Name Change Certificate - Us Visa

[a107938]

Hi all,

My gf was previously married. She changed her last name to her husband's last name at that time. After they divorced, she changed her name back to her maiden name.

So... maiden name -> married name -> maiden name.

She was married / divorced at the same amphur in BKK. She traveled to her home province each time to effect the name change. If she was given a specific 'name change paper', which I don't think she was, she no longer has it.

The US Embassy is requesting this document.

She returned to her 'home' amphur to get a copy. They claim no such 'name change document' ever existed and they cannot provide any 'proof of legal name change'. Even the village headman was brought along, to no avail.

Questions:

1) If any kind soul has a 'redacted' (i.e., names and personal identifying info blotted out) scan of a 'name change certificate' or 'name change document' that they would provide, that would be great. At least then we could show the amphur what such a document looks like and maybe things would start to 'click' from there.

2) Is there anywhere else, other than the 'home' amphur, that such a document could or should be obtained?

3) Did anyone have success getting the US Embassy to accept the 'house book' ('tabien baan') or long form birth certificate instead? My understanding is that name changes are noted on these documents. Unfortunately, they are not the actual legal document that effected the change, which is what the embassy / USCIS would like to see.

Thanks.

Edited February 16, 2012 by a107938

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Seems to me that her Thai divorce certificate, or the backup paperwork to it, might have the name change noted. Check it out.

1. I'd give the blue tambien ban a shot, as it "should," hopefully, indicate the name changes.
   

Mac

[a107938]

Thanks, Mac. Unfortunately the Embassy / USCIS is indeed asking for the actual legal document that effected the name change as 'proof' that the name change was legal. After the fact evidence of the change being recorded on another document does not seem to work.

Supposedly, if you get a divorce certificate outside of your 'home' amphur, it comes with a name change paper that you're supposed to take to your home amphur within 60 days. If she received something like that, her home amphur kept it when she dutifully went there to make her name change. All she has is the actual divorce certificate.

I wonder if anyone else has been through this and what they did.

Edited February 16, 2012 by a107938