srgoldie

My philosophy is ... no, it is not just an expensive piece of paper. It is your child's birthright. Do it now while you're still alive and kicking. You wouldn't want your child to go through the rigmarole of bureaucracy of proving that he is a British citizen by descent (through you, the British-born parent) when you're up there drinking happily at the Pearly Gates.

Mind you, his rights as a British citizen by descent may be gradually limited as he grows older and continues to reside abroad. For example, uni fees will be based on overseas student's rate, unless he can prove that he is a resident in the UK for 3 consecutive years prior to application.

Thanks.

Is that the university situation already then, about overseas student's rates?

3 years. It may well be a good idea to go back for a while.

Hi,

I've looked around the forums and people seem to be saying you do not need to register a birth to get a passport for British kids born in Thailand.

My son is 4 months old, born in Thailand. I am British and his mother is Thai. We are legally married.

The Embassy website states:

• 'Please complete a C2 passport application form in full and return it to us with payment and evidence of the child's British nationality ie either a British birth certificate or full documentation as for a birth certificate (as listed above).'
  

So you look above and the information is ... last one:

• Completed registration of birth application form.
  

It doesn't say you have to enclose both fees so I guess they just will use the info but not issue a BC?

Next question. Do you NEED a birth certificate?

UK Embassy website states:

The advantages are that:

• A British style birth certificate is available as proof of identity and proof of nationality;
  
• A record of the birth will afterwards be held at the General Register Office in the United Kingdom. Copies can then be obtained in the future from the General Register Office.
  

Does this make any difference to rights of citizenship for my son. Obviously I want him to have full rights to citizenship. If it is neccessary then 9k baht is money well spent. However, if he only needs a passport, then a birth certificate is just an expensive piece of paper?

If I don't get a BC now. I assume one can be got at a later date providing we present all the paperwork?

I recently got married in registry office in Dusit. Wasn't the most romantic of settings or occasions.

No friends, no family, no rings, no dowry, no gold ... not much different from getting a Visa stamp!

So I'm concocting an the notion of a civil ceremony on a nice beach somewhere with a beach party for friends and family.

Are there any rules to prevent me from doing this?

I don't want to do the traditional thing in my wife's 'baan'. My wife is also in agreement to not do that.

My basic plan is to approach several beach restaurants about 'chartering' their place for the day.

Having a civil 'blessing' and exchange of rings. Perhaps pay a few monks to come and do a bit of good luck dispensing (sorry, don't want to offend any Buddhists). I'm not bothered about a priest, just someone presentable to say a few words: "do you ... with this ring ..."

Then a banquet.

Then a party with music, band, dj, drinks etc.

Has anyone tried doing this kind of thing in the past?

I'd love to hear from you with your advice and warnings.

Thanks, Steve.

It is not quite as simple as that.

For the Marriage Extension you need.

Proof of income. Marriage Certificate. Wife's ID Card and house registration. Photos of you and you Wife in and around your house. Map showing the way to your house. (They may visit you or speak to neighbours) Take your Wife to be interviewed. Application form and 1,900 Baht fee. If succesful you will get a 30 day under consideration stamp. Go back in a month and get the full extension.

Oh dear!

Proof of income, no problem, Marriage certificate, no problem, Wife's ID card, no problem, house (condo) registration no problem.

The rest could be a problem. Currently I own a condo in Pattaya, but we rent it out. We did live there until July 2008. But then we moved to Bangkok where I work. However, as my wife is in the late stages of pregnancy she is living in a condo owned by my father in Naklua to be near her sisters who run a business nearby. I am working in Bangkok throughout the week and then going to Naklua for the weekends. After the baby is born I may move her back to Bangkok to be with me or leave her in Chonburi to be near her sisters so they can help her. We have photos of us in all the places. I think best to stamp my visa 90 day non-b this time and look to do the change over just before the next 90 day stamp.

ok, I need to notify ninety days before the 29th of this month.

Then again around the 29th of April. I will still be under contract to my current school until the 30th of April.

So ideally I should change my visa from B to O sometime in April.

Will I have to pay the 1,900 baht? Or with it being a change of reason for extension will I just stamp with new documentation?

Will it matter that I plan to change province/immigration office?

I currently have a Non Imm. "B" which is tied to my Job (teacher) and Work Permit.

I am married and am looking into the pros and cons of converting to a O-Marriage Visa.

I believe I meet the criteria:

1/ My salary is in excess of 40k. Baht.

2/ I am legally married to a Thai national.

I am considering changing my school. Have already experienced the hassle of changing visa and work permit and want to avoid if at all possible.

So, I am considering changing to a Marriage visa beforehand to cut out the trip to Vientiane. Is it possible to change my

'B' visa to an 'O-Marriage' without leaving the country?

(I know that my work permit is unlikely to be transferred to my new school but it's the Visa that's pain).

Assuming I go for the Marriage visa, when will I next have to leave the country?

Is the marriage visa multi or single entry? Do I get a choice?

Once I have stipulated 1 school as being my source of income will it cause problems if I change school. In other words is the change of visa futile in my case? In any case my salary will not fall below the 40k threshold.

Is the O Marriage visa dependent upon me staying in full time employment? Do Immigration check your status every 90 days? Not that I'm planning on being out of work or penniless ...

In general, what are the advantages of a marriage visa over a B visa, if any, over and above the ones I'm assuming to benefit from?

Are their any disadvantages of having a a Marriage visa rather than a B?

Thanks. Steve.

I was having similar problems with my 400 Steed. Fitted a new battery and was ok for a while. Then left it standing for a couple of months. Problem returned. Alternator checked and OK. I'm now wondering if the CDI is the problem as I also have ignition problems.

Wow, sounds great. I'll get down to BBL in the morning.

Oh, what's that smell?

Selling my Custom Chopper (registered 2007 as Honda Steed) due to new project.

I'm selling my Honda Steed V-twin custom chopper. This bike has 400cc engine, twin disc brakes, custom tank, cherry red flake paintwork, alloy wheels, single swing arm, s/s straight-thru pipes, bullet winkers.

The bike is located in Pattaya.