Marriage In Thailand

[gonzoham]

I have read many postings on this subject in Thaivisa.com and they have provided valuable information. This post is to hopefully address a few specific questions that I have. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I am a middle-aged, Australian professional who has been in Thailand for the last 2 years and will return to Australia in July. I have known my fiance for over a year and we plan to marry next month, and once again in Australia for my family and friends in October. She is in her 30s, has a post-graduate degree from a top university, a good career, comes from a good Thai middle-class family and has travelled to various parts of Asia and Europe for her work over the last couple of years. We are marrying for the right reasons, neither of us has been married before, neither of us have children, and we both have the full support of our families.

However, obviously there are concerns with visas/ citizenship/ immigration protocol etc.with any mixed marriage. My questions are:

1, Any suggestions on how best streamline the 'paperwork' process. Waitings lists of up to 10months seems a bit too long, are there ways to speed it up?

2, What exactly is the Australian government looking for? Stories seem to vary a great deal from one couple to the next, so its hard to get a clear picture.

3, What resident/ citizenship rights do foreigners get when marrying a Thai?

[catwho]

first you go to www.immi.gov.au/allforms partner visa 47 sp...40 sp

look at check list. and or go to AVAC 34th fl..CC tower 889 st sathon rd bkk.there is some there who will answer your questions from 2pm to 4pm each thursday[only].

the time save is not filling it in its getting all thats on checklist and more.

cat

[gburns57au]

1, To this point in time there hasnt been any reports on this board of people waiting 10 months for visa grants

2, That you can show an ongoing and genuine relationship and the applicant to be of good character

3. I dont believe that marrying a Thai gives you anything in regards to residence or citizenship rights in Thailand.

[kdc1899]

I believe that in most countries you can start the immigrant visa process and then get her to your country on a tourist visa and then finish up in your country with a change of status

[gonzoham]

Thanks for your responses, they were most helpful.

[David48]

1, To this point in time there hasnt been any reports on this board of people waiting 10 months for visa grants

Umm ... other people's experience here have been different.

From http://www.thaivisa....ctive-marriage/

processing-time-aust-partnerprospective-marriage

Posted 2011-02-25 17:24:42 Post #1

I confirmed with a senior case officer at the Australian Embassy today that for offshore partner/prospective marriage visa applications lodged after the 7th of February 2011 standard processing time will be up to 10 months now.

This is not hearsay or rumor, but straight from the horses mouth. Unfortunately prepare for a long wait guys and girls.

Bridge

Posted 2011-02-25 18:44:10 Post #2

(Visa Plus ... the sponsor of this Forum)

I can confirm this. We were informed of a minimum 9 - 10 months processing time when we submitted on behalf of a client.

From the Aust Gov Imm web site ...

http://www.immi.gov....r/visas/5.0.htm

Family Visa Processing Times

The table below details the processing time service standards for visas for migrating as a spouse, de facto partner, fiancé, child or parent.

Visa Application Lodged in Australia Lodged outside Australia

Low Risk High Risk Low Risk High Risk

Prospective Marriage

(subclass 300) n/a n/a 5 months 12 months

Partner (temporary)

(subclass 309, 820) 6 months 8 months 5 months 12 months

Partner (permanent)

(subclass 100, 801) 6 months 8 months 6 months 8 months

So there you have it Mr Burns

Edited February 7, 2012 by David48

[Elwood62]

David48

yes thats what they are saying but if you read a few posts here there are those that have had theirs completed after about 5-6 months...some of this will depend on the individual application.

so what i am saying is there is not hard and fast rule here for them to say 10 + months etc is covering them so people are not contacting every other day

this is my view and yours will be different

cheers

[gburns57au]

David48

yes thats what they are saying but if you read a few posts here there are those that have had theirs completed after about 5-6 months...some of this will depend on the individual application.

so what i am saying is there is not hard and fast rule here for them to say 10 + months etc is covering them so people are not contacting every other day

this is my view and yours will be different

cheers

Thank you, that would have been my reply as well......in fact I posted as much from the start when it was first brought up as it has happened before and nothing changed

[David48]

David48

yes thats what they are saying but if you read a few posts here there are those that have had theirs completed after about 5-6 months...some of this will depend on the individual application.

I'm sure you are correct ... what I was trying to raise as an issue was

gburns57au

1, To this point in time there hasnt been any reports on this board of people waiting 10 months for visa grants

... when clearly there have been.

But maybe enough said now, and in fairness to the op, lets try and solve his unique problem.

[Elwood62]

1, Any suggestions on how best streamline the 'paperwork' process. Waitings lists of up to 10months seems a bit too long, are there ways to speed it up? Have all paper work as needed so be prepared and ahve more than they want/ask for. If you have an idea of what they want then you can be a step ahead of them but there are some things they will ask for that you can get before only when they want eg police checks and medicals.

2, What exactly is the Australian government looking for? Stories seem to vary a great deal from one couple to the next, so its hard to get a clear picture. Proof that you are both inhtis for the long haul evidence of this as much as you can muster. for your self and those you know family and friends you being married will not satisfy this they still need proof

3, What resident/ citizenship rights do foreigners get when marrying a Thai? none in thailand and makes not difference in AUS for you. they get benifets on AUS thats all,.

[Will27]

1, Any suggestions on how best streamline the 'paperwork' process. Waitings lists of up to 10months seems a bit too long, are there ways to speed it up? Have all paper work as needed so be prepared and ahve more than they want/ask for. If you have an idea of what they want then you can be a step ahead of them but there are some things they will ask for that you can get before only when they want eg police checks and medicals.

2, What exactly is the Australian government looking for? Stories seem to vary a great deal from one couple to the next, so its hard to get a clear picture. Proof that you are both inhtis for the long haul evidence of this as much as you can muster. for your self and those you know family and friends you being married will not satisfy this they still need proof

3, What resident/ citizenship rights do foreigners get when marrying a Thai? none in thailand and makes not difference in AUS for you. they get benifets on AUS thats all,.

The 510 hours of free English lessons could come in handy.

Regards

Will

[Elwood62]

no just for my typing mate

[gburns57au]

1, To this point in time there hasnt been any reports on this board of people waiting 10 months for visa grants

... when clearly there have been.

But maybe enough said now, and in fairness to the op, lets try and solve his unique problem.

David......three grant notifications in that link ......one was 13 weeks, one was 5 months......Ozemades application was an Onshore application.....the waiting times referred to here were for Offshore at the Thai Embassy......Onshore applications are a totally different item

[David48]

But maybe enough said now, and in fairness to the op, lets try and solve his unique problem.

Dear Mr Burns ... maybe you could enlighten the OP with recent applications you have made for a similar class of Visa within the last year or two and the processing times involved and the problems that you encountered during the applications.

The OP seems to have a genuine concern and requires answers from some of the old hands.

With the quantum of experience you have gained over the years applying for, or assisting with Visa Applications, you must have developed close relationships with the staff both in Thailand and Australia so maybe you could share that contact information with the OP so that he has the confidence of speaking to someone informally at either processing centre or Embassy.

Edited February 8, 2012 by David48

[gburns57au]

But maybe enough said now, and in fairness to the op, lets try and solve his unique problem.

Dear Mr Burns ... maybe you could enlighten the OP with recent applications you have made for a similar class of Visa within the last year or two and the processing times involved and the problems that you encountered during the applications.

The OP seems to have a genuine concern and requires answers from some of the old hands.

With the quantum of experience you have gained over the years applying for, or assisting with Visa Applications, you must have developed close relationships with the staff both in Thailand and Australia so maybe you could share that contact information with the OP so that he has the confidence of speaking to someone informally at either processing centre or Embassy.

The OP was happy with the responses he received to the original post.....including my own....other people obviously were not.