Registry Marriage In Thailand

[Peeking]

I am sorry I have so many questions below and such a long start to the topic but my previous ignorance has made me want to mention all of my concerns!

I met my girlfriend during Songkran in Chiang Mai 2005, just spent 3 days together but kept in contact for more than a year.

She changed my life in 3 days and with the telephone calls that followed for 11/2 years we fell for each other more and more.

If I had been a spontaneous person I would have left my job to be with her in Thailand but I have a reasonable job and can provide a good life for us together in UK.

We FINALY met again in November 2006 in Thailand and spent 4 weeks together and realised we wanted to spend the rest of our life together. To me it was a really strange situation and difficult to comprehend I could feel this strong having spent so little time actually together.

Whilst together we applied for her Visit Visa for just 4 weeks to UK, got it in a few days with no interview purely because of the advice I had read from everyones stories here.

I had already decided I wanted to marry her but through total ignorance I thought this would be possible in the UK on a Visit Visa.

***Is there anyway we can marry in UK on a Visit Visa?*** she will be arriving 21st Feb

We had already planned I would come to visit her family in April and since I believe I we can't marry in UK I would like to register our marriage in Thailand. From my understanding we must:

Take affirmation application papers to UK embassy with my Passport.

Collect the signed affirmation the next day.

Have the affirmation translated into Thai

***can this be done by any translator? I do not understand how a legal document can be re-written, have I missed something?***

Take to the Ministry of Affairs and have it authenticated

***How long does this take?***

We will go and visit my girlfriends family and then all being well register our marriage locally Kampaengphet.

We will then return to Bangkok and have the Marriage Certificate translated to English. The Marriage Guidance website states 'You may wish to commission a “sworn translation” of the marriage certificate from a translation bureau.

***Again as for the translation above can this be done by any translator? Can anyone recommend somewhere?***

We will then apply for a Settlement Visa for the UK, I believe this must requested for an arrival date 3 months later. I have found more information on this and I actually have less questions (at the moment!)

***If my girlfriend Odet then has taken my surname will her passport be valid for the application?***

I have a limited time of 2 weeks.

***Is this all possible within the timescale?***

***Is all of the above possible if I am not a resident of Thailand?***

Once we reach the end of our time together in April I will not be able to have holiday from work until 2008 and I am so worried if I don't get this right in April. I really don't want to wait any longer to live with the women I love but if I must I will.....

[Peeking]

I am sorry I have forgotten my manners, I would appreciate your help and I also thank you for everyones previous posts here that helped me to get the Visit Visa so easily!

[the scouser]

Forgive the brevity of my reply, but I'm knackered and am about to go to my kip.

***Is there anyway we can marry in UK on a Visit Visa?*** she will be arriving 21st Feb

Only if the visit visa is issued for the specific purpose of getting married. You may approach the embassy to see if they'll convert your g/f's visit visa to a marriage visit visa, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

From my understanding we must:

Take affirmation application papers to UK embassy with my Passport.

Collect the signed affirmation the next day.

Have the affirmation translated into Thai

All correct.

***can this be done by any translator? I do not understand how a legal document can be re-written, have I missed something?***

Within 200 metres of the embassy is a host of translation bureaux, any one of which is able to perform the translation. The document is not being altered, just translated.

Take to the Ministry of Affairs and have it authenticated

Correct.

***How long does this take?***

If you pay for the express service, about 2 hours.

***Again as for the translation above can this be done by any translator? Can anyone recommend somewhere?***

It can be done by anyone who is willing to swear that it is a true and accurate translation. Go back to the same shop at which you will have had done your affirmation. They have all these things on templates. They just change the names/dates etc. and print off a copy.

***If my girlfriend Odet then has taken my surname will her passport be valid for the application?***

Whether your g/f changes her surname or not will have no bearing upon her subsequent visa application. Enter her name on the visa application form as it appears in her passport. There is no requirement for her to wait 3 months before travelling to the UK. It is feasible for her to have the settlement visa in time to return to the UK with you.

***Is this all possible within the timescale?***

Yes.

***Is all of the above possible if I am not a resident of Thailand?***

Yes.

All the best,

Scouse.

[Seapok]

I am sorry I have so many questions below and such a long start to the topic but my previous ignorance has made me want to mention all of my concerns!

I met my girlfriend during Songkran in Chiang Mai 2005, just spent 3 days together but kept in contact for more than a year.

She changed my life in 3 days and with the telephone calls that followed for 11/2 years we fell for each other more and more.

If I had been a spontaneous person I would have left my job to be with her in Thailand but I have a reasonable job and can provide a good life for us together in UK.

We FINALY met again in November 2006 in Thailand and spent 4 weeks together and realised we wanted to spend the rest of our life together. To me it was a really strange situation and difficult to comprehend I could feel this strong having spent so little time actually together.

Whilst together we applied for her Visit Visa for just 4 weeks to UK, got it in a few days with no interview purely because of the advice I had read from everyones stories here.

I had already decided I wanted to marry her but through total ignorance I thought this would be possible in the UK on a Visit Visa.

***Is there anyway we can marry in UK on a Visit Visa?*** she will be arriving 21st Feb

We had already planned I would come to visit her family in April and since I believe I we can't marry in UK I would like to register our marriage in Thailand. From my understanding we must:

Take affirmation application papers to UK embassy with my Passport.

Collect the signed affirmation the next day.

Have the affirmation translated into Thai

***can this be done by any translator? I do not understand how a legal document can be re-written, have I missed something?***

Take to the Ministry of Affairs and have it authenticated

***How long does this take?***

We will go and visit my girlfriends family and then all being well register our marriage locally Kampaengphet.

We will then return to Bangkok and have the Marriage Certificate translated to English. The Marriage Guidance website states 'You may wish to commission a “sworn translation” of the marriage certificate from a translation bureau.

***Again as for the translation above can this be done by any translator? Can anyone recommend somewhere?***

We will then apply for a Settlement Visa for the UK, I believe this must requested for an arrival date 3 months later. I have found more information on this and I actually have less questions (at the moment!)

***If my girlfriend Odet then has taken my surname will her passport be valid for the application?***

I have a limited time of 2 weeks.

***Is this all possible within the timescale?***

***Is all of the above possible if I am not a resident of Thailand?***

Once we reach the end of our time together in April I will not be able to have holiday from work until 2008 and I am so worried if I don't get this right in April. I really don't want to wait any longer to live with the women I love but if I must I will.....

Alrite mate, I got married at the start of the month, we used a firm called MCT just down the road from the Embassy, they were very helpful, took care of the lot and within 2 hours we were marred and had the certicates to prove it, give them a go and I'm sure you will be as happy as we are.

[Peeking]

Superb!

No need for long answers, escpecially if they're exactly what I want to hear!

Thanks Scouse, really appreciated!

[Peeking]

Congrats Seapok!

Took care of everything in 2 hours! Wow

I would like to go and meet her family before getting registered so it will take me a bit longer, but it's all encouraging stuff, sounds like I should give MCT a go!

[Richard W]

***Is there anyway we can marry in UK on a Visit Visa?*** she will be arriving 21st Feb

Only if the visit visa is issued for the specific purpose of getting married.

Does this apply to church weddings?

[the scouser]

Does this apply to church weddings?

Not in relation to the Anglican Church in England and Wales.

Scouse.

[Seapok]

Congrats Seapok!

Took care of everything in 2 hours! Wow

I would like to go and meet her family before getting registered so it will take me a bit longer, but it's all encouraging stuff, sounds like I should give MCT a go!

We went to stay with her family after we made it official, quite a surreal situation as my thai isn't up to scratch and the in-laws dont speak English, great experience all the same, felt very comfortable and they all made me feel at home.