Farang (US citizen) and Thai lady want to divorce. Simple divorce, no assets money to share.
He recently got a new passport. Now, it seems that the District Office in Pattaya
demands that this new passport needs to be certified by the US Embassy and the Thai consul.
IMO, a passport is a certified document BY DEFINITION!
Anyone heard about this? Is this certification really needed?
(Immigration accepted this passport when he extended his stay for 1 year...)

Sounds like something may have been lost in translation, maybe they want a certified copy of his US passport with a certified MFA translation, but that's just a guess on my part.

I got divorced in Pattaya, never needed to have a certified passport. Copy of passport and her Thai ID plus copy of marriage certificate was all that was needed

 

Edit: I went through Siam Legal who prepared everything

 

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/certified-true-copies-of-u-s-passport/

34 minutes ago, Steven55 said:

Farang (US citizen) and Thai lady want to divorce. Simple divorce, no assets money to share.
He recently got a new passport. Now, it seems that the District Office in Pattaya
demands that this new passport needs to be certified by the US Embassy and the Thai consul.
IMO, a passport is a certified document BY DEFINITION!
Anyone heard about this? Is this certification really needed?
(Immigration accepted this passport when he extended his stay for 1 year...)

from what i read from Dingdongs post it can be done through the mail.

It is a real thing. I just got a new passport (Canada). Also got my old one back. Inside the old one is a fresh stamp certifying the new passport and new passport number is for one and the same person. 

 

My embassy did it for me automatically because they know Immigration will ask for certification of the new one.

Another example is a UK marriage certificate.  Such a certificate is literally a certified copy of an entry at the General Registrars Office (GRO).  Yet Thai immigration requires you to get that certified copy certified by four different government entities in two different countries.

 

What a load of old cock.

go elsewhere.

I got married in Krung Thep, divorced in Udon Thani.  

 

Seems like a silly request to me, as divorce was one of, if not the simplest thing I've had done here at the Amphur office.

14 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

I got divorced in Pattaya, never needed to have a certified passport. Copy of passport and her Thai ID plus copy of marriage certificate was all that was needed

Sorry I forgot I did have to get my passport copy certified at Australia Embassy first. I did it one trip and then divorce the next trip 3 months later

15 hours ago, Steven55 said:

Farang (US citizen) and Thai lady want to divorce. Simple divorce, no assets money to share.
He recently got a new passport. Now, it seems that the District Office in Pattaya
demands that this new passport needs to be certified by the US Embassy and the Thai consul.
IMO, a passport is a certified document BY DEFINITION!
Anyone heard about this? Is this certification really needed?
(Immigration accepted this passport when he extended his stay for 1 year...)

When the US Embassy renews a passport, they attach a formal letter on the Embassy stationary to say that a new passport has been issued and replaces the old passport number. This should be sufficient, but then again, the Amphur may require a translation of that letter into Thai. My guess is something is lost in the translation of this request. Makes no sense otherwise!

TIT. You will get a different demand or even none depending not just on the Amphur but even the official you deal with. When getting a blue book for my wife the helpful young lady at the desk offered me a yellow book there and then if I could produce my passport. I didn't have it with me.We went again to get the yellow book but a different person behind the counter and I was told they needed the ID page certified by the British Embassy ( Embassy stamp she said). I didn't pursue further.

 

15 minutes ago, Kalasin Jo said:

TIT. You will get a different demand or even none depending not just on the Amphur but even the official you deal with. 

Exactly! No different than any Immigration Office.

 

NOTE: Depends on Office, Officer........  and the phase of the moon.

On 8/18/2023 at 1:17 PM, Steven55 said:

Farang (US citizen) and Thai lady want to divorce. Simple divorce, no assets money to share.
He recently got a new passport. Now, it seems that the District Office in Pattaya
demands that this new passport needs to be certified by the US Embassy and the Thai consul.
IMO, a passport is a certified document BY DEFINITION!
Anyone heard about this? Is this certification really needed?
(Immigration accepted this passport when he extended his stay for 1 year...)

District Office demands translated copy of a pp, translation needs to be certified

Why not ask advice from a well known agency ? Might be quicker for you if urgent.

It appears all, as one said, you will get a different response depend on the Ampur you used.

Ampur generally wants a copy of the passport stamped by your Embassy and certified in Thai by a translator with that stamp. Then you taken the original and the stamped translated certified copy to the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs had get that legalized with their stamp. 

Advise, take (2) copies.