How Does Marriage Impact On A Touris Visa?

[althemighty]

Ok so I was lucky enough to hear today that my fiance got her 3 month tourist visa. Our plan is to get married in bangkok on monday 9th of April we to do everything in a signle day. We are only in bangkok for 1 full day.

We want to change her surname but not change the passport or visa until she gets back to thailand in mid may. If we get married and change her surname do we have to change name on passport/visa before she leaves the country? Is it better to change her name after she gets back if so is there anything we should do when we marry to make this easier?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I don't really have any comment on your visa vs marriage Q, but would seem to me better to do the name changing on documents after you return to Thailand.

Regarding the marriage in Thailand, tho, have you reviewed your embassy's www page on the subject? Completed the steps required by the Thai authorities? If not, would think that you'd need a bit more than a day to do so.

http://www.thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/Consular_P4.html

Mac

a Yank

[damo]

My missus did this years ago here in Aus, posted to the Thai embassy Canberra, wasn't a big deal, same passport was returned with a stamp endorsing my wifes new surname, the photo page remained the same. 2006 though so things may have changed.

Edited March 11, 2012 by damo

[Berek]

The wife changed her name on her passport about 12 months ago. Only took 2 hours at the local bangkok passport place. It's probably not going to be a problem as her visa was issued in her maiden name and may cause more problems if the two don't match. You'd need to change ID and DL too which will take time too.

[egdirb]

One issue, if you wanted to go strictly by the Migration Regulations, there is an obligation to advise DIAC of change in circumstances from (amongst other things) date of visa grant to when one enters the migration zone.

[richard_smith237]

Hi, my Wife dealt with all of this on her own, so I’m guessing a little… If you get married, it’s my understanding that your names don’t change – You simply have a Marriage certification which contains her maiden name.

Thus, your wife should be fine to travel on her original passport which contains her maiden name. I think its not uncommon in Thailand for people to marry without the wife changing her maiden name.

Thus, it probably much simpler to travel with your existing documentation and make changes on your return.

Changing the National ID card, Passport, Drivers License, Bank Account names, Credit cards, name in Phone contract, house book, medical insurance, frequent flyer accounts, various memberships etc takes time, some of it is a time consuming bureaucratic process which is much better to attempt once you have time on your return.

[althemighty]

Thanks for the info. I think it is best to take no risks and get the name changed after she goes back home. To much risk getting anything else changed with the very little time I have. Only in thailand for a few days and most of the time is water festival.

[raymp]

Getting married in 1 day is not so easy unless you have all the correct paperwork from Australia. That paperwork needs to be translated and then authenticated by thai Gov. which takes 3 days. You need a bit more from the AU embassy as well. Go to Bangrak amphur. When you get married they will ask you if you want change of name documents. The only place her name can be changed is in the amphur of where she was born. Take these documents to that amphur. Take the family book as well. The passport cannot be changed until you have the new id card and family book. Then that takes about a week. Get to the passport office early as there is always a big line up. If you change her name before you leave for au then the au embassy has to ne notified and there will be a delay before you can leave. Your best option is to leave things as they are and travel. Do a name change and passport another time. I have and done it all and know what it takes. Expect her to get questioned at the airport in au. Stupid things like what are you going to do in au?

Edited March 11, 2012 by raymp