aland2012

I prepared all my settlement doks before i went to Thailand , i also booked on line appointment to submit all the settlement docs plus Ex rays and so on, I arrived on the Monday , it took me three days to marry and get the affirmation to marry / chest ex rays done,I submitted my application one week later , and it was approved in time ten weeks later. it can be done just plan your Trip and do your home work , best of luck , PS you can walk in off the street and get married if you have the correct doks, the places can all be accessed from the sky train with out traveling great distances.

May I ask where in BKK did you get married, address, and which BTS Station,

Thanx

Alan

Yes nicely but 7by7, you make it sound so easy.

I'm going for the Spouse Visa Option around May time, my GF has just gone back on her first Holiday Visa,she was here for 2 Months, took her to the airport yesterday, gutted.

For myself think it would be nicer to Marry in Thailand, as half my heart is their.

Alan

Sounds good to me, go for it, I hope to to do the same thing in around April May time, fly to BKK, get married then file for Spouse Visa..... Good Luck.

Settlement Visa and Spouse Visa are the same yes???

Alan

She want us to marry but I do not until I know she will be happy to live in the UK, that why I would like he to visit first, I think if she knew that she could apply for visa to marry she would want to.

I thought the same thing, to get my GF here first on a Vistor Visa to see if she likes it here, Dates ( Nov 2010 - Jan 2011 )..... She Loves it here, she has made so many Thai freinds, she has all the same thai food to eat, and Som Tam.. She is happy....... But now I think I should of gone for the Spouse Visa first...... Got Married and then moved back to the UK. Would of saved time..... But how is one too know.

Alan

The Spouse Visa forms can be done on-line ???? Will have to check this out.

Thanx Guys, Oh yes the TB idea is a good idea, get it done first just in case of problems.

OK, Thanx to all, Been thinking and talking to a few people.

I going to go for the Spouse Visa, so I believe this is the plan.

1 - Arrive BKK

2 - Affirmation of Freedom to Marry to British Embassy

3 - IOM for TB Test

4 - British Embassy to collect Afformation to Marry

5 - Get all translations done

6 - Ministry of Foreign Affairs for legalisation of Affirmation to Marry

7 - Oh yes, English test A-1

8 - Goto district office for to get married

9 - Change name on ID Card & Passort ( not sure on this one, might leave for another time )

10 - Goto VFS to hand in Spouse Visa Form

11 - Relax, with a cold beer.

I will be trying to do all this in 2 weeks, as on holiday from work in the UK.

What do you all think ??? Is it possible ??? Any ideas are welcome.

Alan

I think too they are closed for the holidays, just phoned them they said " open hours 9.30 - 4.30 , monday - friday. thank you for your call goodbye "

number - 01482581668

Hi,

We got the whole thing done in half a day and a morning really, the wife got her TB certificate pre to my arrival. We used an agent and it cost B6,000 all in but can do on your own. I was pushed for time so didn't want any problems and I must say for what was then less than £100 it was well worth it, they did all the paperwork, translations and paid for taxi fares to and from the hotel, embassy, their office and registry office, everything. I just sat there and got lead around and was back drinking beer legally married in Suk by 2.30.

Happy Days

Thats interesting, do you still have their details ??? Because that might be a root I will go, so you and your wife to be, went around to all these places with an escort, they where with you till the point of marriage ???

So now you are going for the Spouse Visa to the UK???

On Yes, Sorry, and a thank you too, Thongkorn, TiggerFish and RAZZELL too

Thanx 7by7 you really know your stuff, yes, thinking now not to worry about changing family name. Just concentrate on getting my love to the UK.

Alan

Top post above

Just a question on what you've written below:

Now from this point on you can get Married at any Amphur but if you want your wife to change her name the only place this can be done is at the district office in her home town.

We travelled to her home town on Tuesday afternoon, got married and changed the name on her ID card on the Wednesday.

Changing names on ID cards is a 30 minute job but changing names in passports means a new passport in this world of digital passports and that takes 2 days.

Applied for a new passport due to the name change at 8am on Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and collected it the following Monday.

When the gf come's to the UK and we get married on a fiancee visa how do we go about changing her name, getting a new Thai passport in the UK?

RAZZ

That's tricky because it would mean a trip back to Thailand as the ID Card name change is a pre-requisite to the Passport name change and the only place that can be done is at the district office in her home town.

Then there's the complication/expense of either having to carry around old and new passports with marriage certificate or transferring the visa to the new passport.

Changing her family name isn't required by law and there are many that haven't done so, we just chose to do so.

Aland2012

MMMM !!! Thats a good point, in getting married first in the UK, makes it very hard to change her name, because she will still have to go back to Thailand to do this. So is it better then to Marry in Thailand first, change her name, change passport and ID card and Bank Details, then get the Spouse Visa ( not Fiancee Visa ? ). Then come to the UK and get Married.

Am I right in thinking this is a better option, to get things done in Thailand first???? But in changing her name means that she will have a new passort, so it will not have all of her old stamp in it like Holiday Visa Stamps etc, would this be a problem?

Or like you say, does One really need to change her family name? Does it make a difference to life in the UK, as in paperwork???

I feel like it makes me feel better like more of a couple, and then what about if we were to have children in the UK.

Alan

Nice one RUTH888, how quick do you think you did this all in, looks like you done it in a week???

Did your Spouse Visa go ok????

Hello Everybody

If I was to get Married in Thailand, I understand I have to get an Affirmation of freedom to marry first... Question is, is it true that if I hand in my paperwork to the British Embassy, and then get it signed in front a British Consular official, before 11:00 hrs will be ready for collection in the afternoon ???

How quick can One get Married in BKK ???

Reasons for my questions are because, now I'm working in the UK, its hard to get time of work, is it possible to do all this in a week or two?? I could fly to BKK, do the affirmation of freedom to marry first, get papers translated, marry in Bangkok, I then could fly back to the UK, and the misses could then change Passport, ID Card, etc and then file for the Spouse Visa.

Alan

That's great news Kissyalips and chrishopkins53, congratulations and all the best for the future.

Recent holiday days at the embassy

Monday 27 December - Substitution Day of Christmas Day

Tuesday 28 December - Substitution Day of Boxing Day

Upcoming holiday days at the embassy

Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve

Good luck all

Waiting times from applications that have completed.

20 Aug, 19 Oct, 8 weeks and 4 days, Diddyman, successful

02 Sep, 28 Oct, 8 weeks and 0 days, scuba4, successful

03 Sep, 26 Oct, 7 weeks and 4 days, Friend of Desertexile, successful

14 Sep, 04 Nov, 7 weeks and 2 days, Stanaris, successful

16 Sep, 04 Nov, 7 weeks and 0 days, quadisking, successful

01 Oct, 03 Nov, 4 weeks and 5 days, Quan, successful

22 Sep, 05 Nov, 6 weeks and 2 days, Philbot44, successful

13 Sep, 10 Nov, 8 weeks and 2 days, chris555, successful

06 Oct, 16 Nov, 5 weeks and 6 days, AllThaidUp69, successful

04 Oct, 19 Nov, 6 weeks and 4 days, bryangiggs, successful

14 Oct, 18 Nov, 5 weeks and 0 days, glennsdaf, successful

15 Oct, 19 Nov, 5 weeks and 0 days, bigdave1960, successful

27 Oct, 26 Nov, 4 weeks and 2 days, Suhari, successful

28 Oct, 26 Nov, 4 weeks and 1 days, Chris1616, successful

01 Nov, 02 Dec, 4 weeks and 3 days, QuickRick, successful

05 Nov, 03 Dec, 4 weeks and 0 days, cross13180, successful

05 Nov, 09 Dec, 4 weeks and 6 days, bigboybennett, refused

12 Nov, 16 Dec, 4 weeks and 6 days, rhino10, successful

18 Nov, 22 Dec, 4 weeks and 6 days, Kissyalips, successful

18 Nov, 23 Dec, 5 weeks and 0 days, chrishopkins53, successful

Still waiting (29/12/10)

26 Nov, waiting 4 weeks and 5 days to date, RAZZELL

16 Dec, waiting 1 weeks and 6 days to date, Dubar

I just like to say that I think this is fantastic to see, good luck to all. I'm still in the early days of sorting my GF things out, reading the form and getting ideas, my GF is here on her first 6 month Holiday Visa, when she goes back to BKK at the end of it, and when I feel the paperwork is ready we will go for the Fiancee Visa.

Alan

You guys are great, thank you all for beinging so helpful. Where would we be without ya??????? Running around like headless chickens I think.

Alan

A fiance visa is a settlement visa, so she will have to take the test, unless she meets the requirement by having a recognised degree taught in English or is exempt.

BTW, this requirement is not just for Thai people, it is for any person applying for settlement as a husband, wife, civil partner, fiance(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner. Unless one is the citizen of a majority English speaking country, a country in the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

See New English language requirement for partners.

OK, great stuff. And also she will have to do a TB Test too??? Anybody have any idea of the cost for this??? Or does it depand on the type of Hospital, she will be going to Saint Lewis in Surasak BKK.

The above has been a matter of some debate in the past. Several members, myself included, have asked official sources and received different replies; ranging from "If you have already married abroad, you definitely cannot marry again in the UK unless you divorce first." to "Yes, of course you can, as you will be marrying the same person."

My advice is that if a couple want to marry in the UK then they should apply for a fiance visa, which is valid for 6 months during which she travels to the UK, you marry and she then applies (and pays for) Further Leave to Remain which lasts 24 months. After this she, provided she meets the requirements, applies for Indefinite Leave to Remain, paying another fee of course.

Alternatively you can marry in Thailand and she then applies for a spouse visa. This lasts for 27 months and after she has been in the UK for 24 months she, with the above caveat, applies for ILR.

Unless you have a very strong reason for marrying in the UK, I'd recommend marrying in Thailand and obtaining a spouse visa as this cuts out the FLR application and it's fee.

N.B. She cannot marry while in the UK with an ordinary visit visa.

You may find the following useful:-

SET1 Fiance(e)s

SET3 Spouses

Thanx...... I'm not going to be able to go back to Thailand for a while now, as I'm lucky to get myself a good job, here in St Albans. So I will be going for a Fiancee Visa next with the intent to marry in the UK, I understand I will have to pay for FLR, but if I goto BKK, I still have to pay for flights and bit and bobs, plus taking time off work which is a new job for me.

Alan

Hi ,

My GF is currently in the UK on a Visitor Visa until Jan 2011, we are applying for a Fiancee (Settlement Visa) when she is back in thailand.

My question is as my GF is currently in the UK, can she take the A1 English Test in the UK before we go back to thailand to submit application in Jan2011.

Thanks to the info on this post I have managed to find a couple of exam centres which are accredited near where I Live (Cost of Exam Approx £120 , Provisional Date 13/12/2010).

Many Thanks

Dave

Great stuff Dave, please keep us posted how you get on, because I am interested too, my GF is on a 6 Month Holiday Visa to UK, and she is going back to Thailand on the 8 Jan, we are going for a Fiancee Visa next, and any information or tips would be fantastic. As I'm new to all of this.

Alan

Does my GF still need to do the Test, as we are going to apply for a Fiance Visa??? Or is it just for Thai People who want to settle in the UK???

Thank you for all your replies, I am now looking into it, and seeing what is the best thing to do. Its so nice that one can talk and ask for advice on this site.

OK, can she obtain a spouse visa while her 6 month holiday visa is active ????

I understand she has to go back to BKK to do this. OR do we have too wait untill the 6 month visa date ends, before we can apply for the spouse visa..........

Hello

I spent 2 years in Thailand with my Thai GF, then on the 6 Oct 2010, she got a 6 month holiday visa to the UK with multible entry, we told the Visa place in BKK we would do only 2 Month first to see if she liked England, Nov 2010 - Jan 2011. I understand that if we say she is only doing 2 months, we must do 2 months, but she can come back to the UK again because she has a multible entry visa. QUESTION ----- While she has this 6 month holiday visa in action, can she apply for a spouse visa with the intention to marry in the UK ??? Or do we have to wait for her hoilday visa to finish first. I believe it is easyer and quicker to get a spouse visa with the intention to marry in the UK, than for us to get married in BKK, then for her to get a wife visa to come to the UK, then marry again in England.

Alan

I agree with the poster above ! ive been married to a thai national for nearly 10, years ! she came with me to the u.k hardly speaking any english, learnt english, worked and paid taxes, learnt how to drive and passed the theory which is in english, and passed the english test for her passport, and she has never had recourse to public funds ! But now if you want to take the love of your life back you have to jump through hoops ! while the rest of the eu flood to the u.k for benefits and freebees ! what a country !

Yes, i agree..... I'm just got my love to the UK on a 6 month visa, and we wish for my GF to stay... I worry alittle how hard this will be, but Im all for the tests for English.

Just the letter of being single from the embassy (24 hour wait) passport,

then when he picks up the letter get it translated into thai 200-300 baht,

then go to a local ampur office with the paper and passport, and g/f id card and blue book, answer a couple of questions pay your money job done

to easy

Nicely put, and easy to understand, I will be doing this soon for myself. Just got a 6 month visa for the gf, to the uk. we over the moon.

Alan