The Cambodian Problem

[gasman2]

I have just been offered a job in Thailand, I am currently living in Cambodia with my Cambodian fiance. We have been together for around 4 years and have two daughters together - im from the UK. The problem is that I would like to take them as dependents but we only got informally married in Samui last year and have some kind of certificate, not official. We cannot get married here as the govt has banned all foreign marriages. I will be getting an M visa and was hoping to get her and my kids O visas. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could do this. As i say we tried to get married in Thailand last year as i didnt not want to pay the corrupt police here the 900$ for the cert, but now all marriages are banned? We've got tons of evidence and I took her and the family to the UK last year.

Any ideas?

TIA

[Tomkagai]

I have just been offered a job in Thailand, I am currently living in Cambodia with my Cambodian fiance. We have been together for around 4 years and have two daughters together - im from the UK. The problem is that I would like to take them as dependents but we only got informally married in Samui last year and have some kind of certificate, not official. We cannot get married here as the govt has banned all foreign marriages. I will be getting an M visa and was hoping to get her and my kids O visas. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could do this. As i say we tried to get married in Thailand last year as i didnt not want to pay the corrupt police here the 900$ for the cert, but now all marriages are banned? We've got tons of evidence and I took her and the family to the UK last year.

Any ideas?

TIA

Wouldnt have thought you would have a problem getting the "O" for your kids as dependents, but think the Mrs may be a problem, all I could say to you is try it on with the embassy and see where you get...assume the piece of paper you have is in Thai ?..or couldnt you take a trip somewhere else and get "married"...Hong Kong, Singapore, Vegas...and get some paper work there to support your application...dont think Thailand recognises common law marriages..

[thaigene2]

I have just been offered a job in Thailand, I am currently living in Cambodia with my Cambodian fiance. We have been together for around 4 years and have two daughters together - im from the UK. The problem is that I would like to take them as dependents but we only got informally married in Samui last year and have some kind of certificate, not official. We cannot get married here as the govt has banned all foreign marriages. I will be getting an M visa and was hoping to get her and my kids O visas. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could do this. As i say we tried to get married in Thailand last year as i didnt not want to pay the corrupt police here the 900$ for the cert, but now all marriages are banned? We've got tons of evidence and I took her and the family to the UK last year.

Any ideas?

TIA

Wouldnt have thought you would have a problem getting the "O" for your kids as dependents, but think the Mrs may be a problem, all I could say to you is try it on with the embassy and see where you get...assume the piece of paper you have is in Thai ?..or couldnt you take a trip somewhere else and get "married"...Hong Kong, Singapore, Vegas...and get some paper work there to support your application...dont think Thailand recognises common law marriages..

...or couldn't you get married here in Thailand for 'real' - or don't they do that in Thailand? Don't farangs come here and do that all the time? Or are you saying these packaged weddings in 'paradise' only offer the fake things to foreginers?

[gasman2]

I have just been offered a job in Thailand, I am currently living in Cambodia with my Cambodian fiance. We have been together for around 4 years and have two daughters together - im from the UK. The problem is that I would like to take them as dependents but we only got informally married in Samui last year and have some kind of certificate, not official. We cannot get married here as the govt has banned all foreign marriages. I will be getting an M visa and was hoping to get her and my kids O visas. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could do this. As i say we tried to get married in Thailand last year as i didnt not want to pay the corrupt police here the 900$ for the cert, but now all marriages are banned? We've got tons of evidence and I took her and the family to the UK last year.

Any ideas?

TIA

Wouldnt have thought you would have a problem getting the "O" for your kids as dependents, but think the Mrs may be a problem, all I could say to you is try it on with the embassy and see where you get...assume the piece of paper you have is in Thai ?..or couldnt you take a trip somewhere else and get "married"...Hong Kong, Singapore, Vegas...and get some paper work there to support your application...dont think Thailand recognises common law marriages..

...or couldn't you get married here in Thailand for 'real' - or don't they do that in Thailand? Don't farangs come here and do that all the time? Or are you saying these packaged weddings in 'paradise' only offer the fake things to foreginers?

we tried that, but the Cambodian beuracry was unbelievable, its impossible to get information on how to do it, and when we tuned up at hte cambodian embassy in bangkok they said we needed a huge book of documents, permission from every commune etc. The easiest way would be to get married somewhere abroad but cant afford it.

Cheers

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I have just been offered a job in Thailand, I am currently living in Cambodia with my Cambodian fiance. We have been together for around 4 years and have two daughters together - im from the UK. The problem is that I would like to take them as dependents but we only got informally married in Samui last year and have some kind of certificate, not official. We cannot get married here as the govt has banned all foreign marriages. I will be getting an M visa and was hoping to get her and my kids O visas. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could do this. As i say we tried to get married in Thailand last year as i didnt not want to pay the corrupt police here the 900$ for the cert, but now all marriages are banned? We've got tons of evidence and I took her and the family to the UK last year.

Any ideas?

TIA

I don't understand this:  "As i say we tried to get married in Thailand last year as i didnt not want to pay the corrupt police here the 900$ for the cert, but now all marriages are banned?"

Two foreigners get married all the time here in Thailand, but at the Amphur/District Office, there's no police involvement at all.  This is a formal marriage, two formal Thai certificates issued, legal  most anywhere in the world, inclucing the U.S. & the UK.

Did you try that?  If not, get her a tourist visa and try  again.  That would seem to solve her "dependency" problem as far as a Thai longer term visa is concerned.

Mac

[Tomkagai]

Mac,

Think the OP is talking about getting the marriage registered officially in Cambodia, and reference to the $900 for the certificate was the Cambodian BiB, not the Thai BiB...

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Mac,

Think the OP is talking about getting the marriage registered officially in Cambodia, and reference to the $900 for the certificate was the Cambodian BiB, not the Thai BiB...

Still, if the "problem" is an extended Thai visa for the "wife" a Thai marriange registered at the Amphur would solve that.

And it's be good for immigration purposes later to the UK, if desired.

Mac

[Maestro]

To get married in Thailand, the Cambodian lady needs a certificate of freedom to marry from the Cambodian embassy and it appears that it is for this that the embassy wants “a huge book of documents, permission from every commune etc.”

--

Maestro

[gasman2]

Correct, yes and the 900$ bribe was needed for the Cambodian police - until they banned all marriages - I think Ive got an idea now, please advise if this will work out. I get my wife and two kids two month tourist visas which can hopefully be extended for another month. By three months even Cambodia should have drafted the new foreigner marriage legislation, and when the 90 days is up we can apply for an 0 visa as soon as we have the marriage cert - no need to wait another 90 days right?

On the other hand if I can somehow find exactly what is the mountain of cambodian docs - which will also need countless bribes- that are needed for her to marry in thailand in that time that would also be great.

Thanks for help