Baby Born In Thailand Wife Has Uk Spouse Visa

[MrZM]

Anyway, obtaining a British passport is quite simple, but does require a lot of papetwork. Takes about 4 weeks from payment to then receive your child's passport which is sent to Hong Kong. But then you have to have a picture countersigned by a professional, which again may prove difficult if your in Thailand. I did this in the UK. The cost was about 4/5000 baht including postage charges.

Your child will be registered at the local umphur and a birth certificate will be issued there and then. Cost when I did it was 20 baht.

Obtaining a thai passport for your child again is really easy costs a 1000 baht and takes a week for completion.

You would have a lot less hassles and running around if your child is born in the UK.

[7by7]

6 months in Thailand just to have a baby there? Not sure, to be honest.

But the point is moot in the OP's case, he's already said that they have decided to have the birth in the UK.

BTW, he hasn't said, but if his wife applied for her spouse visa before 19/7/2013 then she will not need a FLR application and can apply for ILR after 2 years in the UK; assuming she meets the language requirement etc.

[bobrussell]

Another consideration in the long term is that any child born in Thailand cannot pass on British citizenship to their own children (OP's grandchildren) if they too are born abroad and the other parent is non Brit.

If the child lives in the UK as opposed to abroad and has children in the UK it is unlikely that these children would be denied UK citizenship as citizenship would be in the best interest of these children!

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/eligibility/children/britishcitizen/othercases/

This inability to pass on citizenship to the next generation is unlikely to be that much of an issue unless they chose to make a life elsewhere!

Edited June 4, 2013 by bobrussell

[7by7]

If the children of a person who is British by descent are born in the UK or a qualifying territory those children will automatically be British otherwise than by descent and so will be able to pass their British nationality onto their children no matter where those children are born.

If you were born in the UK or a qualifying territory

[mrbojangles]

Outside of Thailand, the can ONLY be issued by the Thai embassy in the country which the child was born (or in the case of no Thai embassy in that country, the nearest Thai embassy which is responsible for overseeing that country). There is no time limit to get a Thai BC overseas at least. I didn't get mine for nearly 20 years.

My Wife got told this in the Thai Embassy in Riyadh who tried to fob us off. I said to her "Have you finished? Can I speak now?" I proceeded to lay into them that they were refusing my daughter her rights to become a Thai citizen because we, her parents, have no intention of ever taking her to London blah, blah. They then changed their tact and said they could do it but it would take several months. I said fine, do it.

After 2 months we got a call from the Embassy in Riyadh to come and collect her Thai Birth Certificate. The envelope clearly showed it had been to London, then Thailand, then London, then Riyadh. So, although they maybe the rules, it seems with a bit of pressing sometimes they will bend.

[comserve]

I agree that your wife is cutting it a bit fine flying at that stage of her pregnancy, some airlines will not allow pregnant woman to fly at the later stages, and the return flight is pretty near the due date.

I think that Thai hospitals are fine with delivering your child, though you may have to pay, if your wife had the baby in Thailand it could well delay the flight home and you could possibly have to fork out for a ticket.

Not all flights are refundable, even those purchased well in advance, it depends on the booking class and restrictions on the ticket.

Congratulations by the way.

You say that Thai hospitals are fine for child birth but they are very prone to give ceasarian sections (sometimes simply for the doctor's own convenience. Although I am not British & do not hold the NHS in high regard, I think you would be better to give birth in the UK than in Thailand. Having a Thai mother the baby would have no trouble getting a Thai passoprt.

[samran]

Outside of Thailand, the can ONLY be issued by the Thai embassy in the country which the child was born (or in the case of no Thai embassy in that country, the nearest Thai embassy which is responsible for overseeing that country). There is no time limit to get a Thai BC overseas at least. I didn't get mine for nearly 20 years.

My Wife got told this in the Thai Embassy in Riyadh who tried to fob us off. I said to her "Have you finished? Can I speak now?" I proceeded to lay into them that they were refusing my daughter her rights to become a Thai citizen because we, her parents, have no intention of ever taking her to London blah, blah. They then changed their tact and said they could do it but it would take several months. I said fine, do it.

After 2 months we got a call from the Embassy in Riyadh to come and collect her Thai Birth Certificate. The envelope clearly showed it had been to London, then Thailand, then London, then Riyadh. So, although they maybe the rules, it seems with a bit of pressing sometimes they will bend.

Sounds like a pain! Glad it worked out.

This is purely off the top of my head and pure speculation on my part, but given that diplomatic relations aren't exactly hunky dory after the theft of those jewels all those years ago, the status of the embassy in Saudi may be somewhat lower than that of other embassies and such, they are technically unable to perform certain functions given this lower diplomatic status. As said, just pure speculation on my part.

[theoldgit]

If the child is born in Thailand the IPA states that an application for a British Passport takes up to six weeks from the date of application until the new passport is delivered. Obtaining a passport in Thailand costs roughly double that of an application in the UK.

The issue of a UK passport for a baby born in Thailand is carried out in Hong Kong and not Bangkok. The whole process can be done easily by post.

For a first passport for somebody in Thailand the applicant has to apply in person at the British Embassy in Bangkok.

Sorry to disagree Oldgit but not true. A friend has a baby born in Khon Kaen. He applied by post to Bangkok, got a birth certificate then applied for the passport by post. He dealt with a very helpfull lady at the embassy and the documentation was then forwarded to Hong Kong.

Saves time and expense if you live an hours flight from BKK.

The point I was making is that there is still some involvement with Bangkok, you do not simply send the application to Hong Kong, the requirement to apply in person is detailed via their website.

I am aware that the UK Embassy has been helpful by allowing some applicants who live a distance from Bangkok some flexibility in meeting this requirement.

[dunque]

Yes i think this is right they state that no more than 3 months a year spent outside uk....unless you show that there were special circumstances ie like having a baby!Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I believe it is 3 months over the two years, not per year.

[mrbojangles]

Outside of Thailand, the can ONLY be issued by the Thai embassy in the country which the child was born (or in the case of no Thai embassy in that country, the nearest Thai embassy which is responsible for overseeing that country). There is no time limit to get a Thai BC overseas at least. I didn't get mine for nearly 20 years.

My Wife got told this in the Thai Embassy in Riyadh who tried to fob us off. I said to her "Have you finished? Can I speak now?" I proceeded to lay into them that they were refusing my daughter her rights to become a Thai citizen because we, her parents, have no intention of ever taking her to London blah, blah. They then changed their tact and said they could do it but it would take several months. I said fine, do it.

After 2 months we got a call from the Embassy in Riyadh to come and collect her Thai Birth Certificate. The envelope clearly showed it had been to London, then Thailand, then London, then Riyadh. So, although they maybe the rules, it seems with a bit of pressing sometimes they will bend.

Sounds like a pain! Glad it worked out.

This is purely off the top of my head and pure speculation on my part, but given that diplomatic relations aren't exactly hunky dory after the theft of those jewels all those years ago, the status of the embassy in Saudi may be somewhat lower than that of other embassies and such, they are technically unable to perform certain functions given this lower diplomatic status. As said, just pure speculation on my part.

To be honest, it wasn't too much of a problem and much easier than having to go to London. The relations in terms of the Embassy are fine at the moment but Saudi's are still forbidden to travel to Thailand.

The main point of my post though, was that my daughter was born in Manchester, UK and then she moved over to Saudi before we applied for her Thai birth certificate. The Thai Embassy in Saudi told us this could only be done at the Thai Embassy in London as she was born in the UK and we all had to go in person. In short and after having to speak to people higher up the food chain, I explained that on the very rare occasion we go back to the UK, it is to Manchester and never to London. They eventually buckled and reluctantly let us do it this way.

If I would have just left it up to my wife and I was a less persistant chap, we would have come away with a simple "no can do" and would have had to go to London. I'm just pointing out to others, that sometimes they will bend.

[Aussie Paul]

If the child is male and born in Thailand they will then be eligible later in life for the draft.

[samran]

Outside of Thailand, the can ONLY be issued by the Thai embassy in the country which the child was born (or in the case of no Thai embassy in that country, the nearest Thai embassy which is responsible for overseeing that country). There is no time limit to get a Thai BC overseas at least. I didn't get mine for nearly 20 years.

My Wife got told this in the Thai Embassy in Riyadh who tried to fob us off. I said to her "Have you finished? Can I speak now?" I proceeded to lay into them that they were refusing my daughter her rights to become a Thai citizen because we, her parents, have no intention of ever taking her to London blah, blah. They then changed their tact and said they could do it but it would take several months. I said fine, do it.

After 2 months we got a call from the Embassy in Riyadh to come and collect her Thai Birth Certificate. The envelope clearly showed it had been to London, then Thailand, then London, then Riyadh. So, although they maybe the rules, it seems with a bit of pressing sometimes they will bend.

Sounds like a pain! Glad it worked out.

This is purely off the top of my head and pure speculation on my part, but given that diplomatic relations aren't exactly hunky dory after the theft of those jewels all those years ago, the status of the embassy in Saudi may be somewhat lower than that of other embassies and such, they are technically unable to perform certain functions given this lower diplomatic status. As said, just pure speculation on my part.

To be honest, it wasn't too much of a problem and much easier than having to go to London. The relations in terms of the Embassy are fine at the moment but Saudi's are still forbidden to travel to Thailand.

The main point of my post though, was that my daughter was born in Manchester, UK and then she moved over to Saudi before we applied for her Thai birth certificate. The Thai Embassy in Saudi told us this could only be done at the Thai Embassy in London as she was born in the UK and we all had to go in person. In short and after having to speak to people higher up the food chain, I explained that on the very rare occasion we go back to the UK, it is to Manchester and never to London. They eventually buckled and reluctantly let us do it this way.

If I would have just left it up to my wife and I was a less persistant chap, we would have come away with a simple "no can do" and would have had to go to London. I'm just pointing out to others, that sometimes they will bend.

Ah, got you. Thought your child was born in Saudi, and that was the basis of the comment. That she was born in Manchester puts things into context.

[samran]

If the child is male and born in Thailand they will then be eligible later in life for the draft.

Technically, all Thai born males, whether born inside or outside of Thailand.

However if they reside permanently outside of Thailand during the draft period, they can't be called up. When they turn 30, they are automatically exempted.

[7by7]

Yes i think this is right they state that no more than 3 months a year spent outside uk....unless you show that there were special circumstances ie like having a baby!Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I believe it is 3 months over the two years, not per year.

As I have gone over at great length with Mr ZM above; there is no set limit on time allowed outside the UK whilst qualifying for ILR.

The applicant does have to show that they are normally resident in the UK and have been for the entire period, which may be difficult to do if long periods have been spent elsewhere.

[bkk_mike]

Glad to hear you're delaying the trip.

Pretty sure the airline wouldn't let your wife fly in the 3rd trimester anyway. (I'm sure there's rules about that for long-haul flights).

If the airline confirms they wouldn't let her fly, they will usually let you change the dates for free, or even give a refund. If changing the dates, try to avoid too soon after the due date, as caesareans are fairly common for Asian/European couples (where the woman is the Asian one), and that can mean a slower recovery than after a natural birth. (and be sure to book the seats with the bassinet for the baby).

[Arkady]

It was wise not to try to fly your wife that heavily pregnant and she might well have been refused boarding anyway. As Samran says, child birth in Thailand works for most Thais but, you would probably not have been happy with your wife going to a government hospital or a cheap private one. Thailand is known for medical tourism but most of those go to the upmarket private hospitals which are cheaper than private hospitals in the US or Europe but not cheap and they are quietly hiking their fees by more than the inflation rate every year.

Another thing that might not enter into your consideration is that your child will have a stronger claim to British nationality by being born in the UK which is called acquiring British nationality "otherwise than by descent" in the civil service jargon. That means that his or her children will be automatically British born anywhere in the world, whereas they would not be, if your child were born abroad, as he or she would be "British by descent" which comes to a dead end if their offspring are not born in the UK.

These distinctions don't exist for Thai nationality since anyone born to a Thai parent anywhere in the world is automatically Thai and their children born anywhere in the world are also Thai to the Nth generation. Theoretically there could in future be thousands of Thai citizens around the world who don't speak Thai, look Thai or have any connection with Thailand and only have a tiny drop of Thai blood. But the advantages of being Thai are virtually nil, if you want to spend any time in Thailand, so most will probably not apply for Thai passports or ID cards. If the Thai passport becomes more popular in the future, they will probably amend the law to exclude these fractional Thais.

Edited June 6, 2013 by Arkady