New Personal Appearance Requirement for Foreign Nationals Changing Passports
February 28, 2017
Foreign nationals and dependents sponsored under the Board of Investments (BOI) process are now required to file long-term visa extension applications at the One Stop Service Center (OSSC) after they obtain a new passport. Filing the application requires an additional personal appearance after the visa endorsement transfer.
Previously, foreign nationals under the BOI process could send a representative to file one application to transfer their visa endorsements and extend their long-term visas at the same time.
Summary of the Process
The new process is as follows:
- Foreign nationals and dependents, or their representatives, file an application at the OSSC to have the existing visa endorsement transferred from their old passport onto their new one;
- Foreign nationals appear in person at the OSSC to file an application to extend the long-term visa; and
- New visa extension stamp and re-entry permits are issued for the remaining work authorization period according to the BOI approval letter.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals sponsored under the BOI process now need to appear before immigration authorities when transferring their visa endorsements onto a new passport. Government processing can take four to five hours. Foreign nationals should contact their immigration professional for assistance with this process.
Even if the BOI approved a work authorization period longer than a foreign worker’s visa validity period, foreign nationals can only stay in Thailand only until their visa expiration date. Foreign nationals remaining in the country beyond this date are subject to fines and penalties.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Explore more at Fragomen
Fragomen news
Fragomen’s "Immigration Guide for the UK Tech Sector" introduces visa options available for those working and recruiting in the tech sector.
Blog post
Assistant Business Immigration Manager Shirley Kock and Senior Business Immigration Consultant Eunice Leo examine why applying early for Singapore permanent residency can strengthen long-term outcomes for foreign professionals and their families amid increasing competition and evolving immigration policies.
Blog post
UK Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit outlines key passport and documentation considerations for British and Irish dual nationals as the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme moves into full enforcement from 25 February 2026, warning that failure to carry proof of British or Irish citizenship may result in boarding delays or refusal.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Géraldine Renaudière highlights how evolving policies and growing talent visa programs are shaping France’s immigration landscape.
Video
Senior Immigration Consultant Adriana Martinez Garro outlines the main visa and residency options available in Costa Rica, offering a practical overview for visitors, remote workers, retirees, investors and families exploring short- or long-term pathways.
Awards
Managing Partner Nadine Goldfoot and Senior Counsel David Crawford are recognized in Uglobal Immigration Magazine’s 2025 Top 25 Global Migration Attorneys list.
Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter addresses the rise in Polish citizenship refusals and the impact of automated decision-making on individual cases.
Blog post
Manager Adam Hickling, Senior Associate Veronica Ciocea and Immigration Consultant Daisy Dale analyse the UK government’s A Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation and its potential implications for the aviation sector, including proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain, settlement timelines and dependant eligibility.
Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses how recent US immigration policy changes, including potential impacts on the H-1B lottery, are shaping employer planning.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partners Isha Atassi and Rahul Soni discuss US investment-based immigration options for Middle Eastern investors.
Fragomen news
Fragomen’s "Immigration Guide for the UK Tech Sector" introduces visa options available for those working and recruiting in the tech sector.
Blog post
Assistant Business Immigration Manager Shirley Kock and Senior Business Immigration Consultant Eunice Leo examine why applying early for Singapore permanent residency can strengthen long-term outcomes for foreign professionals and their families amid increasing competition and evolving immigration policies.
Blog post
UK Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit outlines key passport and documentation considerations for British and Irish dual nationals as the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme moves into full enforcement from 25 February 2026, warning that failure to carry proof of British or Irish citizenship may result in boarding delays or refusal.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Géraldine Renaudière highlights how evolving policies and growing talent visa programs are shaping France’s immigration landscape.
Video
Senior Immigration Consultant Adriana Martinez Garro outlines the main visa and residency options available in Costa Rica, offering a practical overview for visitors, remote workers, retirees, investors and families exploring short- or long-term pathways.
Awards
Managing Partner Nadine Goldfoot and Senior Counsel David Crawford are recognized in Uglobal Immigration Magazine’s 2025 Top 25 Global Migration Attorneys list.
Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter addresses the rise in Polish citizenship refusals and the impact of automated decision-making on individual cases.
Blog post
Manager Adam Hickling, Senior Associate Veronica Ciocea and Immigration Consultant Daisy Dale analyse the UK government’s A Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation and its potential implications for the aviation sector, including proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain, settlement timelines and dependant eligibility.
Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses how recent US immigration policy changes, including potential impacts on the H-1B lottery, are shaping employer planning.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partners Isha Atassi and Rahul Soni discuss US investment-based immigration options for Middle Eastern investors.