My foreign passport is about to expire and I need new one This is a real "sport" in our country, another "pleasure" - from this year new bio-electronic chip was inserted in each passport.I have a two passports before, each  valid for 5 years, but in fact, most countries will not allow tourists to cross border if passport will expire in next 6 month from date of enter to country.And this is means, real validity only 4 years 6 month Help from tourist companies and agents, who specialized in passport and visas "quick, fast, and cost a lot of money" - e.g. corruption was involved, become useless, because I need now come to migration bureau and pass a eye scan and photo.Preparation:First, I need to download from special website passport request form. Fill form, place a stamp and authorized signature in my office HR department.  The form was broken. This is a PDF print-only document, with font ZapfDingbats embedded. Font was broken, and displays a bullets instead of numbers!Of course, I was break PDF protection, fill the form with normal font. Form have two sides, and must be printed properly to have a two-sided document. Pain in ass and impossible for one, who do not have computer and skills, or for old people. Of course, many agents will "help fill forms" for additional money. Good business...Second, I need to make a copy of my national passport, and a authorized copy of work book (I don't know how to name this thing - this is a book with records about your jobs, companies, etc - pretty useless now, just artefact from Soviet era,  but still needed to be legally employed and for foreign passport too) Third - two photographs for passport request form. And the fourth - pay to officials 1000 roubles (about $40) and include receipt to papers. And the WORST: I come to migration bureau 8 a.m. I was be 45 in the row. Thanks God, people make a list with numbers and Family names and do not allow anyone to pass row without order. I was lucky to understand how long will be before my No 45, and spend several hours outside migration bureau.I was lucky to do not have any mistakes in passport form, and come out of migration bureau 4 p.m. 8 hours waiting, do not miss your number, cos this game will start again in another day. And, I will need to WAIT for 2 MONTH or a little less for new passport. I hope I will have it in the end of April and my plans about visiting Thailand in June will not be ruined.Owww....  

One day for a passport ? Wow. Thanks god it has never been this bad here. The new biometric passport costs about 70 Euros, money for the pics and approx. 30 minutes of waiting at the service office. Two weeks later you can easily pick it up. Guess the term "service" and friendliness towards customers still does not exist in Russia, does it ?

Greetings

Ray

I guess it's a bit difficult in russia...........my old passport had expired, and no where to be found, had a brand new passport in 2 weeks!

Peter, yes, you're right.

I remember, 1 st February I arrive in Bangkok Airport from Siem Reap. At passport control border guard give me EXCUSES for waiting (maybe 3-4 minutes), because computer a little bit slow. I was shocked....

Damnam1, About my story...this is a system, yes. I speak with woman, who work in migration bureau while she work with my documents. She looks very tired, says this is a very bad situation cos people don't know about old passports without biometrics - officials says, old passports will be valid until expiration, but no one sure if they will change their own decisions...

Sad to say, but when I step to BKK airport ground, I feel something like euphoria - I know I will see only friendly people for next two week...