Marriage And O Visa

[jackr]

Planning to get maried to my thai girlfriend next week and wanted to know if it's possible to get it done in a week, Monday - Friday, and nip down to Penang to get the 90-day 'O' visa in the same time frame. I'm a UK citizen, 33.

I'm living in Chiang Mai and don't fancy staying in bangkok any longer than necessary. I understand I need to get the affirmation - which takes a day; get it translated - one or two days? and certified - same day, for 800 baht. How long does the marriage take to sort out? Just walk in there, or an appointment jobby?

Are the translation and certified as well as the registry office buildings all in the same area in Bangkok? Siam..ish

If I'm successful and it's only Thursday, would I have time to nip down to Penang and apply for the 90-day 'O' visa? How long does it take to be issued? and are they efficient down there nowadays? Better to stay in the Waldorf with a beer and pay an agent? or go myself?

Apologise for all the questions, sure I could dig it out of the forum somewhere, but you clever guys make it so much easier when it's all in front of you on one post.

cheers

[the scouser]

Not quite possible. There follows the likely timescale:-

Day 1. Lodge your affirmation at the British embassy;

Day 2. Collect the affirmation at sparrowfart and have it translated (wait approx 1-2 hours). Go to the Consul General in Chaeng Wattana Rd, Laksi and cough up your 800 baht.

Day 3. Get hitched at an amphur in BKK (no appointment necessary) and hot foot it to Don Muang in time for your evening flight to Penang;

Day 4. Lodge your non-immigrant "O" application at the Thai consulate.

Day 5. Collect your visa from the Thai consulate. Collection is not possible before 14:00 hrs and, unless the schedules have changed, there was no flight to BKK in the evening;

Day 6. Early morning flight to BKK.

You may be able to squeeze day 3 in to day 2 depending upon how quickly you get the day 2 tasks completed. If you turn right out of the embassy and walk about 150 metres there are about 10 shops all of which offer translation. With the actual marriage you just walk in to the amphur, take your number and wait. Sorry, I don't know where the amphur is in BKK.

Hope that helps,

Scouse.

[jackr]

Cheers Scouse,

Does the misses need anything else other than her ID card, Tabien Baan for instance?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Cheers Scouse,

Does the misses need anything else other than her ID card, Tabien Baan for instance?

It'll pay to take that house registration book as well. You can never overdo the paperwork in Muang Thai. Scouse has told it as it is. Good luck Jack.

[lopburi3]

I would recommend using Bang Ruk District in the Patpong area as they do the majority of all marriages in Bangkok and should not require translator or witness from outside.

MFA registration is near airport so would have translation service do that for you.

Another option for return from Penang would be taxi/bus to Hat Yai and getting an evening flight back to Bangkok.

I would do the visa process myself as a first timer as they sometimes want to see applicant in person and you might lose two days if that happened without warning and visa service returned next day to pick up only to be told you have to submit yourself.

[jackr]

Cheers chaps. As always, excellent guidance.

Jack

[astral]

Might be a good idea to check the Tabien bahn to see that she is still

Nang Saow (Miss).

[jackr]

Probably make the affirmation at the Chiang Mai Consulate. The lady there seemed to think I could get the translation certified, ready for marriage, in Chiang Mai also, but it states that the Ministry of foreign Affairs in Bangkok in Laksi can only do this. Is she talking hot air, or can I get it certified in Chiang Mai?

Also, the affirmation asks for your monthly income. Mine is bugger all and has been for over a year; the last time I worked in the UK. I'm living on savings. Do I bullshit the figure or just include a bank statement?

cheers

[the scouser]

No need to bullshit, just slightly amend the standard affirmation to read, " I have savings of x amount with which to provide for my wife until such time as I find employment."

As regards the certification of the affirmation, I too, was under the impression this could only be done in BKK. If the lady at the CM consulate believes it can be done there, ask her where.

Scouse.

[Totster]

Might be a good idea to check the Tabien bahn to see that she is still

Nang Saow (Miss).

What would it say if she was widowed.... ?

totster