Finding An Errant Husband

[Sunbelt Asia]

Phuket Gazette

Finding an errant husband

I have been married to an Englishman for 10 years. We have two children, who have both Thai and English passports.

My husband left me last year after we had big problems, and he took the children with him.

I want to see my kids and finish with him. I know he is still in Thailand but I can’t find him.

He has a non-immigrant O visa and goes to Burma on a “visa run” every 90 days.

Could Immigration help me to find him? If Immigration can find him, are they allowed to tell me? What can I do?

Monday, September 4, 2006 Nuttaporn, Patong.

“Immigration may be able to help – if they have the information. Normally such information is not open to the public, but under Thai law you and your husband are one person, so you should be able to see it.

Whether you were married in Thailand or England you can apply in a court to file for divorce and eventually for custody of the children by using your husband’s last known address for filing in court.

Certainly you will be able to enforce your legal right as a mother to see your children regularly.

I recommend that you hire a lawyer to help you with divorce and custody proceedings.

You could also ask for help at the Phuket Provincial State Attorney’s Office; there is a legal assistance department in that office. Their office is on Rattanakosin 200 Phi Rd in Phuket City. ”

Monday, September 4, 2006 Adisorn Chanta, a lawyer with the International Law Office.

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“Usually the private address of a foreigner may not be divulged to anyone not involved with that person.

However, in this case, if you bring evidence of your marriage to the Immigration Office and explain the problem, we may be able to help.

We do not know if we have your husband’s address in our records. This depends on whether he has reported it to us, as he should.

If he is renting a house, there should be a record from his landlord – landlords are supposed to report foreigners living in their properties. The trouble is, not all of them bother to do so.

Phuket Immigration Office is at the Saphan Hin end of Phuket Rd, in Phuket City. ”

Monday, September 4, 2006 Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen of the Phuket Immigration Office.

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