Changing To Married Name In Thai Passport Pre Ilr

[qpgwmh]

Hello,

I'm getting myself into a right pickle on this one. I've included a lot of detail although the answer is probably a very short one! Any help offered would be very gratefully received - thank you.

I'm really not too sure that the advice given to me by the (UK) Home Office is the best advice. My wife is over a year into her FLR and her passport (and FLR visa) are in her maiden name. It's been no problem here and we're in no rush to change it, however, we want her ILR visa to be issued in her married name (it might even have to be?) so it makes sense to get a new Thai passport (or a name change on the existing one**) prior to applying for ILR.

I make some assumptions here:

a) The ILR visa in a married name cannot be placed into a passport in the maiden name?

A passport which has a name change stamp on one of the pages in it (which I believe to be the way that the Thai Embassy in London action name changes) is suitable for having an ILR visa in the married name placed into it?

The Home Office tell me that I need to go to the expense of obtaining a new FLR visa in the married name (NTLTOC form) however I can't see why this is necessary as once the ILR visa is issued all loose ends should be tied up. When we travel we book flights in her maiden name so that they match the passport so I really can't see how this might be an issue.

Future travel

What do people do once the passport containing the original ILR visa expires? Is it simply a case of travelling with two passports?

Edited January 6, 2008 by qpgwmh

[Mahout Angrit]

The ILR will be inserted into her current valid passport she is holding at the time ILR is granted so the application must be in the name in the passport she presents.

If she has a Biometric Thai passport then it is not possible to have it endorsed with her married name, she must get a new one.

She can get a new one at the RTE in London but she will need to submit her ID card with the application. They will only issue a passport in the name that is on the ID card so if she hasn't yet changed her ID card she must do that first.

I believe that the ID card can only be issued in Thailand at her local Amphur so a trip to Thailand is on the cards.

When she does get a new passport (in whatever name) then when travelling she simply carries the old and new passport when entering UK to show her permission to enter. The old passport is cancelled but any visa or leave to remain continues to be valid until it expires in is own right. If the old and new passports are in different names then it would also be wise to carry her marriage certificate to prove the link although usually there is a reference in the new passport to the previous passport travelled on.

ILR or FLR can be transferred to a new passport at a cost (I think) of £140 but is not necessary.

If you've been comfortable living with different names, why change? plenty of married couples don't and as you have already discovered there are no disadvantages in doing so.

Edited January 6, 2008 by Mahout Angrit

[qpgwmh]

Thanks so much Mahout Angrit.

Everything but her passport is set up here in her married name so we would like to get the passport changed over too. The ID card complicates matters as we're not planning a trip to Thailand before applying for ILR.

I will need to contact the Thai Embassy to clarify if they need a new ID card to endorse the passport with her married name as this is the only solution that I can see.

Thanks

[Mahout Angrit]

Everything but her passport is set up here in her married name so we would like to get the passport changed over too. The ID card complicates matters as we're not planning a trip to Thailand before applying for ILR.

I will need to contact the Thai Embassy to clarify if they need a new ID card to endorse the passport with her married name as this is the only solution that I can see.

Thanks

Although the section referred to is not exactly what you want to do, if you look at The RTE London web site under 'Remarks' you will see that it talks about getting power of attorney through them to allow somebody else in Thailand to get it changed for you. I dont know if that works but you could try to call them to ask.

If she holds the older style passport she may be able to get the name change endorsed in it by submitting just the marriage certificate but again you should ask.

Edited January 9, 2008 by Mahout Angrit