Taking My Wife Passport To My Home Country

[Saival]

Hello

I found this text when reading about rights of foreigners in Iceland:

"It is punishable by law if someone takes your passport or other documents

to limit your freedom of movement or so that you cannot identify

yourself."

My country, Iceland, does not have embassy in Thailand. To make a application for a permit to stay I have to take all my wife information and documents with me or send it by mail to Iceland. I'm going home soon (alone, my wife will come later) so the plan is that I will take everything with me and make the application for my wife.

I will fly to London first and then one day later to Iceland.

If I take all the documents regarding the application with me including her passport I'm not breaking any International laws about passports?

[VisasPlus]

Have you contacted the Danish Embassy ? In most countries, the Embassy of Denmark deals with visa applications for Iceland.

[phaethon]

Presumably you (will) have your wife's permission to take her passport with you, you will have documents on you that show you are married and that you have a good reason for having someone else's passport in your possession. I wouldn't worry about it, it's not like there's any chance of you trying to pass yourself off as her ( I assume there's no resemblance and you are more-or-less of opposite sex?).

The statement you quote is clearly intended to cover situations where the passport is taken without permission to maliciously deprive the holder of its use. Otherwise, technically, the postman would be in breach.

[Thongkorn]

Presumably you (will) have your wife's permission to take her passport with you, you will have documents on you that show you are married and that you have a good reason for having someone else's passport in your possession. I wouldn't worry about it, it's not like there's any chance of you trying to pass yourself off as her ( I assume there's no resemblance and you are more-or-less of opposite sex?).

The statement you quote is clearly intended to cover situations where the passport is taken without permission to maliciously deprive the holder of its use. Otherwise, technically, the postman would be in breach.

Did you know that you do not own your passport, it belongs to the relavant country and they can take it off you any time.without reason.

[paully]

I should have thought that a certified copy of her passport should suffice. Have they told you that they need her actual passport and not a copy? If so,how can they expect this if she is not actually in the country?

[7by7]

I imagine that as the OP wants to apply for a permit so his wife can stay in Iceland that the Icelandic authorities will want her original passport to place said permit in.

[NanLaew]

Did you know that you do not own your passport, it belongs to the relavant country and they can take it off you any time.without reason.

And the relevance of this to the OP is what?

I am with 7by on the need for the original passport being required. I can't see any country's immigration people being happy with copies these days, certified or otherwise. And the OP is doing nothing illegal by taking this passport to Iceland but, just in case he comes across an ignorant dipshit at some border crossing who may wonder why he is traveling solo with the travel document of a Thai female (a trafficked species) in his possession, a letter of permission signed by his wife would probably be handy. Maybe bung the local cop or someone at the district office to countersign? That will cost a few baht.

Edited November 24, 2011 by NanLaew

[Sophon]

Have you contacted the Danish Embassy ? In most countries, the Embassy of Denmark deals with visa applications for Iceland.

My thoughts too, but it seems they only handle applications for visas and not for residence permits (which I am guessing is what the OP is after). From www.ambbangkok.um.dk/en/menu/consularservices/visa/visaresidencepermittoiceland:

VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT TO ICELAND

Visa to Iceland (max. 90 days stay)

The Embassy has commissioned VFS Global Private Ltd. to operate the Danish Visa Application Centre in Bangkok. Applications for visa to Iceland can be submitted without prior appointment Monday to Friday from 8.00 – 12.00 am and from 1.00 - 3.00 pm at this address:

Danish Visa Application Centre

Unit 4, 8th Floor

Amarin Tower, no. 496-502

Ploenchit Road

Lumpini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Checklist mentioning required documentation for business visa to Iceland can be downloaded here.

Checklist mentioning required documentation for other types of visas to Iceland can be downloaded here.

Travellers to Iceland must apply for a visa to Iceland at the

Danish Visa Application Centre. Visa applications to Iceland are processed in the same way as visas to Denmark/Schengen with the exception that where the Embassy cannot process the application locally, the application is instead forwarded to the Icelandic Immigration Authority for evaluation.

As the application is forwarded by post to the Icelandic Immigration Authority the Embassy requires 2 sets of all documentation, including the application form. One will be sent to Iceland, the other will stay at the Embassy.

Invitation letter (should be filled out by the reference)

Visa fees

Residence Permits (stay longer than 90 days)

Applicants wishing to work, study, be reunited with family or other, should make their application directly with the Icelandic Immigration Authorities in Iceland.

When applying for a residence permit, the applicant must personally fill in and sign the application form. For work permits, usually the prospective employer in Iceland will apply on behalf of the applicant although the applicant must sign the application form him/herself.

Once processed, the Icelandic Immigration Service will send their decision regarding the application to the Danish Embassy in Bangkok.

If the residence permit is granted, the Danish Embassy in Bangkok will issue a visa according to the instructions of the Icelandic Immigration Authority. Upon arrival in Iceland, the applicant must contact the Icelandic Immigration Service to issue the final residence permit.

Sophon

Edited November 24, 2011 by Sophon

[paully]

I can't see any country's immigration people being happy with copies these days, certified or otherwise.

You can see it, if the person concerned is not actually in the country. The original passport will, of course, be required when they are ready to put the stamp in. For the application itself, a certified copy should suffice for consideration of said application. Naturally, it would be much easier and quicker if the OP's wife returned to Iceland asap with own original passport in hand ready to pop into an application envelope.

[hedonist44]

Presumably you (will) have your wife's permission to take her passport with you, you will have documents on you that show you are married and that you have a good reason for having someone else's passport in your possession. I wouldn't worry about it, it's not like there's any chance of you trying to pass yourself off as her ( I assume there's no resemblance and you are more-or-less of opposite sex?).

The statement you quote is clearly intended to cover situations where the passport is taken without permission to maliciously deprive the holder of its use. Otherwise, technically, the postman would be in breach.

Did you know that you do not own your passport, it belongs to the relavant country and they can take it off you any time.without reason.

Nice piece of fact, but not relevant to this topic.

[phaethon]

When you get to customs and they ask why your wife isn't with you... just slap your forehead and say "Sh*T! I KNEW there was something I'd forgotten..."

[tombkk]

I found this text when reading about rights of foreigners in Iceland:

"It is punishable by law if someone takes your passport or other documents

to limit your freedom of movement or so that you cannot identify

yourself."

[/unquote]

If you take the passport of a foreigner in Iceland with the intent to keep them from going home, you are in breach of the law. This is to prevent slave labour (especially in the sex trade).

If you take your wife's passport in order to apply for a visa, you are fine. If you want to make double-sure, ask her to sign a Power Of Attorney for you, but unless you fear that she will claim you took her passport against her will, I don't think this will be necessary.

Don't worry too much.

[VisasPlus]

Thanks. Good stuff.

Have you contacted the Danish Embassy ? In most countries, the Embassy of Denmark deals with visa applications for Iceland.

My thoughts too, but it seems they only handle applications for visas and not for residence permits (which I am guessing is what the OP is after). From www.ambbangkok.um.dk/en/menu/consularservices/visa/visaresidencepermittoiceland:

VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT TO ICELAND

Visa to Iceland (max. 90 days stay)

The Embassy has commissioned VFS Global Private Ltd. to operate the Danish Visa Application Centre in Bangkok. Applications for visa to Iceland can be submitted without prior appointment Monday to Friday from 8.00 – 12.00 am and from 1.00 - 3.00 pm at this address:

Danish Visa Application Centre

Unit 4, 8th Floor

Amarin Tower, no. 496-502

Ploenchit Road

Lumpini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

Checklist mentioning required documentation for business visa to Iceland can be downloaded here.

Checklist mentioning required documentation for other types of visas to Iceland can be downloaded here.

Travellers to Iceland must apply for a visa to Iceland at the

Danish Visa Application Centre. Visa applications to Iceland are processed in the same way as visas to Denmark/Schengen with the exception that where the Embassy cannot process the application locally, the application is instead forwarded to the Icelandic Immigration Authority for evaluation.

As the application is forwarded by post to the Icelandic Immigration Authority the Embassy requires 2 sets of all documentation, including the application form. One will be sent to Iceland, the other will stay at the Embassy.

Invitation letter (should be filled out by the reference)

Visa fees

Residence Permits (stay longer than 90 days)

Applicants wishing to work, study, be reunited with family or other, should make their application directly with the Icelandic Immigration Authorities in Iceland.

When applying for a residence permit, the applicant must personally fill in and sign the application form. For work permits, usually the prospective employer in Iceland will apply on behalf of the applicant although the applicant must sign the application form him/herself.

Once processed, the Icelandic Immigration Service will send their decision regarding the application to the Danish Embassy in Bangkok.

If the residence permit is granted, the Danish Embassy in Bangkok will issue a visa according to the instructions of the Icelandic Immigration Authority. Upon arrival in Iceland, the applicant must contact the Icelandic Immigration Service to issue the final residence permit.

Sophon

[Head Snake]

I also took my wife and newborn's passort back to my resident country so that I could get a entry visa for them.

THe lady told me it was illegal for me to do that. I did not know that. I thought I was doing the right thing.

oh well. live and learn. The office made copies of all our passports and I'll mail off my wife and kids passport back to them.