Thai Wife Would Like To Travel To Us With Us Citizen Baby Daughter

[thaisail]

My Thai wife has been issued a 10 year multiple entry visa for the US. Since that visa was issued in 2005, we have gotten married in Thailand in December 2006 and my wife has added my last name to hers on her Thai ID card and house book. We had a baby daughter born in June 2007 and the baby now has a US passport and US social security number. However, the baby has only a US passport and my Thai wife has only her original Thai passport that is still valid but the name has not been changed in her Thai passport to add my last name since she had this passport before we were married. The Thai passport office is demanding that I be present to issue my baby daughter a Thai passport. However, I am unable to go to Thailand because of my job at this time and would like my wife and baby daughter to fly to Florida for a one month visit. My wife would like to change her Thai passport to include her married name but this means that the new passport will not have her 10 year multiple entry US visa in it. I know that if my wife tries to fly to the US, she may be allowed on the plane but the last name on the baby's passport will not be the same last name as the one on my wife's passport. So perhaps the Thai Immigration will not allow her to board the flight in Phuket. Also if she does manage to enter the US, there may be problems when she tries to return to Thailand with the baby when the baby has only a US passport. Does anyone see a solution on how to get out of this mess?

[thaihome]

The wife's problem is easy. The passport office should put a notation in her current passport with her new name. Visa still good.

Baby is a bit harder if indeed they won't give her a passport without you being there. Not sure why they are saying that. There may be forms you have to sign, should ask if it possible to sign them without being there and have them notarized or something. Thai bureaucrats (like all good bureaucrats) are good at throwing up obstacles and unless you ask the right questions, they will not offer any way around. There may be an agent around that could make the proper arrangements.

If the baby tries leaves Thailand on the US passport, there may be a problem as there probably is no entry stamp in the passport. If they do let the baby leave on the US passport, it would not really be a problem to come back in on it as she is a Thai citizen and therefore, even if she enters on US passport she can stay as long as she wants.

TH

[thaisail]

The wife's problem is easy. The passport office should put a notation in her current passport with her new name. Visa still good.

Baby is a bit harder if indeed they won't give her a passport without you being there. Not sure why they are saying that. There may be forms you have to sign, should ask if it possible to sign them without being there and have them notarized or something. Thai bureaucrats (like all good bureaucrats) are good at throwing up obstacles and unless you ask the right questions, they will not offer any way around. There may be an agent around that could make the proper arrangements.

If the baby tries leaves Thailand on the US passport, there may be a problem as there probably is no entry stamp in the passport. If they do let the baby leave on the US passport, it would not really be a problem to come back in on it as she is a Thai citizen and therefore, even if she enters on US passport she can stay as long as she wants.

TH

I will send my wife your message about making a notation in her passport that she is now married and adding my last name. I did not know that this was a possibility. That will take care of the wife's problem. My wife got a letter from the Ampur where the baby was born and she is hoping that this letter will make it possible for the baby to be issued a Thai passport without a letter from me.

As for the baby's US passport, we already made a trip to Langkawi on my boat from Phuket. They did stamp the baby's passport and when we returned to Chalong to clear back in one month later, they did not know how to handle the situation. He had to call the Immigration HQ in Phuket town and he then put an entry stamp allowing my daughter to stay in Thailand for 28 days. This was back in January 2008. So if she leaves Thailand with her US passport she will have an overstay of more than 6 months! So that is why we are working so hard on a Thai passport for the baby.

My wife is going on Monday to the passport office in Bangkok on her way back from Loei. I am worried that this demonstration planned by Thaksin supporters may be in the area. Should I have her wait until this thing blows over before she comes to Bangkok?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

The wife's problem is easy. The passport office should put a notation in her current passport with her new name. Visa still good.

Baby is a bit harder if indeed they won't give her a passport without you being there. Not sure why they are saying that. There may be forms you have to sign, should ask if it possible to sign them without being there and have them notarized or something. Thai bureaucrats (like all good bureaucrats) are good at throwing up obstacles and unless you ask the right questions, they will not offer any way around. There may be an agent around that could make the proper arrangements.

If the baby tries leaves Thailand on the US passport, there may be a problem as there probably is no entry stamp in the passport. If they do let the baby leave on the US passport, it would not really be a problem to come back in on it as she is a Thai citizen and therefore, even if she enters on US passport she can stay as long as she wants.

TH

I will send my wife your message about making a notation in her passport that she is now married and adding my last name. I did not know that this was a possibility. That will take care of the wife's problem. My wife got a letter from the Ampur where the baby was born and she is hoping that this letter will make it possible for the baby to be issued a Thai passport without a letter from me.

As for the baby's US passport, we already made a trip to Langkawi on my boat from Phuket. They did stamp the baby's passport and when we returned to Chalong to clear back in one month later, they did not know how to handle the situation. He had to call the Immigration HQ in Phuket town and he then put an entry stamp allowing my daughter to stay in Thailand for 28 days. This was back in January 2008. So if she leaves Thailand with her US passport she will have an overstay of more than 6 months! So that is why we are working so hard on a Thai passport for the baby.

My wife is going on Monday to the passport office in Bangkok on her way back from Loei. I am worried that this demonstration planned by Thaksin supporters may be in the area. Should I have her wait until this thing blows over before she comes to Bangkok?

Demonstration?? Shouldn't be a problem since the passport offices is on Chang Wattana Road out near Don Muang Airport. See attached map. Did she bring the wedding certificate with her? Hope so. Driving, I assume.

Re minors and Thai passports, check here:

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/474.php

Documents required when applying for a Thai passport

Males

Identity card.

Females

Identity card.

Minors (under 20 years of age)

1. Birth certificate (new born -14 years) or identity card (15-20 years)

2. Marriage Registration Certificate of mother and father.

3. Identity cards of mother and father.

4. Consent of parents or legal guardian (s) Minors under 15 years of age must come to the passport office with both father and mother or legal guardian (s). In case one of the parents is unable to come , he/she must sign a letter of consent, which must be brought to the office by the other parent and the minor. Minors over 15 years of age can apply for a passport with a letter of consent alone signed by both father and mother or legal guardian (s).

xxxxxxxxx

When's the next hurricane due in Florida??

Mac

[thaisail]

When's the next hurricane due in Florida??

Mac

Thanks Mac for the helpful info. Quiet now in Florida but the season is not over yet! What about the flood in the Northeast? My wife and 15 month old baby are on their way to Bangkok by overnight bus Sunday night from Loei. Should I advise her to remain in Loei until the flooding stops? Also the demonstrations I was referring to was that the Thai government intends to take over the Don Muang airport offices during the next week and my wife and daughter are traveling alone to take their flight from Don Muang back to Phuket on Tuesday. Hope the PAD will stay away from Don Muang!