Déjà vu for Phuket Passport Office

PHUKET: The Phuket Passport Office had a false start this week as it re-opened its doors for service on Monday, just to close them again on Friday.

Protesting has forced the second closure of the Passport Division in Bangkok, the first of which closed the Phuket office for nearly a month (story here). The headquarters in the capital terminated its server connection to provincial offices again as a precaution.

“We have to temporarily close the office until the server is re-connected. I do not know when we will be able to re-open,” Phuket Passport Office Chief Siriporn Tantipanyathep told the Phuket Gazette.

“It all depends on the head office in Bangkok.”

The Phuket Passport Office opened its doors on Monday even though Provincial Hall remained closed (story here). The office has had to call the almost 400 people who turned in their paperwork this week to inform them of the closure, said Ms Siriporn.

“Most were understanding, as they knew that this might happen,” Ms Siriporn said.

“We apologize for any inconvenience. We will make an announcement as soon as we resume our services.”

Meanwhile, people can check the Department of Consular Affairs website for any updates, she added.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong