Bang Rak requiring a copy of your work permit?

[Tomtomtom69]

Hi,

I​ previously asked a topic here a couple of weeks ago regarding dual nationality and what happens when you want to get married if you have an affirmation to get married from the embassy of nationality A but you are in Thailand on a passport issued by nationality B.

I went to Bang Rak recently and came in with my 2 passports as I am a dual national. The official immediately looked at my translated documents and all was good. However, she next wanted to check my Thai entry stamp!

Oh no, I thought. Because a number of people have told me that when they got married, only either 1) a copy of the front page of your passport is required or 2) they want to see the original but only the front page.

Wrong! The official looked at my entry stamps and then said OK I need to get a statutory declaration (notarized copy) stating that I am a dual national and get that translated. So I did that.

BUT then she also wanted to see a copy of my work permit? Why? Hopefully only to confirm the spelling of my name, which was spelled incorrectly on my last work permit anyway. However, I only have an expired work permit from my old job not a current one. I will explain that if questioned, even though I had confirmed last time that I have a work permit (however, I generally don't volunteer too much information to anyone unless I'm pressed for it).

Has anyone else encountered this? I thought Bang Rak was supposed to be the easiest place to get married, so what's the deal with all these requirements?

[lopburi3]

Actually it appears you are the one with all the documents - dual nationality is not a welcome status anywhere in officialdom (as there are seldom any rules to cover it) so having paperwork for the nationality not legally in Thailand and having to present two passports was likely not a good start.

[huaikhwang]

They suck, it's all depends on particular person who is checking documents. It could be very frustrating if you go to get married and they ask some nonsense which is not on their official requirement list. I attach the file what is required by Bangrak from official website. You should not mention dual citizenship, only the passport on with current visa, because they might have cognitive dissonance.

Edited March 3, 2016 by huaikhwang

[Tomtomtom69]

I see. You're right. I would have never done it this way if it weren't for the fact that my other nationality (Swiss) requires a laundry list of documents just to get an affirmation to marry. it just so happens that I'm using my Swiss passport in Thailand, the reason being my visa is in there and I got my visa in that passport due to frequent travel to Laos, which exempts Swiss nationals from visas for short stays but not for my other nationality (Aussie).

I like how the Aussies simply stamp a document stating whatever you tell them (although the officials usually ask what it's for) they don't verify it's authenticity but the Swiss are pretty nosey and like asking for this and that AND they even require some kind of freedom to marriage document from the Swiss authorities back in Switzerland. All very complicated hence I don't want to deal with the Swiss when it comes to such matters.

I think I should be OK when i get married but I hope Bang Rak forgets the work permit thingy.

[PoorSucker]

I'm also dual national, never mention it to any officials.

Used the passport with my entry stamp when I got married.

[Tomtomtom69]

I'm also dual national, never mention it to any officials.

Used the passport with my entry stamp when I got married.

Well I wouldn't have mentioned it either until I was "caught out" having marriage documents issued by the Aussies but my passport with entry stamp is Swiss.

Had my visa and entry stamp been in my Aussie passport, or had the official never cared to take a look at my entry stamps in the first place, there would have been no issue.

The people who told me their passports weren't checked for entry stamps were either lucky or didn't get married at Bang Rak.

[lopburi3]

Or they did before the current terrorist issues - entry and permitted to stay is closely checked by most officials now.