Buriram Expats
Buriram Province - General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Freddy on February 22, 2018, 12:24:41 PM
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Some advice please guys.
Myself and my better half want to formally register our Marriage.
Visited Amphur today and advised I need a paper from the Embassy in Bangkok. I believe it is the paper declaring I am free to marry which I then have to have translated to Thai.
Q1. Other than my yellow Housebook, passport and Thai ID is this all I need to register marriage.
Q2. Do I have to show any evidence of free to marry or is this just a sworn declaration.
Q3. Is it the actual British Embassy I go to or is it the Trendy Building VFS services.
Quite urgent this one. I have a UK Will that I need to sign but for my partner to recieve my UK pension we need to be married so I can't sign will until this has been done.
Thanks in advance for assistance.
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Freddy,
No idea were to go as I am not from the UK, but when we wanted to get married we did the following
1- Went to my Embassy in BANGKOK, there I (after departing with a substantial amount of Cash ;) ) got a Piece of Paper that I was free to marry
2- With that piece of paper we went to a Translator to get it Translated into Thai
3- With the Original and the Translation we went to Min. of Foreign Affairs (MFA) (near Chaengwattana in BKK) and we got the papers legalized.
This whole process took us 2 days, if you are unlucky 3.
Please note: That the MFA only accepts a small (I believe 50) people for Express Service. Express Service means get it back the same day if not express the following working day. And get there EARLY (we arrived at 7:30am) and we were done at around 2:30pm)
Also maybe the Translator (step 2) can arrange for the Legalization at the MFA (for a fee of course), but we did it ourselves.
With both pieces of paper you go to any Amphur and get Married !!
Disclaimer: What we have done could have changed quite a bit as we got married almost 7 years ago, so maybe someone with more recent experience can comment (PrakonChai Nick ????) !
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got married in Lam Plai Mat 43 years ago. Just went to the Ampur and got married without any of the above....times have changed...555
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@Freddy
Found this, maybe it helps
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-for-british-nationals-intending-to-marry-in-thailand
and this
https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad/y/thailand/opposite_sex
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Follow the second link that iammike posted. Can't go wrong. There are translation services all around the MFA. That is likely the most convenient way of doing it. For an extra tip the translation service maybe able to jump the queue at the MFA for you.
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Gents, thanks for all the advice. Have checked out the UK embassy site and the next available appointment to get the affirmation done is 29th March at 0840.
That unfortunately is a Thursday but should give me time to get the translations done the same day. I think the MFA will send me the certified papers if they can't be done on the Thursday or Friday. Can anyone confirm that they can be left at MFA for certification and then sent to me??
Otherwise I'm potentially stuck in Bangcok till Monday if all not finished in 2 days.
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@Freddy
As I already said in post #2 and Starman added. Go and find a translator while in BKK and they will do the legwork at MFA for you, so you go back home (after doing your thing at the Embassy) and they will send it to you. Problem solved ;)
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Indeed you did. Apologies. Seems like the best way to go. What I was trying to establish is if I get the translation done and then drop the documents off at the MFA, will they send them to me once certified.
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@Freddy.
Sorry, but No idea if they will, maybe someone else can comment on this.
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No worries. I'll call them tomorrow and ask.
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I would very much doubt it. Many of the translation companies there also act as agents. They will be your best bet.
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Found this
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/16265-Naturalization-Legalization.html
Maybe have the future misses ?Freddy? call and ask them ;)
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Thanks again guys. I'll get on it tomorrow. I've got 5 weeks. I was surprised how long I've got to wait for the Embassy appointment.
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I can confirm that the MFA will send legalised documents to your home address by EMS. Last month we used the translation service at MFA to get a UK marriage certificate Legalised in Thai. The translation took a couple of hours (because he had not done a Scottish certificate before). I had hoped that I could use the Express service and pick up the legalised document in the afternoon but was told that all legalised documents take 2 days to be reviewed and stamped. Not wanting to hang around in Bangkok and with some trepidation of allowing the original documents to be sent in the post I took the EMS option offered by MFA. No problems and a few days later documents delivered fully stamped and legalised.
Hope this information helps
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You will also need a copy of your Passport front page, photo and information along with the page showing entry stamp and visa extension. A signed copy of the ladies ID front and back may be asked when you submit your paperwork on the second floor of the MFA.
One word of warning, if your translated docs are not 100% you will need to have the translation rectified so remember who you dealt with. This happened to me last November and it was a pain. One number was missing from my home postcode, ended up having to wait around for whole day
The touts at the front door in the MFA are fairly easy to deal with, just exchange phone numbers. Took about two hours for the translation and 1200 baht.
Good luck.
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In 2011 I went to the US Embassy and got the marriageorce affidavit. While I was inside my soon to be TW found a service called "Visa King" just up from the US Embassy. For 12,000 baht they took care of the rest getting translations, copies, and Thai GVT services. They escorted us to a Thai GVT office and we got the official Thai Marriage Document.
Visa King then arranged to make translations and later mailed to us.
The 12K baht price has probably gone up, but we were done by noon with no problems from the Thai Government, all paperwork and documents accepted. I thought it was worth the price, and seeing the comments here I am thinking more so.
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The price is now 20k.Not quite so inviting.
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Did ours in Chiang Mai 2006 U.S. Consulate. Used Star Visa Service next door cost was 3000 baht and to my knowledge still is. You guys get stuffed left,right and center.
http://www.starvisaservice.com/translation-all-languages/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-stamps/ Avoid Bangkok like the plaque.
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If their service is as good as their website they should be avoided at all costs.
I only got a certificate when I got married. How come gotlost got a plaque? 5555
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Freddy...A phone call to the Embassy, providing real or spurious reasons as to why an earlier appointment would be preferable, may bring results. The whole thing takes less than 5 minutes. British Embassy staff are lazy buggers in the main -do very little to assist us expats.
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Pagan1. That's good to know. Thank you.
Prakhonchai Nick - my thinking exactly. I called the Embassy on Thursday and have submitted a written request for an earlier/urgent appointment. I've recieved an automated acknowledgment but no formal response as yet.
Thankyou all for the advice and guidance. Regardless of an earlier appointment or the one 29th March think I'll fly into Bangkok evening before, do the Embassy bit, and then use a translation/agent service to take care of the MFA bit and send to me. Given that mistakes can be made in the translation it would then be there responsibility to rectify it. If I go for the option of getting translation done and leave with MFA to send and something is wrong, I'd have to go back.
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If you have a yellow book, or a pink ID card, make sure the spelling of your name in Thai is the same as on these items. If norhing, then however the translator spells it is OK, but you live with it forever more.
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Cheers Nick will do. I have both.
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Good result from the Embassy this morning. Appointment for this Thursday (1st) so 4 weeks sooner.
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Good result from the Embassy this morning. Appointment for this Thursday (1st) so 4 weeks sooner.
Good result from the Embassy this morning. Appointment for this Thursday (1st) so 4 weeks sooner.
I would double check that. Thursday is a national holiday.
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Good result from the Embassy this morning. Appointment for this Thursday (1st) so 4 weeks sooner.
Good result from the Embassy this morning. Appointment for this Thursday (1st) so 4 weeks sooner.
I would double check that. Thursday is a national holiday.
Looks OK
Public holidays
The Embassy will be closed on the following office holidays in 2018:
Monday 1 January
Friday 30 March
Monday 2 April
Friday 13 April
Monday 16 April
Tuesday 29 May
Friday 27 July
Monday 30 July
13 August
Tuesday 23 October
Wednesday 5 December
Monday 24 December
Tuesday 25 December
Wednesday 26 December
https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-bangkok/office/british-embassy-bangkok
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Thanks Smithy.
Embassy open but MFA may be closed.
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Freddy, we spent 3 days in Bangkok 2 years ago getting all the paperwork for our Marriage, on the morning of the third day we went to
Amper Bang rak not far from our hotel, thirst to arrive, gave all the paperwork to the lady at the desk, then came the big question to my wife to be, have you been married before, Yes, is this your married name on your ID card, Yes, then you cannot get married, you must change it to your maiden name, brick1 So it was back to Lamplaimat Amper and got married their about a Month later. oldmanwithstick
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@bonghead
What happened to you wouldn?t surprise me 1 bit. They even ask for, if the girl has recently divorced, results from a pregnancy test before she can marry again
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@bonghead
What happened to you wouldn?t surprise me 1 bit. They even ask for, if the girl has recently divorced, results from a pregnancy test before she can marry again
I believe remarriage for a Thai normally has to wait for 1 year after a divorce UNLESS they can show they are pregnant (presumably by the new husband to be)
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4. Medical Certificate
If you are getting married to a Thai woman it is required to present a Medical Certificate from a hospital at the time of the Marriage Registration in Thailand if she was divorced or widowed within the past 310 days. This is very important in Thailand and they will not register the marriage without this medical certificate. Note that the Medical Certificate to show that she is not pregnant must have been issued by a qualified doctor.
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If you are getting married to a Thai woman it is required to present a Medical Certificate from a hospital at the time of the Marriage Registration in Thailand if she was divorced or widowed within the past 310 days.
You would think 270 days would be enough :)
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Things happen much more slowly in Thailand. :D
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If you are getting married to a Thai woman it is required to present a Medical Certificate from a hospital at the time of the Marriage Registration in Thailand if she was divorced or widowed within the past 310 days.
You would think 270 days would be enough :)
In previous times (until April 2017), when the DWP paid Bereavement Benefits to Thai widows (and probably still applies to British widows), a widowed parents allowance was claimable , based on the late husbands NI contributions, as long as a child was born within 1 year of the husbands death! Enough said!
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If you are getting married to a Thai woman it is required to present a Medical Certificate from a hospital at the time of the Marriage Registration in Thailand if she was divorced or widowed within the past 310 days.
You would think 270 days would be enough :)
In previous times (until April 2017), when the DWP paid Bereavement Benefits to Thai widows (and probably still applies to British widows), a widowed parents allowance was claimable , based on the late husbands NI contributions, as long as a child was born within 1 year of the husbands death! Enough said!
Talking of pregnant women, did you know ...... In the UK a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman's helmet :ohmy:
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Update:-
Arrived in Bangkok Wednesday afternoon and attended British Embassy for 10:30 appointment. Don't know about others past experiences but I found the 3 Thai staff on duty there incredibly helpful and efficient.
I had made a slight error when typing out my declaration document in how they required Noi's address to be laid out. No problem. They had 3 computers set up with the template allowing me to make the correction. There was no issue made about only having a 20 minute appointment window and when I'd corrected the document they processed everything and good to go. Cost for marriage declaration ?50. They are giving a 46ish conversion rate so 2,700.
I also had my passport certified. They told me some Amphurs want this, others don't. Not worth taking the chance so another 700 baht.
Whilst in the Embassy waiting area I saw many British Nationals attending with various issues from stranded with know money to lost passports etc. All were assisted and dealt with very well. Also one guy had flown in from Phuket to get a marriage paper having made no attempt to prepare anything accurately. He was also helped rather than just being sent away and also left with his completed documents.
As already observed, MFA closed for holiday however translation agents outside looking for business. I had asked in the Embassy if any of the agents were to be avoided. Embassy staff told me that they couldn't recommend any particular agent but the ones touting were all usually good and weren't aware of any past problems. Also stated that if any were operating badly the others would see them off to protect their reputations.
So, selected an agent, transported to office a couple of minutes away having negotiated a price of 3,000 baht for translations, MFA presentation and send to me SMS on Monday.
Office was professional, checked all documents thoroughly, business card, proper receipt and showed records and existing files of business they are doing. Signed a Power of Attorney document for them to act for me.
Back at hotel by 2pm. Agent called me 11am yesterday morning (Friday). Confirmed papers with MFA, will collect on Monday and should be with me Wednesday or Thursday latest.
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Congrats Freddy.
When is the lucky day ?
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Thanks.
Probably do the beginning of next week. We did the Thai ceremony years ago so this is just a formality to ensure Noi is eligible for my UK pension should anything occur in the future.
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Advance congrats Freddy and Noi.
There is no need to "register" the marriage at the Embassy.
I would suggest that you have the marriage certificate (you will receive one each) translated, then send one original + a certified translation to your pension provider for record purposes.
Starman is your man for translations.
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Thanks Nick.
Indeed, that is the plan and also a copy to my UK Solicitors who will store with my will and my appointed executor. Will cover all bases.