US Embassy announces consular outreach services for Phuket

PHUKET: The Consular Section of the US embassy in Bangkok has announced its staff will be in Phuket on December 17 to provide consular outreach services.

“Dates are subject to change, but we intend to stay as close to this schedule as possible,” the embassy wrote in a recent release.

During the outreach session, US consular staff will provide the following services:

• Passport renewal applications.

• Notarial services and certified copies, including income affidavits for retirees in Thailand.

• Applications for extra visa pages will be accepted, but the passports must be taken back to the US Embassy for final processing the next business day.

“As of this writing, Thailand Post has approved our request to use prepaid envelopes to return passports. We will bring prepaid envelopes on outreaches that you can buy from us (at cost) if you wish us have us mail your passport back to you.

“Alternatively, you can pick up your passport at the embassy. You can also have a friend pick up your passport by giving them written authorization to present to us,” explained the embassy release.

“Our ability to answer Social Security, VA, or other federal benefits questions will be limited, but we will try to provide forms and answers,” it added.

Consular Reports of Birth cannot be processed during consular outreach trips.

The outreach sessions are also scheduled to return to Phuket on March 16, June 16 and September 16 next year.

The outreach program in other areas of Thailand is as follows:

Pattaya: December 1, March 1, June 1, September 1.

Khon Kaen: November 23, June 9.

Nakhon Ratchasima: January 6.

Udon Thani: March 10, September 8.

Exact hours, venues and costs for services have yet to be announced.

For more information, email acsbkk@state.gov or call the American Citizen Services Unit at 02-2054049.