An American friend of mine married his Thai wife in a civil ceremony in Panama. He has been told it would be advantageous to register that marriage in Thailand. They also did the Buddhist ceremony in Thailand a few months after the Panama event.

Would their local Amphur be able to do this? Would they need to get the Panama-issued marriage certificates translated and chopped by the MFA in Bangkok? Would any paperwork be checked or needed from the US Embassy here? Is there any real advantage in registering the overseas marriage here? Would it be easier (and legal) just to register their 'second' marriage in Thailand and not bother with the Panamanian one?

Paperwork needs to be certified by the embassy of Panama, next translated into Thai and then certified by the Thai MFA. After that it can be recorded at any amphur in Thailand, of which one should recieve a khor rhor 22 form.

The US embassy has no role in this.

The Panamese wedding is legal, performing a new marriage would only complicate things.

Mario2008, on 08 Mar 2013 - 13:09, said:

Paperwork needs to be certified by the embassy of Panama, next translated into Thai and then certified by the Thai MFA. After that it can be recorded at any amphur in Thailand, of which one should recieve a khor rhor 22 form.

The US embassy has no role in this.

The Panamese wedding is legal, performing a new marriage would only complicate things.

Thanks again Mario, I will pass on the good news that he has to pound some Bangkok pavement!

He did the Panamanian wedding as part of his own 'fast track' method of getting her a US visa (reckoned proof of pre-existing overseas marriage and frequent trips together with wife to other countries and NOT only Thailand may make the visa approval faster than the standard US fiancee visa route). They have done Korea and a few other places since they got married.

The Buddhist ceremony in Thailand... well, she insisted of course!

Since he is Jewish, he is eventually having a Jewish wedding in the US once she gets the US visa.

I reckon he would need to get 3 divorces if it all goes pear-shaped.