O-marriage application - proving singe status?

[DavisH]

Hi all, 

             I'm Australian and have been on B visa and have been extending on that basis for 20+ Years. I got married in 2001 in Thailand.

Now I need to move to an extension based on marriage, but there is one stumbling block. 

I can get 2 of the previous marriage documents from the local ampur office. However, as it was so long ago, the "single status" forms have since been destroyed. This is the form to show you were single and that you can get married. And I need this form as part of my application. Immigration suggested going to the Australia embassy and getting a stat dec? to declare I was single at the time I got married here (in 2001). However, I don't thing the embassy have this service, as this is visa related (according to their website). Has anyone experienced this, and what did you do?

Thanks...

 

 

  

[Stocky]

You married in Thailand and have a Thai marriage certificate Kor Ror 3?

 

If yes, then all you need is that certificate, plus a new (issued within last 6 months) Kor Ror2 from the amphur showing you are still married.

 

I've never been asked for a copy of the original affirmation for marriage. Which immigration office is this?

[DrJack54]

I understand what you are saying re validity of statutory declarations from Oz embassy however thinking that's your first point of inquiry.

Married AU folk hopefully will provide first hand report.

 

Here is link to legal firm. They suggest embassy, however refers to getting married.

You are already married

 

https://www.siam-legal.com/Thailand_Service/thailand-marriage-australian.php

[DavisH]

3 minutes ago, Stocky said:

You married in Thailand and have a Thai marriage certificate Kor Ror 3?

 

If yes, then all you need is that certificate, plus a new (issued within last 6 months) Kor Ror2 from the amphur showing you are still married.

 

I've never been asked for a copy of the original affirmation for marriage. Which immigration office is this?

That's Nonthaburi. Im pretty sure we have the kor ror 3 at home somewhere and can get the kor ror 2. Wife phoned the local amphur already. 

[Stocky]

10 minutes ago, DavisH said:

That's Nonthaburi.

 

My experience is with Hat Yai, and unfortunately regional immigration offices are guilty of having 'local rules', but to ask for a copy of the original affirmation seems bonkers given you are married and have the certificates to show that. Seems like a petty and unnecessary hurdle.

[DavisH]

Just now, Stocky said:

 

My experience is with Hat Yai, and unfortunately regional immigration offices are guilty of having 'local rules', but to ask for a copy of the original affirmation seems bonkers given you are married and have the certificates to show that. Seems like a petty and unnecessary hurdle.

this here:

[Rob Browder]

13 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I've never been asked for a copy of the original affirmation for marriage. Which immigration office is this?

Some offices do this to block marriage-based extensions - not a new "trick" in their book - has been reported going back years. 

[Stocky]

1 minute ago, DavisH said:

this here:

Crackers, Hat Yai simply asks for

 

[Rob Browder]

14 minutes ago, DavisH said:

That's Nonthaburi. Im pretty sure we have the kor ror 3 at home somewhere and can get the kor ror 2. Wife phoned the local amphur already. 

I would have the wife go to the amphur, and ask them to sign a document saying they don't have it on-file any more.

[cjinchiangrai]

Go to a different office. This is nonsense. You could not have gotten married without it.

[connda]

46 minutes ago, DavisH said:

this here:

I never remember doing that.  I was on a Business visa for three years and then changed to a Non-B extension based on marriage.  The only forms I remember having were the K.2 and K.3.  And I did the first extension in Korat, so we were nowhere near Lamphun where our marriage was registered.  Well, best of luck.  Maybe you give it a try without the 6.1.3.  What's the worst that can happen - they insist you show it.  If they don't insist, you're good to go.  And realistically, how difficult is it to get another original of the certification letter.  Interesting though, I can see certifying you've been divorces, but how do you certify that you're single?  That's pretty much your word.  It's not like countries provide their citizens with certificates of singleness - not that I've ever experienced?

[Upnotover]

8 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Go to a different office. This is nonsense. You could not have gotten married without it.

But....you need to go to the office covering where you live.  Would be a shame to have to move just for this.

[cjinchiangrai]

2 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

But....you need to go to the office covering where you live.  Would be a shame to have to move just for this.

I agree that you should not have to. Can you do the regular O for a year?

[DavisH]

Can I use another office if I reside in Nonthaburi? Is Changwattana any different?

[DavisH]

27 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Go to a different office. This is nonsense. You could not have gotten married without it.

Exactly! And you know how everything is paper based here. So I'm not surprised if its "missing" 

[FritsSikkink]

23 minutes ago, connda said:

  It's not like countries provide their citizens with certificates of singleness - not that I've ever experienced?

The Dutch embassy did as i needed it to get married. then translate in Thai and get it certified.

[cjinchiangrai]

I got one from the US Consulate. Maybe ask a different person? after 24 years, who keeps that kind of stuff?

[DavisH]

59 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

I got one from the US Consulate. Maybe ask a different person? after 24 years, who keeps that kind of stuff?

Well, the OZ embassy confirmed they won't make a letter for this purpose. I will see what we can do with the amphur, and will also inform immigration that my embassy won't make the letter. 

If they don't budge, I can just go on a retirement extension. I had planned to teach again in the future, and thought maybe I could d this on the marriage extension (provided the school was OK with it). 

Either way, I'll be at home cleaning the house while my wife it out working:) 

[cjinchiangrai]

9 minutes ago, DavisH said:

Well, the OZ embassy confirmed they won't make a letter for this purpose. I will see what we can do with the amphur, and will also inform immigration that my embassy won't make the letter. 

If they don't budge, I can just go on a retirement extension. I had planned to teach again in the future, and thought maybe I could d this on the marriage extension (provided the school was OK with it). 

Either way, I'll be at home cleaning the house while my wife it out working:) 

Good luck. The teaching rules are stupid, I would teach English for free for something to do. I might even throw in some Trigonometry on the side.

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Good luck. The teaching rules are stupid, I would teach English for free for something to do. I might even throw in some Trigonometry on the side.

Well me and another teacher are being let go - we have close to 50 years teaching experience in this school. Basically, we are being replaced with cheaper inexperienced teachers (that's a whole new thread). 

We plan to get a letter from the amphur to state the document we need doesn't exist (they are destroyed after 10 years) and a copy of the email stating that they don't provide  letter for my situation. Maybe some addition to their xmas fund will smooth things over (given the paper needed is insignificant in the grad scheme of things). 

[cjinchiangrai]

23 minutes ago, DavisH said:

Well me and another teacher are being let go - we have close to 50 years teaching experience in this school. Basically, we are being replaced with cheaper inexperienced teachers (that's a whole new thread). 

We plan to get a letter from the amphur to state the document we need doesn't exist (they are destroyed after 10 years) and a copy of the email stating that they don't provide  letter for my situation. Maybe some addition to their xmas fund will smooth things over (given the paper needed is insignificant in the grad scheme of things). 

It is sort of like keeping your drivers license application form. Why would anyone do it? Or maybe they would understand the extension application form. It is useless after getting the extension.

[Moonlover]

 

6 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Some offices do this to block marriage-based extensions - not a new "trick" in their book - has been reported going back years. 

Why would any office want to block a marriage based extension?

[Daniel Cully]

I had this happened to me three years ago. To get around it I used a agent with my own funds in the bank,extensions have been no problem. I was married in Thailand in 1984, I cannot remember this form pertaining to be single. 

[BrandonJT]

12 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

Why would any office want to block a marriage based extension?

They're about the most complicated extension that can be applied for.  The local offices are not even allowed to approve them and they have to be sent to a higher level office for approval, hence the "under consideration" period for marriage extensions.  They often try to push people over 50 onto retirement extensions once they hit that age.

[NoshowJones]

12 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

Why would any office want to block a marriage based extension?

To save themselves a lot of work. They want you to go on the retirement extensions as that is much easier for them.

[Hotrats]

18 hours ago, DavisH said:

Can I use another office if I reside in Nonthaburi? Is Changwattana any different?

I'm pretty sure your visa extension application has to be made in the province where you reside.

[Hotrats]

13 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

Why would any office want to block a marriage based extension?

Because it is so much more complicated and more work for them. A retirement visa extension is relatively straightforward. The retirement extension can be approved on the spot, whereas the marriage extension can only be approved at head office. I remember when I first went with my Thai wife to apply for an extension based on marriage, they did all they could to persuade me to change and apply for a retirement extension. As it turned out  the retirement extension was far better for them (less work) and me (less paperwork required and can be approved on the spot).

[lordgrinz]

Will Australia issue you a new CNI (Certificate of no Impediment to Marriage)? If so, you can have that translated and stamped by MFA.

 

Or if your marriage is registered in Australia as well, could you not show that as evidence of marriage? Though that might be a longer process getting a Apostille, and all the proper stamps.

[Moonlover]

15 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

Why would any office want to block a marriage based extension?

 

2 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

They're about the most complicated extension that can be applied for.  The local offices are not even allowed to approve them and they have to be sent to a higher level office for approval, hence the "under consideration" period for marriage extensions.  They often try to push people over 50 onto retirement extensions once they hit that age.

 

1 hour ago, Hotrats said:

Because it is so much more complicated and more work for them. A retirement visa extension is relatively straightforward. The retirement extension can be approved on the spot, whereas the marriage extension can only be approved at head office. I remember when I first went with my Thai wife to apply for an extension based on marriage, they did all they could to persuade me to change and apply for a retirement extension. As it turned out  the retirement extension was far better for them (less work) and me (less paperwork required and can be approved on the spot).

Thank you for your input guys. I do understand the difference between the two methods, having been on both myself. It was the use of the word 'block' I was querying. 

 

I cannot accept that any office or IO would 'block' someone's application for a marriage extension simply because it caused them extra work! It's their job isn't it. 

[Upnotover]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Will Australia issue you a new CNI (Certificate of no Impediment to Marriage)? If so, you can have that translated and stamped by MFA.

Unlikely as he's married.  Of course, could always get a divorce first, there's an idea.