Trouble at the Amphur (Chiang Mai)

[shlenier]

Hello!

 

Me:  US citizen and Thai National (male)

Her:  US Citizen 

We're married in the USA.

 

She was approved for her Non-Immigrant O visa through the Chicago Thai Consulate back Aug 26, 2022.  We landed in Thailand on Sept 16, 2022 and she was given a 90 day stamp.

Fast forward to today, we are beginning the process of converting her Non-Immigrant O to a 1 year through Marriage to a Thai.   We have everything in order except the Kor Ror 22.  Went to the Amphur today and they said that since my US marriage certificate doesn't mention anything about me being Thai (Basically just two US folks got married), that I wasn't eligible to get a Kor Ror 22 form.  I tried explaining to them that I was trying to do a family status update, but that didn't work.  Maybe it's a language barrier (My Thai is still pretty basic), or am I missing something.  I'm not sure what the next step should be.  Going to try and set up an appointment with the US consulate to chat with them (not sure what good that will do) and will go to immigration in the morning (as their volunteers are amazing) to see.  Thanks a million for any input you may have.

 

- Dave

Edited November 21, 2022 by shlenier
updated info

[ChaiyaTH]

Why make it so difficult, you can just marry in Thailand as well, and all is solved.

[shlenier]

We actually suggested that and they said no.  Also we don't have all the paperwork I think would be necessary to make that happen.  But I was suprised when they said no because yes that makes sense as being the easiest route.

Edited November 21, 2022 by shlenier

[ubonjoe]

Best for this topic to be done on the Marriage and Divorce forum. Moved to there.

[ChaiyaTH]

31 minutes ago, shlenier said:

We actually suggested that and they said no.  Also we don't have all the paperwork I think would be necessary to make that happen.  But I was suprised when they said no because yes that makes sense as being the easiest route.

Yeah you do need some paperwork, likely a birth certificate or statement etc but others will know USA requirements.

Edited November 21, 2022 by ChaiyaTH

[dddave]

There are quite a few Thai/Americans active on the REDDIT "r/thailand" sub.  Maybe a good place to ask.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, shlenier said:

Thanks a million for any input you may have.

Assuming you've been married for 2 years, just get her to apply for Thai citizenship.

You need a joint income of 15kbht/month for her to be eligable.

[Lacrimas]

The local Amphur can't give you something they don't have, you have to register your marriage in Thailand. From another thread these should be the steps:

 

1. Go to the embassy (US Embassy) to get the declaration.

2. Get the certificate and declaration translated into thai. 

3. Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to have the translation certified. 

4. Go to the "local" Amphoe to register and get the Kor Ror 22. 

[steve187]

you can only marry a person once, unless you get a divorce. 

[chickenslegs]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Why make it so difficult, you can just marry in Thailand as well, and all is solved.

 

1 hour ago, shlenier said:

We actually suggested that and they said no.  Also we don't have all the paperwork I think would be necessary to make that happen.  But I was suprised when they said no because yes that makes sense as being the easiest route.

Obtaining the "Affirmation of freedom to marry" might not be possible, as you need to swear that you are not already married.

[FritsSikkink]

3 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Why make it so difficult, you can just marry in Thailand as well, and all is solved.

He is married, to marry to need proof that you are not married. They need to register the marriage here.

Edited November 21, 2022 by FritsSikkink

[OneZero]

Go to"Star Visa" near US Consulate 419/3 Wichayanon Rd    053-232 412.

Very knowledgeable, especialy US issues, and do the Thai marriage MFA etc very cost effectively.

[timendres]

23 hours ago, shlenier said:

Went to the Amphur today and they said that since my US marriage certificate doesn't mention anything about me being Thai (Basically just two US folks got married), that I wasn't eligible to get a Kor Ror 22 form.

Aren't foreign couples allowed to register an existing marriage here? I thought that was possible.

[shlenier]

That's what we thought as well.  Still makes no sense that they needed my marriage certificate in the states to say that I was Thai.  It was two US citizens getting married, no where does it say US citizens.  It should be as simple as me and the wife going to the amphur and saying "hi I'd like to update my family status since I'm Thai, married to this lady here...."

[shlenier]

On 11/22/2022 at 10:45 AM, OneZero said:

Go to"Star Visa" near US Consulate 419/3 Wichayanon Rd    053-232 412.

Very knowledgeable, especialy US issues, and do the Thai marriage MFA etc very cost effectively.

Thanks!  I went and talked to them.  Spent 30 minutes with me, getting our ducks in order...didn't even charge me.  All they want is 500 baht for a translation for a document next week and they'll help me schedule an appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  SO STINKING HELPFUL!  Thanks so much.

[OneZero]

58 minutes ago, shlenier said:

Thanks!  I went and talked to them.  Spent 30 minutes with me, getting our ducks in order...didn't even charge me.  All they want is 500 baht for a translation for a document next week and they'll help me schedule an appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  SO STINKING HELPFUL!  Thanks so much.

Why don't you just let Star Visa take your docs to the MFA in Bkk & return the  docs to you a few days or a week later.  I think they make that run very frequently with a similar batch of MFA requests. 

 

The relatively small cost to Star Visa is well worth it.  If you try to do it yourself you not only have to get to Bkk, but then the headaches of Bkk traffic getting to MFA as well as the bureaucracy at MFA.  Just let Star Visa do it - you relax. 

[shlenier]

7 minutes ago, OneZero said:

Why don't you just let Star Visa take your docs to the MFA in Bkk & return the  docs to you a few days or a week later.  I think they make that run very frequently with a similar batch of MFA requests. 

 

The relatively small cost to Star Visa is well worth it.  If you try to do it yourself you not only have to get to Bkk, but then the headaches of Bkk traffic getting to MFA as well as the bureaucracy at MFA.  Just let Star Visa do it - you relax. 

we don't have to go to BKK for any of this.  Adding an update post in a sec.

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by shlenier
updated info

[shlenier]

Update - Star Visa in Chiang Mai was extremely helpful.

 

So.  Firstly it would have been mega nice if the consulate in Chicago had prepped us for what we needed with our marriage certificate prior to approving our e-visa...but that's something I can't change.

 

The issue is not that the marriage certificate doesn't say that I am Thai, its more that they don't trust this random document from Florida to prove we are married.  So here are the steps to get our Kor-Ror 22.

 

A.  Affidavit from the US consulate affirming that my wife and I are married (i.e. just confirming the marriage certificate is legit).

B.  Translate said affidavit into Thai

C.  Schedule an Appointment with the Thai Ministry of Affairs to have them verify the affidavit and translation.

D.  Go to the Amphur to update my family status (hopefully get the Kor Ror 22 the same day)

E.  Back to immigration to convert the non-immigrant O visa. 

 

Thank you everyone for your input on this matter.

[OneZero]

Perhaps there is something I still do not understand.   So, just to clarify for both of us:  

 

if you are not going to attend the appointment with MFA (which is in BKK) yourself, then who is going to represent you at that MFA appointment, Star Visa?

[shlenier]

1 minute ago, OneZero said:

Perhaps there is something I still do not understand.   So, just to clarify for both of us:  

 

if you are not going to attend the appointment with MFA (which is in BKK) yourself, then who is going to represent you at that MFA appointment, Star Visa?

There is an MFA in Chiang Mai

[OneZero]

18 minutes ago, shlenier said:

we don't have to go to BKK for any of this.  Adding an update post in a sec.

 

My question / post above, was in reference to your statement.

I'm just trying to clarify for both of us.

[OneZero]

Just now, shlenier said:

There is an MFA in Chiang Mai

Oh, thanks, I didn't know that.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/21/2022 at 11:09 PM, shlenier said:

We actually suggested that and they said no.  Also we don't have all the paperwork I think would be necessary to make that happen.  But I was suprised when they said no because yes that makes sense as being the easiest route.

Were you not born in Thailand? If you were, the birth certificate should prove you are Thai, unless you gave up citizenship to become a US citizen.