Ok, I have now married the girl of my dreams Time I start preparing for the spouse visa application.

First thing I want to do is make sure the name is correct on all documents I need to provide. To do this I need to change her maiden name to her new surname.

So the question is what documents do I need to get her name changed on? I am thinking passport, id card, drivers licence and bank account.

Is there any other documents I should get the named changed over?

Is it ok to provide evidence that has her maiden name on it such as old phone bills and other evidence of our relationship.

I expect the name change to be fairly quick but as my wife lives in a village and works it is hard for her to get into town to do things so want a single trip to do this. She lives about 2:30 hours away from Ubon Ratchathani which is closest place that does passport. Can she change other documents there or does she need to go to her nearest amphur which is probably in Buntharik.

Thanks for any information that will help me with this application. Stay tuned for future request for information as I want to make a perfect application.

Seeing your girlfriend is off shore I would imagine that you would be going for the Subclass 309 Visa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/partners/partner/309-100/eligibility-defacto.htm

Go through the whole application form and see what is pertinent to your wife's application.

The CheckList is the most most important aspect of the visa prior to submission.

http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/_pdf/309-100-checklist.pdf

Any documents that require a name change will have to be stat dec'd by a Lawyer and I would imagine probably translations would be required so check on that.

You as the sponsor can have all your submissions stat dec'd inside of Australia for free see the list of authorised persons.

I would leave the medicals until requested as they only hold a 12 month validity period.

http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/t/thailand/panel-doctors.htm

The same applies for the police checks.

Good Luck with the application.

For proof of her maiden name for Australian immigration will require a Thai birth certificate with English translation

Just enclosing a list of pesons that can stat dec for you inside of Australia only. This would only be applicable for your own documents as your wife's documents would require translating .

In Australia, statutory declarations must be witnessed by a

person prescribed by the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 and

Regulations. Any attachments to the Declaration must be

certified by a prescribed person. Prescribed persons include

those who are a:

• Justice of the Peace;

• medical practitioner;

• legal practitioner;

• civil marriage celebrant or registered minister of religion;

• dentist;

• nurse;

• optometrist;

• pharmacist;

• physiotherapist;

• full-time teacher;

• bank manager or bank officer with 5 or more continuous

years of service;

• postal manager or permanent employee of the Australian

Postal Commission with 5 or more continuous years of

service;

• police officer; or

• public servant with 5 or more continuous years of service.

go to my thread 29/2/2012,last post 2/5/2012,my wife changed all her ID'S and her and kids passports to my surname,got new passports,so we had a good 5 yrs in them and didnt have to change numbers,the marriage rego on the back,NO 6 [0N MINE] refers to new family,this was enough for my app,but would'nt hurt to get name changed done at amphur,if you or mrs have to go to BKK for police report,try and do it thursday morning,then in arvo 1pm to 3.30pm see the lady [thai]from the embassy at CC TOWER and go over the check list,as said VERY IMPORTANT,ALSO you can only ring the OZ embassy in bkk after 2.30pm for advice,till 4pm.

i gave myself 3 months to have the app ready so i would not stress,your wife will need a lot of help as they dont understand the questions in thai much lest english.

the boys here on thai/v are a big help,good luck.

cat

Edited May 14, 201214 yr by catwho

althemighty ... the post that catwho is referring to above ... my-update-for-oz-spouse-visa

Correction to my Post No 2 .. edited to read your girlfriend wife. Apologies

what is the cost of changing the name for passport?

Why do you need to change her maiden name? There is no legal requirement for that.

However if she does change names then just ensure that the name being used is the same on all her docs that have been generated since the marriage. Especially travel and visa docs.

Documents with the maiden name such as phone bills etc will be acceptable with the change of name and marriage certificate included in the application

No need for name changing in Thailand, my wife still uses her maiden name in Thailand and her married name in OZ. I did it all myself, no need for immigration agents, just take your time and give the embassy everything they want. Really was a easy, but in saying that, wife was never married before, had no kids, was a school teacher. No hidden problems. Jim

When we registered for marriage we chose to change name. I assume that visa passport and marriage certificate should all match. Was not sure if maiden name was ok for other evidence such as bank statements and other forms of evidence to prove relationship. From what i have read so far I should change passport and id card only and certify a copy of proof of her maiden name whcih should cover the rest.

Some posts have been deleted.

Any more of this petty, childish name calling will result in the offenders being given long posting holidays. You know who you are.

When we registered for marriage we chose to change name. I assume that visa passport and marriage certificate should all match. Was not sure if maiden name was ok for other evidence such as bank statements and other forms of evidence to prove relationship. From what i have read so far I should change passport and id card only and certify a copy of proof of her maiden name whcih should cover the rest.

My wife and kids passport [thai passprots norm is 5 yrs] still had 2 yrs to go on them,i got them new ones before i put the app in,incase it took 12 mts for visa

and so the 2 yr temp visa would stay in th same passport,to save having any probs later on,took 10 days for new passport you can pay for express.[extra].

we have been married 5yrs,If your wife changes her name to yours on anything at the amphur,get her as said to get a name change down as well, and of course have it translated,this will cover anything you give to them in her maiden name,i carnt remember if wife did it at amphur or foriegn affairs.

cat