Fiancee Visa - Proof Of Single Status

[andy559]

Hi all,

I am in the process of gathering the supporting documentation for my fiancee to submit her Settlement (Fiancee) visa (in Bangkok) to allow us to get married in the UK later this year. I have been trawlling the forums for the last few weeks try to find any information and experience as to whether we need to provide proof that she is free to marry, she nor I have ever been married before. I notice that a variety of responses have been posted on this issue over the last few years, but no definitive consensus. From her perspective, I believe it would entail her going to the local Amphur/district office witha friend and family member.

Has anyone had any recent experience of this when applying for Settlement (Fiancee) visas? VFS are unhelpful on the matter.

thanks

[Thongkorn]

I don't think you have to prove that she has not been married before , only you by your affidavit to marry. The Thai ID card is up to the lady if she wants to put single or married, I think trust and Honesty comes in somewhere.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

It is helpful but not required, I ask our clients to get this if they can however many do not even bother to get the document.

[ayuthaya1960]

Hi,

when you apply for marriage, your girl must have a "single paper".

Normally she must go to her local "ampur office" to get that paper.

Good luck.

[andy559]

Hi,

when you apply for marriage, your girl must have a "single paper".

Normally she must go to her local "ampur office" to get that paper.

Good luck.

Hi,

Thanks, you talking about when we go to get a Notice of Marriage from our local registry office here in the UK. I was under the impression that the fiancee settlement visa provides that clearance. I am going to see our local registrar here in london tomorrow, so I will check with them.

cheers

[andy559]

It is helpful but not required, I ask our clients to get this if they can however many do not even bother to get the document.

Thanks, sounds like it isn't a requirement but nice to have. We will obtain it anyway, just to make sure

[Basil B]

AFAIK in the UK you do not have to prove you are single to marry, therefore to ask someone from another country to prove they are single would be racial discrimination.

When applying for a fiance(e) visa such evidence could sway a decision in your favor if the ECO had any doubts as to the applicants real intentions to marry but doubt it makes much difference as many seem to have no problem getting a visa without it.

[owl1971]

Hi,

My girlfriend provided a Single status document (translated to english ) with her succefull Fiancee visa application (UK) , not sure if it is a requirement , I think it is always better to provide more than less (Our application was like war and Peace).

Good Luck with your application , Dont forget the new english language requirement which was introduced in Nov 10.

Cheers

Dave

[7by7]

From SET1.15 What evidence is required to prove freedom to marry?

For single adults, the Registrar normally accepts the parties’ declaration that they are free to marry. The ECO should, therefore, accept a similar verbal statement by an applicant, together with any supporting correspondence from the person he/she is going to marry. This is unless there are strong grounds to believe that one of the parties is still married/in a civil partnership or has been married/in a civil partnership previously and is concealing this fact. In such cases the ECO should make whatever enquiries as seem appropriate.

The ECO should warn anyone going to the United Kingdom for marriage who has previously been married/in a civil partnership that he/she may be required to provide the Registrar with evidence of freedom to marry before the Registrar can accept a notice of marriage.

In other words; If never married they will take your word for it, but if divorced or widowed then you should present the divorce certificate or previous partner's death certificate.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Hi,

when you apply for marriage, your girl must have a "single paper".

Normally she must go to her local "ampur office" to get that paper.

Good luck.

Hi,

Thanks, you talking about when we go to get a Notice of Marriage from our local registry office here in the UK. I was under the impression that the fiancee settlement visa provides that clearance. I am going to see our local registrar here in london tomorrow, so I will check with them.

cheers

Your visa allows you to marry she has already demonstrated she is eligible to marry. However if area registrars are now asking for this document its news to me.

[7by7]

News to me, too; and to Directgov!

You need to provide the following details :

• full name
• age - the minimum legal age in England and Wales is 16 years of age, but written consent may be required under 18 years
• address
• nationality
• current status – for example single, divorced
• occupation
• intended venue for your marriage or civil partnership

You will be asked for documentary evidence for some information, for example your nationality, so it is advisable to take your passport. You will also need evidence of the ending of any previous marriage or civil partnership.

If you are subject to immigration control, you need to produce documentary evidence to confirm that you satisfy the eligibility requirements

So if never married, a simple statement to that effect is sufficient, if previously married than evidence that marriage has ended is required.

See Marriage and civil partnership: your legal obligations for the full details.

As the quote from the Entry Clearance Guidance in my previous post shows, it's the same when applying for the fiance visa.

Ayuthaya1960 must be thinking of some other country.

[martspec]

I just went through this in December.

My wife was married before and she had to get paper that she was divorced. I had divorce papers with me and they would not even look at them. I had to travel from Udon Thani to bangkok and spend 2 days going to the U.S. Embassy to get 2 papers at $50 each. They did not care about divorce papers either. I had to swear before a notary public that I was single man with no dependents and able to support a wife, The second paper was redundant swearing that I was divorced from ex stating her name.

Logic would suggest that a single woman in Thailand would need a paper showing she was single as well. But who ever said there was anything logical about the Thai government. It is acceptable for a Thai man to have multiple wives. We spent most of 4 days at the local government office filling out papers and driving over town collecting stuff. My wife's divorce was recent so even though her husband deserted her 5 years ago she had to go to hospital for test to prove she was not pregnant. This process cost me about 10,000 baht. They also made my lady get new I.D. card with my last name on it.

I don't think you have to prove that she has not been married before , only you by your affidavit to marry. The Thai ID card is up to the lady if she wants to put single or married, I think trust and Honesty comes in somewhere.

[Basil B]

Martspec,

The OP was asking for advice on a Fiance(e) Visa for the UK not the USA for which the requirements differ.