I am in Northeast Thailand and need to renew my US Pport, Emby question?

I want to go to the US emby in Laos to renew as it is close and I can avoid 2 trips to bangkok. Understand it takes 2 wks. to get the new pport, when I apply do they take my old one and keep it until the new one arrives, hoping not want to use it to come back to Thailand and then go back to pick up the new one, Thanks.