Multi-entry non-immigrant 'O' visa application in UK: Thai spouse surname question

[manchesterlalala]

In the list of requirements for a multiple-entry non-immigrant ‘O’ visa on the Hull website on page 4, point 1 b, it states “Copy of spouse’s Thai ID card and Thai passport showing married name”.

Have there been any reports at all of this – Thai wive's ID documents bearing the farang husband's surname – being a requirement for a multi-entry non-‘O’ in the UK?

The Birmingham and Liverpool websites do not mention this. But that, of course, in no way precludes them from actually requiring it.

I’m confident this is just a Hull thing, but would have my fears allayed greatly if recent applicants could confirm this was not an issue.

[elviajero]

I don't know the definitive answer but in my experience you do not need to give a copy of the passport if you have the Thai ID. Not everyone has a passport. Your best bet is to call or email Hull.

[manchesterlalala]

I just called Birmingham.

They said they would accept just one of the Thai spouse's passport or ID card, which did not have to have the farang's surname.

They need a translation of the original marriage certificate.

There is only one document required on the Birmingham website, so this is important info which is not included.

I just called Liverpool.

The lady there was much more on the ball on the phone and very confident about the information she required.

She said that they need 4 documents in total.

1) Either one or the other of photo page of the spouse’s passport or ID card, signed

2) Photopage of my passport, signed

3) Marriage certificate (no translation required!)

4) Application form

She needs all 4 documents emailed over and she then has to request consent from London.

No surname change required! I pointed out the requirement on the Hull website and she said this sounded odd, and the surname change would be reflected on the marriage certificate anyway.

******

She confirmed that all applications have to go through London (even for single-entries). The question then is, can you save yourself a trip to Liverpool / Birmingham and just do a postal vote to London? This would probably be a lot easier if the consulates are merely acting as middlemen anyway. The question then is, are London’s criteria different? They do not answer the phones until 9 p.m. Thai time today. So I will have to wait to contact them….

[elviajero]

• You can't always go by the embassy/consulate websites as they are often wrong and out of date.

Good luck getting through to London! The only advantage of using a consulate is that they will vet the application.

I pretty sure that London will only need the ID card although the website says both.

[ubonjoe]

You can do the application by post to the embassy. See: http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/401