Name Change

[kwon]

Hi

We are now waiting for the marriage settlement visa to be processed. Our plan was to apply for the visa in her maiden name to avoid needing a new passport, then get her name changed on her ID and Tabien Baan, then collect the visa and fly to UK using her passport with her maiden name, then finally to get a new passport with her new name from the Thai embassy in London with new ID and marriage certificate as evidence.

We are just about to go to the local office in her hometown for the name change but had one thought - if she needs to show her ID card when collecting the settlement visa could it cause an issue if it has a different surname to the passport.

I think it should be ok as she only shows her ID to get into the VFS office as she has the collection receipt to show at the desk. If she needs to change her name after collection that will be a pain as she will have to fly back to her hometown again before flying to UK, but I don't want to take any chances on collecting the visa.

Any thoughts appreciated, especially from anyone who has been in the same situation.

Thanks

Kwon

[kwon]

Sorry no need to reply. Managed to speak to VFS and they said it's fine to change name, which we've just done. Found out though that the new ID won't be ready for 2 months for some reason by which time she will (hopefully) be in the UK so we have to get her family to post it to us.

[thecatman]

Sorry no need to reply. Managed to speak to VFS and they said it's fine to change name, which we've just done. Found out though that the new ID won't be ready for 2 months for some reason by which time she will (hopefully) be in the UK so we have to get her family to post it to us.

My wife also recently changed her name and got the new ID paperwork (but not the card). There is a problem/shortage of the ID cards at the moment, That's the reason your partners won't be ready for 2 months. It looks like you'll have the same issue as my wife has. The new ID isn't going to be ready for collection until mid May, we plan to fly to UK in early May. If her ID is not ready by then, she'll just have to go without it until she returns, as it has to be her, not a family member or anyone else, who collects the ID card.

[Thongkorn]

when you get to the Uk just add your Surname , its legal and quicker.

[kwon]

thecatman, we told the district office we she won't be in the country in 2 months and they said it was fine for her mum or dad to collect the ID on her behalf.

Thongkorn, please could you elaborate on this? My understanding was you need to have the name changed in the district office to get a new ID card as you have to take that to the Thai embassy in the UK to get a new passport.

[thecatman]

thecatman, we told the district office we she won't be in the country in 2 months and they said it was fine for her mum or dad to collect the ID on her behalf.

Thanks Kwon, that's interesting, as we also asked but was told no one else could collect.

Maybe we will try to send her sister down to collect afterall.

[7by7]

I'm not sure about Thailand, but in the UK there is no requirement for a wife to take her husband's surname on marriage.

So as far as the UK is concerned, there is no legal need to change the name in her passport at all. Her visa will be endorsed "Spouse of (your name)" so that will provide the link to you; but if in doubt she can always carry your wedding certificate as well.

My wife did change her ID card shortly after our marriage, but not her passport. She didn't do that until she renewed it at the RTE in London 4 years after first arriving in the UK.

Indeed, at one stage she had:-

Thai ID card in married name,

Thai passport in maiden name,

British passport in married name.

My wife last renewed her Thai passport while we were in Thailand, but my daughter renewed hers at the RTE in London a couple of months ago. They not only wanted her ID card, but a copy of the Tabien Bahn showing her address in Thailand. We had this as both her and my wife are registered at the house we own in Bangkok, not sure what would happen if one were a long term UK resident and not registered on a Tabien Bahn in Thailand (if that's possible).

[kwon]

From my research it used to be required in Thailand that a wife take her husband's surname but in recent years this has changed in line with UK. IIRC the Thai Ministry of foreign affairs marriage guidance section of their website still quotes the old rules to add confusion. We wanted to change her name just as a personal choice but it does add a slight level of bureaucracy (at this point hell why not add more!). Her passport happens to expire soon so at the time of renewal in UK we want to get that in her new name too. That's useful to know she also needed a Tabien Baan thanks - I will make sure she brings an extra copy to the UK with her. My only concern is the ID card then gets lost in the post to UK!!

[Thongkorn]

thecatman, we told the district office we she won't be in the country in 2 months and they said it was fine for her mum or dad to collect the ID on her behalf.

Thongkorn, please could you elaborate on this? My understanding was you need to have the name changed in the district office to get a new ID card as you have to take that to the Thai embassy in the UK to get a new passport.

As 7by 7n has said there is no legal requirement to change your wifes name in the UK. All this can be done at your leisure later on . It Is essayer to get married (in Thailand) and use your wifes name which would be in her passport and Thai ID card. when you get to the UK just Add your surname to your wifes name. It is quicker and less hassel, as i have said it can be done later.

[kwon]

Sorry still not quite clear about how to add my surname to wife's name in UK. Probably just me not getting it, but I thought her name is whatever it is registered as in Thailand. We've already changed hers in Thailand now anyway so probably academic.

[thecatman]

thecatman, we told the district office we she won't be in the country in 2 months and they said it was fine for her mum or dad to collect the ID on her behalf.

Thongkorn, please could you elaborate on this? My understanding was you need to have the name changed in the district office to get a new ID card as you have to take that to the Thai embassy in the UK to get a new passport.

As 7by 7n has said there is no legal requirement to change your wifes name in the UK. All this can be done at your leisure later on . It Is essayer to get married (in Thailand) and use your wifes name which would be in her passport and Thai ID card. when you get to the UK just Add your surname to your wifes name. It is quicker and less hassel, as i have said it can be done later.

No worries Thongkorn, we've already done all the name changing (Passport, Tabien Baan etc). Just waiting on the ID card to be ready.

Kwon, I believe that if you take her original ID (in maiden name), along with the marriage certificate etc when applying for a new Thai passport in UK, then the name in the new passport can then be changed to you wife's new married name.

[7by7]

She can't change her ID card in the UK, as this has to be done at her home ampur, but she can change her passport at the Thai embassy in Kensington.