I am soooooooo stupid.

[Moses]

>>>>>>Considering that it costs US $100 for a passport, wouldn't it be nice if they make them waterproof?

how to stamp waterproofed pages then? inks are liquids also

[Gaybutton]

how to stamp waterproofed pages then? inks are liquids also

I'm sure they would think of something. After all, in a post just above it was pointed out that water doesn't destroy paper money, but it can be written on and stamped on. All they need is to use paper of similar quality. Doesn't it seem a bit absurd that with modern technology they can't come up with a passport that won't be ruined if it gets a soaking?

It reminds me of that old story, and I don't know if it's true, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is - The USA spent a fortune to develop a pen for the astronauts that could write reliably in zero gravity and that's what they took into space with them. The Russians took a pencil . . .

[Moses]

With money it is different story: money are printed, while stamps are ... hm... stamped

in fact all we know undestructable in washing machine passports - id cards... but for now cards haven't 100% proof of originality of information at chip, so chips are using in addition to normal paper passports and don't substitute travel passports: protection of info on chip is quite weak

[Alex]

But speaking of the future of passports, isn't the passport card the way to go anyway? It's waterproof, and in this day and age, there really shouldn't be any need to put stamps in a passport booklet anymore. It's archaic and easy to fake. Visa and entry/exit records could all be stored electronically. No more running out of pages. As an added benefit, when there's a power outage, immigration is forced to take a break, they cannot stamp in terrorists anymore.

[thewayhelooks]

In Australia, we never see and Immigration official at the airport anymore. Aussie passport holders have it scanned and away you go. The only person to see your passport is at the airline check-in counter and just before your board your plane.
Paper money? How old fashioned, We've been using polymer banknotes for nearly 30 years.

[puan]

Ok.....just a follow-up to original post.

Everything completed. I want to thank all who provided advice/insight to my original post. As GB said it would (the old sage that he is), everything went very smoothly and in a "matter-of-fact" fashion.

The American Citizens Services at the US Consulate was extremely helpful and efficient. I ordered the new replacement passport on June 21 and it was mailed and in my hands by June 29. Way sooner than the 2 weeks advised at the Consulate.

Then off to Pattaya Immigration Office. Again, another pleasant experience. As GB indicated, it seems they see this situation frequently and appeared to handle it in a SOP fashion. Waiting times were never in excess of 15 minutes. Also got a new Residency Certificate while there also with a wait time no more than 15 mins. As an aside, I get the feeling based on horror stories about the Immigration Offices in other provinces, we are very fortunate with our office here in Pattaya/ChonBuri. Our office always seems efficient and staffed with pleasant workers.

Again, thank you all for your input. By the way, the real horror occurs next week.....I am off to the LTO for a renewal of my driver's license.

[Gaybutton]

the real horror occurs next week.....I am off to the LTO for a renewal of my driver's license.

I'm glad everything else went smoothly. As for renewing your driver's license, well :

"It'll be shit."
- Tony Curtis (Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter), 'Lepke'

[puan]

GB.....
Just a followup. Did my driver's license renewal yesterday. Not too bad. In at 8:15 and out at 10:30.
But I did have the advantage of previous knowledge of the process and timing based upon your excellent posting. Thanks for that. It sure helped and demystified the process.

[Gaybutton]

Did my driver's license renewal yesterday. Not too bad.

Congratulations! Now you can drive and have a cop or two shake you down for a few hundred baht . . .