Passport Namechange Prior To Sv Application

[CarlBkk]

Having been married for 2 years and with one son, my wife will soon apply for a Marriage or Settlement visa for the UK. Right now she still has her ID card and passport using her maiden name - should she now change this before applying at the Embassy? I'm thinking if she doesn't do it now it may cause confusion along the line when she eventually applies for a British passport.

Will there be any loss of benefits in Thailand that come with her having a foreign surname I wonder?

[Mahout Angrit]

There is no practical reason for your wife to change her name. She can live in the UK with the same name as is in her Thai passport. She can open bank accounts, have tax records and also eventually apply for a British passport in her Thai name if she wishes to continue with that name.

Authorities these days dont expect your wife to have the same name as you, they dont even expect your partner to be your wife.

However if she intends to live in the UK with your surname she should think about changing it while she is still in Thailand as she will have to change the ID card first to get the Thai passport endorsed that she is now travelling on a different name.

I would advise against having two identities (one in Thailand and another in UK) but there has been discussion in this forum on the subject (one example here)

Of course the name in the Thai passport must be the same one she puts on her settlement visa application form

[CarlBkk]

Thanks Mahout. If she changes her Thai ID to use my surname would she also need to get a brand new passport too before applying for the British visa?

[ged]

Carl,

My wife and i recently went through all this, she had to go back to her hometown after we had married to change her name to mine on her I.D.

At first she was going to keep her own name but the registrar suggested to us that having different names may cause problems down the line.

then back to the min. of affairs in BKK for a new passport.

Many people say it makes no difference but , we have had instances when we were glad we took the registrars advice (apply for national insurance number etc)

i just think things go smoother if you have the same name.

After this we appllied for her visa.

Ged

Edited April 26, 2007 by ged

[Mahout Angrit]

If she changes her Thai ID to use my surname would she also need to get a brand new passport too before applying for the British visa?

No, they endorse the existing passport with the name change.

[mraitchison]

They endorsed my wifes with Mrs but keeping her maiden name.

Then two days before I went away she decided she wanted my name so we ran around the amphur and what not got the papers organised and when she changed her passport she got a whole new one. With my name in it

[Mahout Angrit]

They endorsed my wifes with Mrs but keeping her maiden name.

Then two days before I went away she decided she wanted my name so we ran around the amphur and what not got the papers organised and when she changed her passport she got a whole new one. With my name in it

They will endorse the passport with whatever it says on the ID card, but there is only space for one endorsement.