once bureaucratic hurdles are cleared.
Details:
1. 🌍 Preparing for the Journey: Passport Renewal
- The process of renewing a passport at the Italian embassy in Bangkok is complicated and time-consuming, requiring careful planning and consideration of potential delays.
- Traveling to Bangkok is necessary to resolve the passport renewal, despite the anticipated difficulties.
- Delegating the task of collecting the new passport to another person is a viable option to avoid unnecessary travel, providing flexibility in managing the renewal process.
- It is important to prepare for the renewal by gathering all necessary documents ahead of the trip to ensure a smooth process.
- Consideration should be given to the embassy's schedule and any potential waiting times, which can significantly affect the duration of the renewal process.
2. 🚦 Overcoming Travel Hurdles
- Flight prices are extremely high from Koh Samui due to the monopoly by Bangkok Airways, creating a significant travel hurdle for passengers looking for cost-effective options.
- Travelers can consider an alternative route involving a one and a half hour ferry ride to the mainland, followed by a two-hour bus ride to Surat Thani airport, which, while time-consuming, can significantly reduce travel expenses.
- Planning and flexibility are crucial as this alternative route requires an overnight stay to meet early appointments, such as consulate visits, highlighting the need for strategic coordination of travel plans.
- The process includes not only reaching the destination but also managing the return journey for tasks like passport collection, emphasizing the importance of detailed scheduling and contingency planning.
3. 🏛️ Embassy Visit: Hopes and Challenges
- The visit to the embassy was challenging due to lengthy processes at airports, including repeated waiting, scanning, and checks.
- Early arrival at the embassy (8:30 AM) for a 10:40 AM appointment didn't expedite the process, highlighting inefficiencies in scheduling despite having all documents ready.
- The applicant was pre-informed that the passport could not be issued immediately due to delays from the Rome municipality, ranging from 7 months to 3 years, demonstrating significant bureaucratic inefficiencies.
- A special permit (nulla osta) from Rome police was required to proceed with passport issuance, indicating a lack of coordination between municipal and embassy processes, which could benefit from streamlined communication.
4. 🎉 A Surprise Success
- Unexpectedly received a new passport immediately at the embassy, contrary to typical expectations and procedures.
- The old passport was canceled, and a new one was issued on the spot, avoiding the need for a follow-up appointment.
- This immediate issuance allowed for celebration and travel plans without delay.
- The only remaining task was to transfer the visa from the old passport to the new one.
5. 🛂 Visa Transfer Issues
- A new passport does not automatically carry over existing visas, requiring a transfer process.
- The narrator planned to transfer the visa at the immigration office the day after obtaining the new passport.
- Upon arrival at the immigration office, the staff stated that a lawyer was required for the visa transfer, contrary to prior information.
- The immigration officer's familiarity with a specific lawyer suggested potential bias or informal connections.
- The requirement for a lawyer was unexpected and had not been communicated by the lawyer beforehand.
- The immigration office provided a note in Thai meant for the lawyer, indicating a need for local language support.
- Due to the unexpected requirement, the initial attempt to transfer the visa independently failed, causing a delay.
- The lawyer instructed the narrator to bring the necessary documents to their office, with an expectation of resolution within 48 hours.
- The lack of prior communication and reliance on a lawyer for a basic process highlights potential inefficiencies and biases in the system.
- To avoid future delays, it is crucial to confirm all procedural requirements and consider potential informal practices within the immigration process.