It is my understanding that me, an American, and the wife, a Thai Lue, cannot be Legally married? The wife (my classification after 6 years) cannot register our marriage. Recently built a house and cannot register the house in the wife's name (Thai Lue) or my name. I am completely confused as to our legal rights - a home with no owner!! - a wife but no documentation!!!

Any help that anyone can provide will be greatly appreciated. Oh - and I also understand that if a non-Thai citizen (Thai Lue) does register her marriage that she must change her name to mine? Can anyone clarify?

Al

I need to add that I am living in Chiangrai and recently build a home in Mae Chun. Ampur Mae Chun is stating that the wife and I cannot register the house in either of our names as we are not Thai Citizens.

So who owns the land you built the house on?

The legal side of living with a non-Thai with no documentation is a can of worms. I suggest you may need to seek legal advice.

So who owns the land you built the house on?

The legal side of living with a non-Thai with no documentation is a can of worms. I suggest you may need to seek legal advice.

Yes.. You need to seek some competent legal advice especially if you have forked out any money for the land and house. You may be able to get married legally if you went outside Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Malaysia and then returned as a married couple that is if she could get a Thai passport.

So who owns the land you built the house on?

The legal side of living with a non-Thai with no documentation is a can of worms. I suggest you may need to seek legal advice.

Yes.. You need to seek some competent legal advice especially if you have forked out any money for the land and house. You may be able to get married legally if you went outside Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Malaysia and then returned as a married couple that is if she could get a Thai passport.

The land was purchased more than 2 years ago and a 30 years land Lease added to the new Chanote Ti Din with the wifes cousin as the owner. The wife's minor age son is on the Chaonte Ti Din as co-owner.

The house was built on the land within the past 3 months. The Or Bor Tor issued a build authoriation. When attempting to obtain a Ta Bin Baan, the Ampur refused to issue one to a non-Thai citizen. Had to use the Thai citizen Cousin, again. The minor age son is also added as co-owner.

It seems as though each Ampur come up with their own pile of BS.

Lawyer up, Al.

I would also say you should seek for legal advice.

I do however have a news about Thai citizenship.

Apparently from since 28 feb 2008 people of non-Thai background can request their Thai citizenship.

Person for the qualification must be born from 10 april 1931 till 26 feb 2008, her name must be register/recorded in Thai civil registration system.

The request hold 90 days validation after date of announcing (28-2-2008). So better hurry up to your local city hall for the request.

Am sorry i didnt reply to you earlier. And sorry in advance if the date is expired. Its been a few months already.

Please give your wife a look in this link. I hope the information will help.

http://www.chiangraifocus.com/newsdetail.php?news=641

I am in a similar siuation, Al. My 'wife' is Akha, she is a legal resident, but does not have thai citizenship (and she also used to stay in Mae Chan). She has an ID-card, but the first number is a 0, indicating she is not a citizen. She also cannot own land.

Does your 'wife' have an ID-card (pink or white)?

You could try for a marriage in Myanmar, afaik the British India Act of 1872 is still in force there and as Christians you could just step infront of a priest and get married, check the Christian Marriage Act section for details: http://uk.geocities.com/miyamakosuke/e/c/vol11/1872i15e.html