Where To Marry Legally In Bangkok?

[ding]

1)

Does anyone have knowledge of where we can get married legally in Bangkok?

We are looking at meeting the requirements for Thailand so the USA will recognize it for a K-3 Spouse Visa.

2)

We need to get a form from the US Embassy on Thanon Witayu (Wireless Rd)

But is there a door a US Citizen can go to where I can actually get INSIDE to fill out the form there? I was there in April and we were kept out by ladies at a table outside.

[thaihome]

1. Here is the process to get married in Thailand. US does recognize the validity of such a marriage.

2.There is not a separate door for US citizens. You do not need to check in with the lady at the table, she is verifying visa interview appointments. Best to go after 7:30 and but before 8:00 AM to miss the visa crowd first thing when it opens.

Get in the line to go through the glass door. You will have to leave your phone, along with a picture ID at security. After going through security, follow the sidewalk until you come to a path that goes to the right. That will lead you to the door to American Citizen Services. Ask the people at the window for the Freedom to Marry affidavit. Fill it out, and give back at window. You will then have to pay the fee to have it notarized, about 1,200 baht. Give receipt to people at window. They will notarize and give document back to you.

Your GF does not have to go with you. To be honest, it might be better if she does not. That way you avoid some stereotyping that tends to go on with both the Thai and US consulate employees.

TH

Edited July 5, 2007 by thaihome

[Gumballl]

That way you avoid some stereotyping that tends to go on with both the Thai and US consulate employees.

She (the spouse) will have to go someday. What difference does it make if the first time is when the OP goes to the ACS at the Embassy to complete the affidavit? IMO, none whatsoever.

ding, if you really want to make your life easy, take care of the Embassy thing first. Then go to one of the Thai-English translation places right there on Wireless Road (near the intersection with Ploenchit). Tell them what you need (that is, you want to get married to your TG), and they should be able to help you out whilst you sip on a beer or two.

I went to a translation place (I forgot the name) and they took care of translating all of the docs, taking the docs to get them certified (at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs??), and then escorted my and my fiance to the local Amphur. The whole process took about 3 hours, but I got to sip on a lot of Chang beer during the wait. The cost was something like 5000 baht. Some might think that is a bit steep, but for me it was worth it considering the hassle of travelling all of the way out to Chaengwattana Rd (for the TMoFA).

[craigt3365]

I went through this a few years ago. The US embassy actually recommended NOT to get married. That processing times for a K1 visa were easier and faster. So, we did the wedding in the village (which is not really legal, just a big deal for the girl). And then got married in the US. So far, it has been pretty easy and straight forward. We are working on citizenship now, actually sent in the paperwork last week...even though we are still in Thailand! Headed back to the USA in a few days to start this long process....ugh....

The embassy was really good about replying to emails. You might pose this question to them...

craig

[lopburi3]

As said it might be better to not get married and use the fiancee visa option - it depends on the visa processing area you will be using in the US. They are trying to make the processing time the same but there is still a large difference the last time I looked (although at one center it seemed to be almost the same).

If you get married first stop is ACSU at the Old American Embassy compound. You enter through the visa processing entry. If you have nothing to check do not believe you have to leave any ID (I have never done so) and as said you exit into breezeway and keep right to the ACSU office. You take queue number from wall dispenser and wait for number to appear and go to window to explain what you need - paper to allow marriage to a Thai - They will provide and you fill in the blanks except signature and pay cashier in next room the $30 (or baht) for notary and present receipt/passport/paper in window #3 near cashier. You wait for name to be called, in main room, and go to window/sign. You then have to have the paper translated into Thai and registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (to make it an international legal document). Once that is completed (can be same or several days) you go with fiancee to any district office and register the marriage and receive the certificates of marriage. Most people will use Bang Ruk District Office (Thai included as is good luck) and they are very used to foreigners.

[bkk_mike]

I can only agree with the recommendation about getting advice from the translation service.

You have to get them involved as you'll need certified translations anyway, but they deal with so many couples getting married, and they also speak good English and good Thai, so they know the answers to any questions you're likely to have.

However, as one of the other posters mentioned - check your States processing delays. You may be faster with the fiance visa if your State has long delays on the marriage visa.

[ding]

Great help, thanks to all the vet hands here!

To add what I can:

as of July 11, 2007

K-1 I-129F fiance visa. Filing to NOA2 (okayed)

CSC 116 days

TSC 96 days

NSC 102 days

VSC 67 days

____________________________________________

K-3:

I-130 spouse/family member visa. Filing to NOA2

part 1

CSC 124 days

TSC 107 days

NSC 114 days

VSC 157 days

part 2

K-3 I-129F visa petition used for fiance and for spouse also. Filing to NOA2

MSC 131 days (mails to Chicago first)

The K-3 has sort of a 2 track system, as I understand it.

For the I-130 part of a K-3, I would mail through the NSC, Nebraska Service Center.

And the I-129F form used for spouse is mailed to Chicago and forwards to MSC -Missouri- Nat'l Benefits Center.

I read that you can pay $200 extra and keep the I-130 in play if the I-129F is okayed first. Otherwise they hold it so there is not redundant work on the US governmet's part to process both petitions for visa. The I-130 would not require an Adjustment Of Status to permanent resident after entry. But being together is prime for us.

[bkk_mike]

All I can say to that last post is.

Thank Christ I'm not American. That all looks like bureaucracy gone mad and extremely overcomplicated.

[thaihome]

Great help, thanks to all the vet hands here!

To add what I can:

as of July 11, 2007

K-1 I-129F fiance visa. Filing to NOA2 (okayed)

CSC 116 days

TSC 96 days

NSC 102 days

VSC 67 days

____________________________________________

K-3:

I-130 spouse/family member visa. Filing to NOA2

part 1

CSC 124 days

TSC 107 days

NSC 114 days

VSC 157 days

part 2

K-3 I-129F visa petition used for fiance and for spouse also. Filing to NOA2

MSC 131 days (mails to Chicago first)

The K-3 has sort of a 2 track system, as I understand it.

For the I-130 part of a K-3, I would mail through the NSC, Nebraska Service Center.

And the I-129F form used for spouse is mailed to Chicago and forwards to MSC -Missouri- Nat'l Benefits Center.

I read that you can pay $200 extra and keep the I-130 in play if the I-129F is okayed first. Otherwise they hold it so there is not redundant work on the US governmet's part to process both petitions for visa. The I-130 would not require an Adjustment Of Status to permanent resident after entry. But being together is prime for us.

Great info here. Would like to add that if you have lived in Thailand for a year, you can file the I-130 with the Bangkok USCIS office and the processing takes about a week.

TH

[ding]

Great info here. Would like to add that if you have lived in Thailand for a year, you can file the I-130 with the Bangkok USCIS office and the processing takes about a week.

TH

So the Bangkok embassy does still do Direct Consular Filings (DCF)! I read that many embassies had that ended for them and wondered about BKK.

For me, if I could figure a way to live there for a year I wouldn't "fuss" with all that expensive and insanely lengthy form-filing. They're understaffed at the CSC (California), but the VSC (Vermont) is about right. Bangkok does a good job I think, as does the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC).

I wonder what I need for proof of a valid marriage for the K-3. We'll be newlyweds when I file. No condo lease together or joint accounts at all. Just pics and phone card invoices from online. And the phone card invoice doesn't even show the phone number I called.

[lopburi3]

There is a USCIS (todays name for INS) located in Bangkok.