Changing Surname And Transferring Visa

[megamuel]

Hello everyone. So glad I found this forum!

I have a couple of questions and was wondering whether someone could help! I live in the UK and I've been with my girlfriend (Thai) for nearly 7 years now. She was married previously to an English guy in Thailand and then they moved over here and after some time she was granted indefinite leave to remain (indefinite visa). Some years later their relationship broke down and they ended up getting divorced. However, she still has his surname? How would we go about changing her name back to her Thai name? And my second question is - a couple of years ago she renewed her passport but they did not transfer her indefinite visa. How can we transfer that to her new passport?

Thanks in advance.

Sam.

[jamescollister]

I take it you mean changing her name in the UK. not a big deal. Go to the local courts building they will show you how, happening all the time. As for the Thai passport and her visa, should be on the newer passports electronic and on the immigration data base, but if traveling get a new visa stamp put in the passport. Sometime airlines get a bit touchy if they can not see an old passport or a new visa. No big deal all around, have 2 kids on Thai /Oz passports my name, wife on Thai passport in Thai name with PR for Oz, never had a problem, Got to get them UK passports when I have time. Jim

[7by7]

Under UK law anyone can use any name they wish as long as they are not attempting to deceive etc.

However, if she wishes to change her name officially she can do so by Deed Poll. Whether this would also be recognised in Thailand, I don't know. I suggest she contacts the Thai embassy.

There is no obligation to transfer her ILR stamp into a new passport; both airlines and UK immigration will accept it as valid even though it is in an expired passport; that's what 'indefinite' means!

However, she may have a problem if the passport her ILR stamp is in is in a different name to her current passport, so she should carry official confirmation of her change of name. So a change by Deed Poll would be a good idea.

She can transfer it to her new passport if she wishes, but it will cost £220 if done by post (expect a long wait) or a whopping £661 if she does it in person for a same day service.

I do not know anyone who has done this and paid these exorbitant fees; but if she wants to then see Transferring your visa to a new passport.

NB, Immigration Officers used to be able to place a new stamp into someone's new passport without charge when they entered the UK with their old and new passports. Then Blair introduced the disgraceful fees above and at the same time removed this power from IOs.

BTW, she has been in the UK long enough to apply for citizenship if she wishes, then she wont need her ILR stamp anymore. See British Citizenship Basics.