Haha, I submitted a thread previously on this subject without any answers.

The consulate here in Chiang Mai said they were only accepting emergency appointments. And, despite what the teerak tells me, this is not an emergency!

So I went to my home county in the USA and asked for them to research my records and return a report. Then after I got it, I had it translated.

Great, but the courthouse told me that they wouldn't accept that! Then the kathoy behind the counter showed me a previously completed affidavit of eligibility to marry, dated about two weeks ago!

So I send an email back to the consulate asked them "What gives?" and without explanation, sent me the link to get an appointment (which was blocked previously I guess).

Long story short, it looks like they are accepting "non-emergency" appointments to notarize affidavits of eligibility to marry.

I won't know for sure until I'm dressed in funny clothes and five monks are sitting in my house.

1 hour ago, Katipo said:

The new Cross Hybrid is priced very competitively. Basically the same as the new Mazda CX-30. If fuel economy is your goal, getting the hybrid is a no brainer. If being environmentally friendly is your goal, then it get's a bit more complicated.

I'm traditionally not a fan of Toyota, but the hybrid is priced well, looks pretty good inside and out, get's amazing mileage, and has enough space inside to comfortably take a family of 4 away for the weekend.

Looking at how bulky (SUV-like) that car seems to be, it's amazing (and a little suspect) that its quoted efficiency seems to be equal to about 55 mpg. I drove a Prius for many years, but it rarely got that much efficiency. I'll take a closer look at that model. Thanks.

I've seen sales for a couple of new hybrid cars here in Thailand. Nissan has its "Kicks" and Toyota is offering a "Corolla Cross", both of which seem to feature impossible gas mileage (sorry, petrol efficiency). Does anyone have opinions on this?

Mecopoda, I think.

On 6/12/2020 at 8:06 AM, ubonjoe said:

They are open but you will have to make an appointment.

Info for affirmation is here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-thailand#affirmation-of-marital-status

The US Embassy is still closed as of yet. I guess I picked the wrong country to be born in.

On 7/12/2020 at 5:19 AM, bkk6060 said:

If you plan on eventualy being here, I would not get married in the US.

First the K1 can take up to a year now.  And when you get to the US after you marry, the process is very lengthly for her to obtain further documents.

Trying to be honest 50% of them end up in divorce.  You may need to go back to the US at some point and her having the ability to go may create big problems.  Also, if you have assets in the US do you want her to know everything?  Sorry, just being realistic.

 

To add, they do have prenuptial agreements here.  Just sayin, I am sure your situation is different, but in a few years it may not be so protect yourself.

That's not making sense. First you mention that you shouldn't let her know about assets in the US that you don't want her to know about. Secondly, you mention a prenuptial agreement, which consists of listing all of your assets and declaring all or some of them off-limits for her post-divorce. B is supposed to obviate A. Claro?

Well, I got my head straight, I'm sure you're all glad to know about this.

County record-keepers in the states know about this need and if you go to your county's website, you will see they have a form they want you to fill out and mail it in. They require a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) the postage part of which may be hard to come by. But you can get an international reply coupon at the Thai post office.

I got a relative back home, however, who is happy to apply for the paperwork and send it to me when it's ready.

I hear wedding bells.

My experience in the US is that the appraised value is always far below the sale value. The magic of the marketplace etc.

Secondly, there are real estate agents in Thailand, the difference is that there is no license for them, so they can do as they please without repercussions. If you find a good one, keep them and recommend them to friends.

On 10/22/2018 at 11:06 PM, Patong2 said:

...

 

Being very conservative and disliking risk in investments, Phuket is way out of my comfort zone and I hate hearing about people who are not in a position to walk away and are having problems...

This forum covers more than just Phuket. ????Would you consider buying property elsewhere in Thailand?

I understand that if I can get a copy of divorce papers from the State, it MAY suffice. But I'm a widow. The good news is that I have her death certificate. I'll see the lawyer this week to see if that suffices.

On 7/1/2020 at 10:44 AM, Hardgraf said:

Ok thanks for all your help.

 

UPDATE

 

So we were able to get an emergency consular appointment at the British Embassy, all British documentation complete & translated into Thai. We then paid the translation company to go to The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on our behalf to complete the required documentation....

Congratulations! BTW the USA consulate still doesn't accept this situation as an "emergency", so it doesn't seem that Yanks will be able to get married "for the duration"...

2 hours ago, JimGant said:

...and they were allowed to proceed, without water cannon or tear gas -- or arrest? What a great country. How do you think this would play out in the Red neighbors --China, Vietnam, Laos -- and even Cambodia and Burma? Even Malaysia and Singapore have rules against such "seditionist" gatherings, requiring a week of red tape, if even allowed.

No, Thailand youth -- the glass is more than half full under that haphazard start government. Yes, things are so dreadful with corvid 19 that tomorrow's future looks bleak -- and of course it's human nature to blame this on the gov't in office. But human nature is not objective, and youthful idealism is nice when you're young, but not when mature observations and decisions are needed.

So, let the kids have their kicks -- don't overplay it like in Portland, Oregon, land of real democracy.

Yes Thailand's gov't is way far from perfect -- but I do believe they're sincerely trying to forge ahead in the right direction. Do you really think things would be better under the rice lady, just because she was "democratically" elected? Geez, so was Trump. So much for democracy, when so many uninformed idiots now have the vote.

Methinks this group is too small to matter. Remember 2013? The Thai government didn't mess around then.

I got a lawyer working on the problem, re: alternative solutions etc. When I get some answers, I will share them here, as I suppose I'm not the only farang guy who wants to marry one of these Thai teeraks. ❤️

The ACS' reply to my whining:

Dear Ruffian Dick:

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai are offering limited, emergency passport, report of birth abroad, and notarial appointments only.  

Notarial services present a challenge as the Department of State has not deemed these services as an emergency service.  We recognize U.S. citizens in Thailand may have an emergency (i.e., life/death/financial hardship) need for a notarial service and review notary service appointment requests on a case-by-case basis.  We cannot however meet the current demand.  

For those seeking to notarize documents for use in the United States, you may wish to consider using alternative options, to include utilizing a remote notarial service provider.  A growing number of states accept documents notarized through online services; you will need to research whether they can be used in the state where your document will be filed.  Remote notarization could fulfill your need for notary services more quickly.

Furthermore, we have limited staffing in the office, and we have to limit the number of people present in the waiting room at any given time to accomplish social distancing goals.  Limited appointments will continue even after routine services resume because of the limit on waiting room capacity required to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. 

If you want to make an emergency appointment request, please email U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai with some justifications at [email protected].

9 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I assume this it the affidavit that you completed. https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/marriage-affidavit-chiang-mai-dec2019.pdf

I suggest you contact the consulate. They are making exceptions and may do it for you.

Exactly the same document. Thank you.

The consulate is making itself hard to contact these days but I'll keep trying.

Hi, all! I'm getting married to my Thai teerak here in Chiang Mai. The lawyer gave me an affidavit for me to fill out that declares that I am single and eligible for marriage in the Kingdom. She said to take it to my consulate and have it notarized. Now the US consulate in CM is not taking appointments for anything but emergencies, and contrary to what my sweetie says, this is not an emergency.

My question to you is, can any notary do this job, or does it have to be my consulate?

Thanks in advance!

I'm seeing a couple of models of Android boxes now in Thai stores. I wonder if anyone has experience with them. X-tream and Z-stream. The prices look great but I'm troubled that there's no manufacturer name on the box.

Hey, I'm thinking of visiting the Hmong tourist trap at the top there. I've got a Nissan March with three cylinders. Is this too much of a ordeal for my tiny car? Thanks, guys.

Hi guys. So I have a Nissan March, look like it's a CVT 2017 model. I'd like to get a HEPA filter for it. Looks like the Versa cabin filters from Bosch might be compatible with the March, but I'm not sure. Do any of you have experience with this? Is it worth doing?

Thanks!

Okay, I got a phone call back from US Embassy Manila. A Filipino-accented gentleman called me and told me that applying for benefits is only started through a phone interview (and I assume that's only for overseas citizens as far as I know). He took my basic information and told me that another person would be calling me soon (within a few weeks). So I guess I am on my way through the US bureaucracy matrix. ???? Thanks all!

Looks like I don't need the 001 prefix to get out of the country, so I'll call them tomorrow morning.

Thank you, Mel, I'll try that number.

Hey you guys, I'm really glad this topic is still current. A lot of you know the US SSA much better than I, and I hoping you can give me some clues for a solution to my problem.

Well, I'm retired here in CNX, but I am not receiving my benefits yet. I was in the US recently, visited the SSA office nearby, hoping to apply there, and they told me that if I will be living in Thailand, I must apply for benefits while I am there (here, now, obviously).

However, when I go to the SSA website to enter my address, I see "Provide information" and "your mailing address", the "pull-down" field for "State/Territory" only allows entries for US states or territories. Maybe there is another webpage that allows foreign addresses to be entered. I used my sister's address in California for now.

Anyway, I applied for a "reset code letter" about a month ago, and nothing has been received at my California address. How long does this normally take?

I tried to call the US Embassy in the Philippines, but I get "call failed" every time; and yes, I am using all the proper numbers: 001 63 2 301 2000. What number do you use that gets through to Manila?

I am assuming that good ol US Bureaucracy has screwed the pooch, and I don't have access to any authorities who can help me dig myself out, unless I catch a plane to Manila, whoopee.

Thank you in advance for any advice!

26 minutes ago, Shiver said:

Bit confused now.  Is this whole product or just non THC extract?

Time will tell, won't it? :)

Either they can get real strict and require commercial extracts (of the "not high" type) or they can simply allow any doctor to prescribe weed and allow dispensaries to open nationwide (along the California model). This would be open for loads of "abuse" since Thais love to skate around the rules.

Forbes says that this includes kratom too, so I'll bet they go for the California model:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarabrittanysomerset/2018/12/25/thailand-legalizes-medical-marijuana-and-kratom/