How early can I get the marriage paperwork from USA Consulate before wedding?

[creative1000]

I have a wedding to a thai-national in 4 months in Chiang Mai. Is it too early to start the process now, to get the required marriage documents (certified & translated) for the Amphur from the US Consulate?

Or do I have to wait until weeks/days before the wedding to start this process? Do these documents expire within a certain time limit (for example: within 30-days as is the case for the Thai residency certificate)?

Thanks in Advance

[tweedledee2]

You don't need any paperwork before the marriage ceremony. You present the required translated and certified Embassy form to the Amphur's office when you register the marriage. I was married in Feb. and registered in Dec.

[fishtank]

22 minutes ago, tweedledee2 said:

You don't need any paperwork before the marriage ceremony. You present the required translated and certified Embassy form to the Amphur's office when you register the marriage. I was married in Feb. and registered in Dec.

So you were legally married in December.

[fishtank]

Details here. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/getting-married-in-thailand/

 

No mention of validity.

Might be a good idea to ask the amphur concerned.

[creative1000]

Thanks everyone. Will head to the Amphur Office this week. Cheers!

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

I got my US Embassy documents, then registered our marriage in her hometown four months later. Had to wait for a school holiday. They never made issue of the date.

 

You’ll need two documents, your sworn affidavit that you are single, and a certified copy of your passport. They’re $50 each. Then take these both to the MFA, I recommend the office near Khlong Toei MRT, to be translated and stamped. This takes 1-2 days. Then these go to your amphur.

 

You’ll also need the wife’s tabien baan and ID card. We brought mom and dad to be our witnesses. They‘ll also need their ID cards. Expect to wait awhile for the “big boss”, we waited several hours over two days. But the officers were polite, and told us we could go have lunch if he wasn’t coming.

 

Your wedding ceremony is separate from all this. Only reason to do the registration before, is maybe if you want to pose for pictures at the ceremony, with your lovely, flowery certificate.

 

Our “ceremony” was simply at home, barbecuing some pork, shots of whiskey with the bros-in-law, and singing karaoke.

[bunnydrops]

30 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

I got my US Embassy documents, then registered our marriage in her hometown four months later. Had to wait for a school holiday. They never made issue of the date.

 

You’ll need two documents, your sworn affidavit that you are single, and a certified copy of your passport. They’re $50 each. Then take these both to the MFA, I recommend the office near Khlong Toei MRT, to be translated and stamped. This takes 1-2 days. Then these go to your amphur.

 

You’ll also need the wife’s tabien baan and ID card. We brought mom and dad to be our witnesses. They‘ll also need their ID cards. Expect to wait awhile for the “big boss”, we waited several hours over two days. But the officers were polite, and told us we could go have lunch if he wasn’t coming.

 

Your wedding ceremony is separate from all this. Only reason to do the registration before, is maybe if you want to pose for pictures at the ceremony, with your lovely, flowery certificate.

 

Our “ceremony” was simply at home, barbecuing some pork, shots of whiskey with the bros-in-law, and singing karaoke.

Did pretty much the same. We wanted to get it all done in Bangkok so we got my wife's sister and husband and registered at Ban Rak i Bangkok. You can go dressed up, they have a set set up for photos if you want. The whole thing took two or three days with all the waiting time. 11 years ago

[KhaoYai]

Different Amphur's have different requirements - its entirely possible that you will have a problem if your documentation is not recent.

 

The best way of all is to get your intended to call the Amphur you plan to register at and ask them.

[KhaoYai]

18 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

Did pretty much the same. We wanted to get it all done in Bangkok so we got my wife's sister and husband and registered at Ban Rak i Bangkok. You can go dressed up, they have a set set up for photos if you want. The whole thing took two or three days with all the waiting time. 11 years ago

Very different at Bangrak now. You have to book for a foreigner/Thai registration and they are often booked up for days (Covid may have changed things though) as they only have 5 slots per day for foreigners.

 

The MFA legalisation alone can take 3 days now.

 

Married 2 March 2020. Bangkok.