Not exactly. They've stopped issuing the 48-page passports either in the US or internationally (although some agencies may still have stock?). What they will do is issue a 24-page passport plus a first 24-page visa page addition.

There is also a limit to the number of 24-page extensions that can be inserted into a single US passport; most consulates/embassies limit it to two; the main passport processing center in Delaware (PA mailing address) limits it to 6 or 7, but I've gotten 9 before they balked.

Not exactly. They do certainly recognize that it exists, that it's a democracy, that it's a friend of the West. They used to recognize this formally, but realpolitik has led them to rescind that recognition because they're so ga-ga over the Communist, non-democractic China.

But, nudge-nudge, wink-wink, there are "British Trade and Cultural Offices" and "British Councils" in both Taipei and Kaohsiung. These are even listed on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's official list of UK Embassies Overseas:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?...=1013618515881

I don't see on this list any representative offices on Mars or the Moon.

:-)

Actually many Consulates are nalking at more than THREE, not TWO, but this is not a regulation, I am up to six and find that with the right wording I have been able to get beyond their stubbornness each time. As each time I have gotten an addition it has gradually taken 10-20 minutes longer I believe that it is because they scan or copy all of your pages each time they do this and really do not want to do it as passports get longer/thicker.

Oh, and I am basing this on an FSO saying something like, "it's more difficult to fit it in the machine" when I pressed her on what that meant, she clammed up.

For Brazil: a visa in the old passport presented in conjunction with a new passport is fine as indicated

For Chile:

There's always flying to Mendoza (via say Buenos Aires) and then taking a six hour bus ride to Santiago de Chile for around US$10 one-way to avoid paying the $100 one-time reciprocity fee Chile imposes on those passengers arriving by plane into SCL. :D

Are we talking about at least two machines, say the machine that is used to press in the new pages and the copier and/or other scanner?

ACS at US consulates/embassies are definitely taking more time with thicker passports and Americans are increasingly being told over the phone that it's an overnight process .... even when it's mostly not.

Exactly, as part of the security process they are scanning all passports that come in. Personally i couldn;t care less except that it seems to be the reason that they are discouraging more additions.

TDS Washington
 

There's this AWESOME website/service that I use for all my visas, passport issues, etc. it's called

TRAVEL DOCUMENT SERVICES
http://www.traveldocs.com/


They will do EVERYTHING for you, of course for a fee, but it beats anything else!

There are some countries that will not accept your passport unless you have a completely EMPTY page like South Africa.

Good luck,
UG

My observation is that they just don't care...

Good luck!
 

Until you get to the US when they ..... you out for not having space for THEIR stamp. I've been through all of this.

If the FTer has the time, I would DHL my passport to Washington DC service and have it done there - and then they would send it back. This would save you such a hassle.

Good luck!
UG

I was looking at my most recent addition of supplemental visa pages when considering another section. No trouble given at all earlier this week although I had to leave it for longer than was the case before.

I'm amazed by the mention of 9 supplements by vsevolod4 earlier. I won't be getting there with the heavy-travel passport.

This seems to be the Soviet training. IME the Russians do it and the Estonians and Czechs [at least used to] do it.

The order of things is
- EU (at least the 12 older member states): methodically up front;
- Former Soviet block: methodically in back;
- US: randomly, if at all.