Clarification of marriage documents

[beleby]

Hello all,

I am planning to wed my long term Thai girlfriend in August. From searching this site (see!? I made an effort!) I have discovered the documents required to be presented to the UK embassy but I could do with a little clarification on some:

Health insurance card or other official documentation of your present address.

Do they mean my annual life assurance policy sheet? Or would a mortgage statement be sufficient?

Salary statement (the latest) or similar documentation of your income, for instance your pension statement or your yearly salary statement from the tax authorities in your home country.

err......A P45? Salary statement from work? Is there a minimum wage limit to marry? Why do they need this?

Certificate from your home municipality concerning notification of marriage

I will have to ask the audience on this one. I have no clue what they mean. Does anyone know where I can obtain the above in the UK and is there a charge?

Many thanks to any who can help. I wonder if anyone has any further advice or perhaps someone even knows of a firm in Thailand who can help with this process?

Is there any jurisdiction in Thailand that is not complicated????

[chonabot]

Hi Greg, I'll try and answer your questions:-

Health insurance card or other official documentation of your present address - a Mortgage statement would be fine, utilty bills etc.

Salary statement (the latest) or similar documentation of your income, for instance your pension statement or your yearly salary statement from the tax authorities in your home country. - 3 or so recent wage slips would be ok/ also bank statements showing these payments into your account.

Certificate from your home municipality concerning notification of marriage - I never had to show this, probably means a booking at church or registry office? I'm sure that this evidence isn't crucial though.

TBH the embassy need to see that you can support your wife/fiancee during her stay in the UK, but they will be more interested in your fiancee's situation.

They will need evidence to show that your fiancee has a job or money to come back to, should she need to return to Thailand, in effect they need to be convinced that she won't overstay the visa ( if its a holiday visa)

Assuming it is a fiancee visa you are applying for?

They usually interview the Thai lady, ask some leading questions,  your address in Uk, how you met, what your pet's name is..etc

They will need to see evidence of contact between you ( letters/emails/itemised phone bills)

They also like to see some evidence of how many rooms you have, any other dependants living with you etc.

You can email the Brit Embassy for clarification of documents needed, they can usually answer more specific questions as well.

There are agencies that advertise in Bangkok, services including Visa applications etc. In my opinion, don't go down that route, they charge a lot, and cannot guarantee any success, you will be better off asking people on this board.

The main thing is, once you have collated all of the required documents, both of you have to go through the interview scenario, make it all water tight, and fingers crossed!

Anything else you might think of, just add to this thread.

Good Luck

 

ps having just re-read your mail, you haven't mentioned anything about applying for a visa, if you are just enquiring about getting married in LOS, then disregard my info above!

[beleby]

Hi there.

Thanks for your help. You are right, we will *not* be applying for any visas as I will be working in LOS after taking the CELTA course in September.

Your answers have still been most useful, though. Will they still interview us if we wish to marry and stay in Thailand or will it just be a case of supplying the documents?

thanks again.

Greg

[lopburi3]

The Thai authorities are only interested in having a paper from your Embassy that lists your marriage status, two references, home address, and believe pay/job as a proof that are free to marry and can support a wife.  Many call it 'good person' paper.  What your Embassy requires is the question.  The US Embassy only requires you to fill out the information and swear to it.  Believe your Embassy does require some proof so email or phone calls would probably be your best bet as it seems you don't, or won't, have employment at the time of marriage and that might be a problem.

[beleby]

I see. I should be able to supply pay slips from this month (I fly out next month) so hopefully will not be a problem.

Greg

[sevinnow]

I was under the impression the"Good Person" translated into Thai and your signature to confirm you are free to marry, and a resident address in Thailand was sufficient.

Never heard of having to prove income, like wage slips ect?

If it is would a healthy Thai Bank balance do?

Confused

Sev

[the scouser]

Hi folks,

I'd be interested to know further too about whether evidence of income is necessary. I intend to marry in Thailand and haven't worked for over a year - please, no jokes about Scousers not working.

[sevinnow]

Hi Scouser.

Just been on the website to the British Embassy Bangkok.

www.britishemb.or.th

All that is required is Affamation that you are free to marry and proof (Originals) if you are devorsed/widowed, two references in the UK and your address in UK.

Apparently there is a question regarding employment but no checks are made on this subject.

Cost  2100 baht and the fee for translation to Thai, the whole proceedure takes 10 mins, but you have to call the following day to pick up the Affamation.

Take this to the Registra at the local Amphur and get married.

That sure makes me feel alot better because of my pending marriage in October.

Regards

Sev

[george]

Take this to the Registra at the local Amphur and get married.

It has to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first.

You should bring the certificate to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be verified as a true document issued by your Embassy.

The address of the Ministry is:

Legalisation

Department of Consular Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Chaeng Wattana Road

(close to the Communications Authority of Thailand)

Bangkok

Tel: 02 503-3905 to 02 503-3907

It usually takes a couple of days for the Ministry to verify a document. Please note that the Ministry will charge you a fee. The Embassy cannot assist you in having the certificate verified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When the certificate has been verified, you may register marriage at any District Office (amphur).

[sevinnow]

Stand corrected by George.

It does need verifing by the ministry.

Sev

[the scouser]

Thanks, all, for the advice.

Scouse.

[lopburi3]

I was under the impression the"Good Person" translated into Thai and your signature to confirm you are free to marry, and a resident address in Thailand was sufficient.

Never heard of having to prove income, like wage slips ect?

A part of the paperwork is a question of your employment and income.  You must swear to it.  Some Embassies may require proof; others just your legal written word.

You do not need to be a resident of Thailand to marry here.

Even with the sworn/translated/registered paper the district office can still refuse to marry you if they feel anything is amiss.

[beleby]

Thanks to all who have helped.

As I understand it now, being a UK national, I will need to go to the embassy and sign a statement stating my occupation and income. I will also need to provide two references and proof of my UK address. I then take this to the legislation office to be stamped, then head off and tie the knot!

If I still have anything wrong, please correct me, if not, then thanks!

[the scouser]

Hi Greg,

That appears to be basically correct but I logged on to the British embassy site quoted in Sev's previous post and they give what seems to be a fairly comprehensive step-by-step guide. You can also obtain a blank copy of the affirmation which you can complete in advance.

Regards,

Scouse.

[Simon]

Hi All

I'm Simon   (new member UK)

As greg-hill & scouser (best of luck to you both) I'm getting married too, towards the end of the year. As chonabot briefly mentioned visa's in his reply to greg-hill, could you or somebody tell what sort of visa I could apply for and get other than the tourist?, as I've had conflicting info so far, my cicumstances are -

I'm in my 30's.

I have a 7 month old baby.

Thanx regards S.

[lopburi3]

If the baby is part Thai and you have proof your the father you can obtain the same type of visa as after you are married.  If not you can request a non-immigrant visa on the basis of your upcoming marriage and a consulate might issue it.  If not you just use a tourist visa, get married and then exit/return (Penang) to obtain a multi entry non immigrant visa.

[Simon]

Thanx lopburi3

Yes I have proof he is my baby

I have his original birth certificate.

A copy of the mothers passport, family registration book and her ID card to present to the Thai embassy in London.

Would it be a B or O non immigrant visa to apply for?

Thanx again regards S.

[lopburi3]

Would it be a B or O non immigrant visa to apply for?

Unless you are planning a baby making business would suspect the non immigrant class O is what you want.

[huski]

Unless you are planning a baby making business would suspect the non immigrant class O is what you want.

So with a baby making business you would need a work permit?