Marriage & Emmigration Visa

[gdhm]

Hi,

I wish to ask 4 questions please,

1) When I (UK citizen) marry my Thai fiancee can anybody tell me the customary order of events for the marriage

Do you normally get your marriage legally registered first and then have the Religious ceremony OR,

do you normally have the Religious Ceremony first then get the marriage legalized a day or so later, OR

do most people do them both at the same time (or on the same day)

2) At what stage should I start the Visa process for my Fiancee to come and live with me in Spain permanently as my wife -BEFORE or AFTERour marriage.

3) Does anybody know of items/documents/proof etc. that I will DEFINITELY (or almost definitely) need to bring with me to Thailand in respect of aiding my future wife's Visa application

4) I intend to use a Law firm probably "Siam International Legal Group" as Tri Law (my intended advisers) have now pulled out of Visa (for most of EU and USA) work for new clients due to the complexities nowadays.

Has anybody any views or experiences with regards to the efficiency, effectiveness and charges of this Firm

Regards

Dave

[the scouser]

Dave,

Whether you marry and then hold the buddhist ceremony or vice versa is the decision of you and your fiancée. It doesn't matter which way round you do it as long as at some point you register the marriage at the amphur.

I would advise applying for your wife's Spanish papers once you're officially married. As you are a British citizen living in Spain, your wife will be able to apply for a family permit which is free of charge and should generally be issued on the day of application with the mimimum of enquiry. It is issued on the basis that you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country exercising your right to live and/or work in another EU country, and that you are entitled to have your immediate dependants (in this case your wife) join you. A family permit can only be refused in certain limited circumstances.

You will need to show that:-

1. you and your wife are married;

2. you are registered with the Spanish authorities; and

3. You can financially support your wife in Spain either from your own resources or through employment.

I have no experience of dealing with Siam International Legal Group.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[Rich05]

A family permit can only be refused in certain limited circumstances.

What are the "limited circumstances" scouser?

And after the marriage and application for a family permit, how long does it usually take before she can travel into the desired country? And do you know how long can she stay for before she needs to renew her visa?

[gdhm]

Hello Scouser,

Thank you Scouser for your time and response which is VERY reassuring.

I am certainly getting mixed information ranging from yours which is great news, to being told I will need interviews, possibly permit my Fiancee and my emails etc to be viewed, waiting for up to 6 months (needing to co-habit first), proof of income etc.

And Tri Laws response to me that worried me greatly (2 weeks after we had first been in contact and I was expecting to appoint them)

It read:

---------------------

>TRI LAW CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL LAW OFFICE

> 54 BB Building, Suite 1114, 11th Floor

> Sukhumvit Soi 21 (Asoke) Rd.

> Bangkok, Thailand 10110

Dear Dave:

>

> Thanks for your message of the 1st December. I also acknowledge receipt of

> the message of the 17th November, which I passed along to one of my

> colleagues for review.

>

> Our Managing Partner advised me last week that he is reviewing the list of

> services our firm is providing to client, and it seems at this time we will

> discontinue visa services for European, UK, and US visas. The reason is

> that barriers to immigration, or visits, to some of these countries are more

> pronounced this year; in particular, we have found the Spanish and British

> Embassies difficult to deal with--especially in respect to fiancee and

> spousal visas.

>

> Accordingly, and given your time-frame, I would recommend arranging with

> another firm in Bangkok to handle this matter. You might check with the

> following firm, which has offices in the US and UK as well:

>

> www.siam-legal.com.

>

> If there is any further assistance I can provide, please let me know.

>

> Sincerely,

>

>X.

-----------------

I am about to take my Pension and It is being processed as we speak . I assume a copy of my Bank statement (from the Internet) and the Offer document from the Pension Company will assist proff of my means to keep a wife here in Spain.

I do not think I will get the confirmation letter form the Pension Company before I need to travel. Unfortunately I was waiting 5 weeks on a bank loan and suffered a total reversal and a complete set of lies from the Deputy Manager here in Spain (hence the reason for taking the Pension immediately at considerable loss compared to waiting 20 months (but that’s another story) and hence not being in a position to get the confirmation of Pension document itself.

Many thanks for you help Scouser (once again)

Dave

[the scouser]

Rich,

Providing the basic requirements are met, a family permit can only be refused on grounds of either public policy, or security, or health; i.e. the applicant has, for example, either contracted a marriage of convenience, or is a terrorist, or is a nutter. Once the family permit is obtained it will be valid for immediate travel. I don't know for how long the intial visa will be valid.

Dave,

The evidence of income that you specified should be sufficient to demonstrate your ability to support both yourself and your wife.

I would urge you to also contact the Spanish embassy in Bangkok for advice. The reason I say that is I have based my advice on the UK's interpretation of the relevant EU legislation and whilst the same law is applicable to Spain, the authorities there might interpret it slightly differently.

Scouse.

[the scouser]

Dave,

I've just had a browse of the Spanish embassy's website and they don't even require evidence of your ability to support your wife, although I'd still provide it just to be on the safe side.

And to think what took me two minutes to establish, a firm of lawyers refused to take on as being too complicated! It makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Scouse.

II. Requirements to apply for a visa to join a family member who is Spanish, a national an European Union country, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Persons entitled to apply for this visa:

- spouse

- children under 18 years of age.

-parents, when they are 65 years old, are economically dependent on the person living in Spain, or if there is a justified enough reason to apply for this visa.

Documents to be presented:

1.- Application form.

2.- Four photographs (ID card size).

3.- Passport with a validity of at least 4 months from the date of application.

4.- Document proving that the applicant is in fact related by blood or by law to the person who is a legal resident in Spain. This document must be legalized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with an official translation into Spanish.

When the applicant is married to an E.U. citizen, the latter should present a document issued by his/her Embassy in Bangkok stating that the marriage, celebrated according to the Thai law, or that of a third country, has the same legal consequences as if it had been done under his/her national law.

[gdhm]

Hi Scouser,

I don't know how to thank you. You have been so helpful (and not for the first time either).

I have been quoted the following prices by Siam Legal

Dear David,

Thank you for contacting us. We have generated a support ticket to help us track your inquiry. Your ticket code is #@++***. Please use this code in any further communication.

As regards to your inquiries on our marriage and visa services, we are able and willing to assist you and your Thai girlfriend with this matter. The fact that both are you will be in Khon Kaen would not be a problem. However, you may need to come to Bangkok to register this marriage. Our fees are as follow:

- Marriage Service 12,900 Baht

- Prenuptial Agreement 24,000 Baht

- Marriage visa 44,000 Baht

Those fees do not include governmental fee, 7% VAT, Postal fees.

In case this email does not fully answer your question, or you would like to contact us for any reason, simply reply to this email. You can also get immediate assistance using our 24x7 Chat support service at

Best Regards,

#@##@

Legal Counsellor

Siam International Legal Group

----------------------------

Scouser, I have removed the name of my contact as this is only fair.

My instinct is that I need help with the marriage documentation because of all the translations and official stampings required (Thai, English, Spanish) AND for the Pre Nuptial in 3 languages -of which it must be enforceable in Thai and Spanish Law).

I have queried 2 items with Siam Legal:

1) the cost of the Pre-nuptial as it is not far short of twice what Tri Law quoted and I feel it is on the high side (but I am no expert on Thai Legal service pricing policy).

2) Why I and my Fiancee need to travel from Khon Kaen to Bangkok to register our marriage. I appreciate I MUST present my "Affirmation of Freedom to Marry" completed document IN PERSON at the British Embassy BUT I am a total loss as to why I need to register the marriage in Bangkok and why I cannot in Khon Kaen at an Ampur office

I get the feeling Scouser that you may feel the prices quoted are excessive - especially for the Visa application (or am I assuming too much).

If I am correct from what you are appearing to suggest then

Marriage visa 44,000 Baht

would seem excessive OR do you feel I am missing some important point. Obviously a mediator with experience MAY be worth payment.

ObviouslyScouser I do not wish to EVEN TRY to put you on the spot BUT your instincts, experience and opinion will be invaluable to me in ME making a decision or to seek assistance elsewhere other than a Law Firm. If you are willing to give it.

I will ask my Embassy in Bangkok regarding the necessary declaration about

When the applicant is married to an E.U. citizen, the latter should present a document issued by his/her Embassy in Bangkok stating that the marriage, celebrated according to the Thai law, or that of a third country, has the same legal consequences as if it had been done under his/her national law.

Once again Scouser Thanks ever so much for your help

Regards

Dave

[the scouser]

Dave,

I've sent you a PM.

Scouse.