Emergency Child Passport - Any Other Advice?

shebanjoed

So holiday of a lifetime booked to Thailand and my friend has just realised her son (12) only has one month validity and he needs 6 months for Thailand. We leave Thursday evening.

So far through her meltdown this morn she has

(1) Phoned the Passport Office - a child's passport will take a week. No fasttrack available.

(2) Phoned Virgin (booked hol through them) who told her to call Thai Embassy in London. Thai Embassy takes calls between 2-5. Did speak to the Thai Consulate in Glasgow who told her there was no chance he could fly.

(3) Asked Virgin if she could go later with her son and I go with my daughter and her other son however as she is named as the lead passenger if she doesn't go no-one does. My friend in Australia (who is meeting us there with her kids) booked the hol and put my other friend as lead passenger.

So, I've covered everything I can think of at moment.

Anyone know of any other routes we haven't covered?

Thanks.

peachyprice

Can she go with your daughter and her other son and you wait until her son has his passport?

InsideInsurance

shebanjoed wrote: »

(1) Phoned the Passport Office - a child's passport will take a week. No fasttrack available.

Fast track is available but thats the service that takes up to a week, its the Premium service that isnt. The normal service is up to 3 weeks.

Realistically you could send the application today with a 9am next day or same day delivery service and really cross your fingers that the Fast Track renewal comes back in time but youd have to be exceptionally lucky.

As suggested, the only other option is to delay yourself and take him but make sure each one of you has a letter from the other with the OK to travel with their kids

shebanjoed

Didn't think of that scenario. Not an option for us my daughter is only 7 I couldn't let her go without me.

peachyprice

Then can she go with her other son and you, your daughter and no-passport son follow after?

Or can someone else bring the no-passport son once he has it?

shebanjoed

By time he gets the passport flies out there he will only have a couple of days until its time to go home so she doesn't want to do that.


Emirates have said he can fly with his current passport. The Thai Embassy in London told her to check with Immigration so she has been trying to call them. I'm not sure why the Embassy didn't give her a flat "no" instead she is now hopeful.


We've got till Thursday evening so fingers crossed.

stephb34

Can she ask Virgin to make you the lead passenger.

shebanjoed

They said no as its too late to change anything - that's when she found out if she didn't go none of us could go. Had I been the lead that would have helped - she could have stayed here with her son and the 3 of us would have went out and met the others rather than everyone being affected.


Someone else paid for this trip (we are meeting her and her family over there) and made her the lead passenger.


Which is why she wants to give it a go and not let anyone down.

peachyprice

shebanjoed wrote: »

By time he gets the passport flies out there he will only have a couple of days until its time to go home so she doesn't want to do that.

But that's the harsh reality, the child needs the passport, he's only going to have a couple of days there, whoever takes him. So she needs to decide whether everyone loses their holiday or her son and you and your daughter lose most of their holiday or her son doesn't go at all.

BTW, Everywhere says he needs 6 months, I think Emirates are wrong


http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/188

Foreigners who enter Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption category and would like to leave and
re-enter may only stay for a cumulative duration, which does not exceed 90 days and is within a 6-month period from the date of first entry. (Passport or travel document must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of first entry).

The applicant must possess a passport with at least 6 month validity

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/entry-requirements

Passport Validity

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Thailand.

zagfles

Which airline is it? Most airlines will let a 12 year old travel unaccompanied, so would this be a possibility? Would someone else be able to look after him/take him to the airport etc? Would he be confident doing this? Most airlines offer a service to look after unaccompanied children if you need this.

Voyager2002

It's a long shot, but...

Try to get something in writing from the airline saying that the child will be allowed to travel. With that, it is probable that the whole group of you would be allowed to fly to Thailand.

Once you arrive, you would then need to explain the situation to a Thai immigration officer. In practice, you would almost certainly be admitted and so allowed to enjoy your holiday: although probably after a good deal of discussion and payment of additional fees.