Wedding/tour Guide Help

[msedler]

My fiance and I(both from the US) are getting married in Thailand in August of this year(8/8/08). We are getting married in Chiang Mai and a friend of ours has arranged that part of the trip but we need a little help for while we are in Bangkok.

We have the steps from the embassy website in order to make our marriage legal in the US. Question though is:

1)We highly wish to complete this in one day. is this possible? We have an appointment at the US embassy for 8:00am on the 4th is it possible to get this done in one day? Some sites say yes as long as you start early enough, some sites say no.

2) does anyone think it is worth THB 1500 to hire a guide to help us with the running around that is needed? (steps are below)

3) if a guide would be recommended-anyone have any suggestions for one? we have been correspoding with orientalescape.com anyone familair with their services?

All help is greatly appreciated!!!!

Procedure

1. Complete an affidavit at the American Embassy. The affidavit form, available upon request, includes all of the information required by relevant Thai law. The form must be completed and notarized at the Embassy. To make an appointment for a notarial, please click here. You may download a copy of the form here.

2. Have the notarized affidavit translated. Click here for a list of translators in the Bangkok area.

3. Take the affidavit and translation to:

Legalization Division

Department of Consular Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3rd Floor, 123 Chaeng Wattana Road

Tung Song Hong, Laksi District, Bangkok

Tel:(02) 575-1057-8, Fax:(02) 575-1054

4. Take the affidavit and supporting documents to a local Amphur and register yourselves as married

.

[johna]

sounds as if you want to do quite a lot in one day, the translation service I used was only a front to collect documents and fees. The translator worked from home part time (she was a teacher at some school)

I do not know how much of the 1500 Baht fee is paid to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but, I would say its worth 1500 for this service.

If only to avoid all the travel(taxi fares) out to Chaeng Wattana Road

Government offices close here at 4pm

[msedler]

thanks johna

[Mario2008]

I did it myself in one day, so it is possible. The question is how fast your embassy is. The translation is no big deal, as they various agencies have them on file and only have to ad your data. The legalisation proces at the Ministry of Foreign affairs takes about 2 to 3 hours. It also is a bit on the outskirts of town. I took the BTS to Chatuchak and from there a taxi for about 80 baht.

You don't need a service to do it for your. But it may save you a lot of time. The legalization at the ministry costs about 800 baht and add your travel expenses. So make your own decesion.

[msedler]

appreciate the price info mario2008. hadnt gotten that from anywhere. yeah-since we are really hoping to get it done in one day i think we may go with the guide just so things go a little smoother and faster than if we were stumbling around ourselves (especially since this is also our first visit to the country)

[funfun]

"We have an appointment at the US embassy for 8:00am on the 4th"

if its the 4th, and its july, thats independance day or summut, and its the american embassy your off to, maybe only open halfe day or not full staff or fully closed, not sure, but if ya havent checked, worth a call maybe!

and

congrats, hope everthing goes well,

chris

[lopburi3]

The 4th of August is not the 4th of July.

[funfun]

The 4th of August is not the 4th of July.

too right,

sorry msedler, missed that , and hey hope all goes well,

chris

[highlander76]

A very good company in Chiang Mai that might be helpful is Star Visa using them for the wifes visa for UK they are almost next door to the USA consulate in Chiang Mai

[msedler]

funfun- Thanks for the congrats, well wishes and welcome.

highlander76- checked out the site you recommended: www.starvisaservices.co.uk

but we will not require a visa as we are staying less than 30 days and from US. Thanks though.

In other news, was finalizing the guide stuff and now the price has gone up to THB 2,000. Not sure if this is still a good deal or not -it's for 10 hours which seems like it would be a good deal to me but my friend in Chiang Mai said i should not pay more than THB 1,000-1,500. Service i have been in contact with is: //orientalescape.com/service.html

Anyone know of any other guides/translators/companions to help? or has anyone had any experience with this company?

[justride]

It was too much trouble to have a legal marriage in Thailand. We had the legal marriage here in the U.S. them had a Thai marriage over there. That was back in 1996, I don’t know how much has changed since them. Congratulation to both of you.

[msedler]

justride: thanks for the congrats

yes, it is alot of trouble unfortunately.... but we are determined to do it. Just hope it goes somewhat smoothly so we have the remainder of the time to relax and enjoy the trip with no worries!

[lopburi3]

A lot of trouble? In the eye of the beholder I guess but to me it does not seem much of a process for most people without special circumstances. You visit your embassy to obtain freedom to marry document, you have it translated into Thai and registered at MFA (translation service can often do both in a matter of hours) and then you visit a district office for 15-20 minutes to type up the registration of marriage (or you arrange from them to do this at an outside venue for a small fee). There should be two people to witness your signatures.

[msedler]

The part that is the trouble is that the embassy says you can wait anywhere between 1-4 hours (sometimes it takes one hour to even get in,even with appointment. "appointment" is simply time that you should arrive for your "security screening"). Document translation seems like a breeze then but if mario2008 above is correct then it will take another 2-3 hours at the foreign minisitry. Amphur then also seems easy but just with the US Embassy and Foreign Ministry together you are looking at 3-7 hours to acquire a piece of paper. To me 3-7 hours not counting travel time and having to go 4 different places in a country I am visiting for the first time, all for a sheet of paper is a bit troublesome.

[maxjay]

The part that is the trouble is that the embassy says you can wait anywhere between 1-4 hours (sometimes it takes one hour to even get in,even with appointment. "appointment" is simply time that you should arrive for your "security screening"). Document translation seems like a breeze then but if mario2008 above is correct then it will take another 2-3 hours at the foreign minisitry. Amphur then also seems easy but just with the US Embassy and Foreign Ministry together you are looking at 3-7 hours to acquire a piece of paper. To me 3-7 hours not counting travel time and having to go 4 different places in a country I am visiting for the first time, all for a sheet of paper is a bit troublesome.

Keep in mind Bangkok traffic.

There are services located up the road from the embassy that will take care of everything, translation, foreign ministry, etc. After you have the documents from the embassy, take them to the service, come back later in the day or the next day to pick them up. Then on the 8th go to the amphur.

8/8/08, good day, very auspicious numbers.

[msedler]

maxjay: "8/8/08, good day, very auspicious numbers" yes, thats why we chose the date! 8/8/08, we will have been together EXACTLY 35 months on that date as well (3+5=8), both of our birthdays add up to 8, plus 8 is the infinity symbol, couldnt have wound up better!!

Braylon-thanks for the site i will check it out now

[msedler]

maxjay: you also mentioned there were services that can do everything for me paperwork wise after the embassy and then i just come back and pick them up. this is GREATLY helpful info. thank you! by anychance do you know how to find these services or are they just pretty much along wireless road?

[maxjay]

The list of translators in your OP can help. Most of them are located in the Wireless Rd./Ploenchit Rd. corner area.

Good Luck & Congratulations!

[msedler]

thanks again maxjay

[msedler]

Just wanted to write an update to my post here now that we are back in case someone else in a similar situation finds this through a search.

Wedding went perfectly and the paperwork also went off without a hitch. Here's what we did with some links included that may be helpful to people.

As previously mentioned we were going to be spending the majority of our time in chiang mai so we wanted to get bangkok out of the way as fast as possible. So note IT IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE TO GET THE NEEDED PAPERWORK DONE IN ONE DAY

We arrived on a sunday evening, so that night we spent at the "Chateau De Bangkok"

www.accorhotels.com.au/Chateau-Bang...default_en.aspx

very nice hotel in a perfect location. (Book online for cheaper rates of course).We woke up in the morning and literally walked less than 5 minutes to the US Embassy.

In order to avoid having to wait at all-make an appointment at the embassy here:

https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.as...K&appcode=1

if you have an appointment , upon arrival, simply walk up to any window. also to save time have one of these forms already filled out for EACH of you:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/marriageaffidavit.pdf

on the form it states.."free to marry thai citizen" if marrying another us citizen either edit it in pdf to "american citizen" or simply cross "thai" out and write "american" citizen. either is perfectly acceptable as they do not have an "american" form (go figure-lol..it is the US embassy isnt it???)

anyhow, at the window show them your passports, appt printout, and completed forms, they will then give you a paper to take to the cashier...pay the cashier (1200 bhat), and come back...you then raise your right hand, take an oath the paperwork is true, they stamp it, and you are on your way...took 30 mins!

you then need the paperwork translated into thai....diagnol from the embassy is the translator service we used...cant miss it as there are people outside that will stop you when you walk by and ask if you need translation service

give them the papers, come back in 30mins-1hr(depending on how busy they are that day), pay them 400bhat and you have your translation.

we then needed to take the translation to the thai ministry of foreign affairs so we checked out of the hotel and we hired this driver:

www.bobtransports.com

very professional, does not try to get you to go places you do not want to just for kickbacks. is very very helpful and very knowledgeable with whatever you may need. Offers airport pickup and drop off as well as full day driving services. Everything was arranged through email and he was promptly on time for everything.

For the ministry of foreign affairs, bring your original paperwork, translated paperwork, and a copy of your passports. go the the 3rd floor and proceed to the desk immediately to your left. The person at the desk may or may not speak english so simply show him your translated document and he will direct you to push a number on a machine to get a numbered ticket....(this placed eerily remined me of the dept of motor vehicles!..take a number wait and then proceed to the window!)...anyhow we waited about 40 mins before we were called. at the counter ask for "expedited" service and you will have your paperwork in about 2-3hrs (for 800bhat of course though)....after paying you receive a receipt. your then free to leave and come back in 2-3 hrs (or a little longer of course)..when you come back, no need to take a number-proceed to the document pickup window-show them your receipt and they give you your completed papers.

saw a few sites and then caught a flight to chiang mai

Once you have all the "stamps" and paperwork from bangkok above you are good to go! last step then is just to go to a local amphur (city hall) we did a traditional thai wedding and had a morning "ceremony" at a temple (northern insight meditation center in chiang mai) which consisted of breakfast with the monks/students, a blessing by the head monk, and then lining up to hand out food to the monks for their alms rounds (begging bowls)..released some turtles for merit....then the nightime ceremony with the string binding ceremony was done and a nice party afterwards ..it was early for the morning part of course so after that ceremony we went to the chiang mai city amphur (although you can go to any amphur no matter where you are in thailand)....

***note when going to an amphur for this step NOBODY speaks english there so it is absolutely vital to take a translator***

the amphur is again like the dept of motor vehicles-lol...take a number and wait...we waited about an hour before we were called...once your called they review your papers, fill out your "marriage registration" and they give you a nice pretty marriage certificate...so then thats it-you are "officially and legally" married in thailand as well as the US!!!

awesome trip, had a wonderful time, beautiful country! and we both cant wait to go back!

if anyone would like to view a few pics we have some here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/msedler8/ThailandWedding1

the absolutely beautiful and very very friendly guesthouse we stayed at in chiang mai is here(also where we had the nightime ceremony):

www.santitham.com

if anyone that finds this post and needs help or has any questions about the whole thing..feel free to send me an email-(msedler8 at gmail dot com)

and i hope this can be at least slightly helpful to somebody else

[Crossy]

Great report M thanks

Congratulations, hope you're very happy together

[Tinkelbell]

Just wanted to write an update to my post here now that we are back in case someone else in a similar situation finds this through a search.

Wedding went perfectly and the paperwork also went off without a hitch. Here's what we did with some links included that may be helpful to people.

As previously mentioned we were going to be spending the majority of our time in chiang mai so we wanted to get bangkok out of the way as fast as possible. So note IT IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE TO GET THE NEEDED PAPERWORK DONE IN ONE DAY

We arrived on a sunday evening, so that night we spent at the "Chateau De Bangkok"

www.accorhotels.com.au/Chateau-Bang...default_en.aspx

very nice hotel in a perfect location. (Book online for cheaper rates of course).We woke up in the morning and literally walked less than 5 minutes to the US Embassy.

In order to avoid having to wait at all-make an appointment at the embassy here:

https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.as...K&appcode=1

if you have an appointment , upon arrival, simply walk up to any window. also to save time have one of these forms already filled out for EACH of you:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/marriageaffidavit.pdf

on the form it states.."free to marry thai citizen" if marrying another us citizen either edit it in pdf to "american citizen" or simply cross "thai" out and write "american" citizen. either is perfectly acceptable as they do not have an "american" form (go figure-lol..it is the US embassy isnt it???)

anyhow, at the window show them your passports, appt printout, and completed forms, they will then give you a paper to take to the cashier...pay the cashier (1200 bhat), and come back...you then raise your right hand, take an oath the paperwork is true, they stamp it, and you are on your way...took 30 mins!

you then need the paperwork translated into thai....diagnol from the embassy is the translator service we used...cant miss it as there are people outside that will stop you when you walk by and ask if you need translation service

give them the papers, come back in 30mins-1hr(depending on how busy they are that day), pay them 400bhat and you have your translation.

we then needed to take the translation to the thai ministry of foreign affairs so we checked out of the hotel and we hired this driver:

www.bobtransports.com

very professional, does not try to get you to go places you do not want to just for kickbacks. is very very helpful and very knowledgeable with whatever you may need. Offers airport pickup and drop off as well as full day driving services. Everything was arranged through email and he was promptly on time for everything.

For the ministry of foreign affairs, bring your original paperwork, translated paperwork, and a copy of your passports. go the the 3rd floor and proceed to the desk immediately to your left. The person at the desk may or may not speak english so simply show him your translated document and he will direct you to push a number on a machine to get a numbered ticket....(this placed eerily remined me of the dept of motor vehicles!..take a number wait and then proceed to the window!)...anyhow we waited about 40 mins before we were called. at the counter ask for "expedited" service and you will have your paperwork in about 2-3hrs (for 800bhat of course though)....after paying you receive a receipt. your then free to leave and come back in 2-3 hrs (or a little longer of course)..when you come back, no need to take a number-proceed to the document pickup window-show them your receipt and they give you your completed papers.

saw a few sites and then caught a flight to chiang mai

Once you have all the "stamps" and paperwork from bangkok above you are good to go! last step then is just to go to a local amphur (city hall) we did a traditional thai wedding and had a morning "ceremony" at a temple (northern insight meditation center in chiang mai) which consisted of breakfast with the monks/students, a blessing by the head monk, and then lining up to hand out food to the monks for their alms rounds (begging bowls)..released some turtles for merit....then the nightime ceremony with the string binding ceremony was done and a nice party afterwards ..it was early for the morning part of course so after that ceremony we went to the chiang mai city amphur (although you can go to any amphur no matter where you are in thailand)....

***note when going to an amphur for this step NOBODY speaks english there so it is absolutely vital to take a translator***

the amphur is again like the dept of motor vehicles-lol...take a number and wait...we waited about an hour before we were called...once your called they review your papers, fill out your "marriage registration" and they give you a nice pretty marriage certificate...so then thats it-you are "officially and legally" married in thailand as well as the US!!!

awesome trip, had a wonderful time, beautiful country! and we both cant wait to go back!

if anyone would like to view a few pics we have some here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/msedler8/ThailandWedding1

the absolutely beautiful and very very friendly guesthouse we stayed at in chiang mai is here(also where we had the nightime ceremony):

www.santitham.com

if anyone that finds this post and needs help or has any questions about the whole thing..feel free to send me an email-(msedler8 at gmail dot com)

and i hope this can be at least slightly helpful to somebody else

You had done a good deed to any young couple who's looking to be married by taking this route.

Very useful info indeed. I'm sure they would like to say 'Thanks'.

Wish you and Mrs. enjoy many many more years as a married couple.