Uk marriage certificate needs letter from British Embassy?

[flossiebear]

At Hua Hin immigration was informed that to extend my visa as a dependent (wife) I need to get my original UK marriage certificate verified by UK embassy in Bangkok. On their website they clearly state they do not do certified copes of uk marriage certificates. Does anyone know if they will do a letter, like an affidavit which I sign saying my marriage certificate is true?

My husband has O A Longstay and I have NoN O 90 day, which I can extend to match my husbands admitted to date Feb 2017. However at Hua Hin immigration first told I could not do this. It was only when persisted that the officer then checked with a senior one, who then agreed I could but need proof of residence and my uk marriage certificate certified by UK embassy in Bangkok.

Hope someone who has done this recently can help or advise. Many thanks

[ubonjoe]

You can do a self certification of it at the UK embassy. You will do a statement that it is true, correct and etc.

[OJAS]

What formal proof of your dependency on your husband did the Royal Thai Embassy in London require you to provide before issuing you with your non-O visa? Or did a simple copy of your marriage certificate suffice for their purposes?

[flossiebear]

Notarised copy of marriage certifcate was required in UK. . Hahaaa you think immigration here would accept this! Good enough for Thai Embassy in Uk, not good enough for immigration in Thailand. The whole things a joke. Things have become much worse in Thailand since we were here in 2013. When my husband went to get Thai driving licence told his medical done in Uk in Thai, accepted by Thai Embassy but no good at the driving centre in Thailand. Now do the usual 100baht medical from a quack here in Thailand. Will they examine my husband to ensure he is fit to drive? Like last time it will a signature and 100baht with not a glance at him.

Thanks Ubonjoe for information on self certification advice.

I have no patience for all the hassle in this heat.

[rreddin]

You can do a self certification of it at the UK embassy. You will do a statement that it is true, correct and etc.

I was required to get an official copy of my UK marriage certificate endorsed with an apostile. It takes several weeks and costs quite a bit of money. However, I cannot now remember the details of price and timings, but you can apply on line and the document is sent to you by DHL courier service. I then had to get the official copy bearing the apostile translated into Thai, which I had done locally. Now, all the consulate at Savannakhet wants to see is a photocopy of the official copy marriage certificate bearing the apostile, and a photocopy of the translated copy.

[OJAS]

You can do a self certification of it at the UK embassy. You will do a statement that it is true, correct and etc.

I was required to get an official copy of my UK marriage certificate endorsed with an apostile. It takes several weeks and costs quite a bit of money. However, I cannot now remember the details of price and timings, but you can apply on line and the document is sent to you by DHL courier service. I then had to get the official copy bearing the apostile translated into Thai, which I had done locally. Now, all the consulate at Savannakhet wants to see is a photocopy of the official copy marriage certificate bearing the apostile, and a photocopy of the translated copy.

Sounds to me like you may be referring to this horrendously bureaucratic process:-

https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

Fingers firmly crossed for the OP that she doesn't end up having to go down this route!

[ubonjoe]

You can do a self certification of it at the UK embassy. You will do a statement that it is true, correct and etc.

I was required to get an official copy of my UK marriage certificate endorsed with an apostile. It takes several weeks and costs quite a bit of money. However, I cannot now remember the details of price and timings, but you can apply on line and the document is sent to you by DHL courier service. I then had to get the official copy bearing the apostile translated into Thai, which I had done locally. Now, all the consulate at Savannakhet wants to see is a photocopy of the official copy marriage certificate bearing the apostile, and a photocopy of the translated copy.

Who required you to have that done?

Savannakhet would accept the original marriage certificate with nothing done and a copy attached to the application. They do not require a translation if the marriage certificate is in English.

[post]

Is Thailand a party of the Apostille Convention?

[Rookiescot]

OJAS, on 20 Mar 2016 - 17:24, said:

rreddin, on 20 Mar 2016 - 17:10, said:

ubonjoe, on 20 Mar 2016 - 13:36, said:

You can do a self certification of it at the UK embassy. You will do a statement that it is true, correct and etc.

I was required to get an official copy of my UK marriage certificate endorsed with an apostile. It takes several weeks and costs quite a bit of money. However, I cannot now remember the details of price and timings, but you can apply on line and the document is sent to you by DHL courier service. I then had to get the official copy bearing the apostile translated into Thai, which I had done locally. Now, all the consulate at Savannakhet wants to see is a photocopy of the official copy marriage certificate bearing the apostile, and a photocopy of the translated copy.

Sounds to me like you may be referring to this horrendously bureaucratic process:-

https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

Fingers firmly crossed for the OP that she doesn't end up having to go down this route!

This is unfortunately the route I had to go down.

I was lucky in that I could send my marriage cert (and my birth cert just in case) to my sister in law who got the documents UK legalized via that link you gave.

When the documents were returned to her she then HAD to send them to the Royal Thai Embassy in London to get them Thai legalized. THERE is no-where currently in Thailand where this can be done. http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/172

I then had to have the documents translated and stamped by the immigration dept in Bangkok. The guy who did the translation took them to Bangkok himself as part of the fee.

Good luck.

[flossiebear]

I have now received an email back from the UK embassy in Bangkok. They will not certify anything now with regards to marriage certificates.

" The British Embassy in Bangkok is no longer able to provide statutory declarations, affirmations or certified copies of British birth, marriage and death certificates. Where the Thai authorities request that a UK certificate be certified or authenticated, the only authority permitted to authenticate such documents is the Legalisation Office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the United Kingdom. "

Please find attached an infographic outlining the Legalisation process and the following steps for getting a British document legalised for use in Thailand.

Step 1: Contact the Legalisation Office, Milton Keynes, UK

o To check if the document can be legalised and to apply online for this service please visit https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

o Before sending your document to the UK Legalisation Office, ensure that you pay the UK courier fee so that your documents can be forwarded to the Thai Embassy in London - enclose a pre-addressed envelope for the Thai Embassy, a completed application form (which can be found on the Thai Embassy website here) and the fee payment for the Thai Embassy.

Step 2: Have the document legalised by the Thai Embassy in London

o Once the original document(s) have been legalised by the UK Legalisation Office the document(s) must be sent to the Royal Thai Embassy in London for the next stage of the process. If you have already paid the courier fee the UK Legalisation Office will send these for you. Further information can be found on the Royal Thai Embassy website. http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk

o Contact the Royal Thai Embassy to inform them that your documents will be arriving.

Step 3: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand

o For use in Thailand the document(s) must be stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalisation Division, Bangkok. http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/16265-Naturalization-Legalization.html

The only thing I am not clear about is how the documents are then sent back to me?

[evadgib]

You can either sign a 'stat dec' (statutory declaration) at the Embassy or apply for retirement extn in your own right, for which you will need to qualify (THB 800k in the bank or THB 65k per month an' all that!)

HTH

[sunnyjim5]

Mmm

Thanks for that I was unaware they were now unable to provide statutory declarations of certain documents.

In answer to your question. Maybe you can arrange for a friend or family member to post the documents from their address, follow the process and then post/courier the documents back to you ?

[flossiebear]

I am now thinking of getting extension in my own right. However I don't have a pension, only rental income and some employment income in uk which would probably equate to requirements in Baht. I don't want to transfer a lot of money to Thailand. Or I could do a mixture but I have run out of time to have it seasoned for two months. Non o Visa only until May 17th. What would I have to provide as evidence to UK embassy in Bangkok?

[sunnyjim5]

I am now thinking of getting extension in my own right. However I don't have a pension, only rental income and some employment income in uk which would probably equate to requirements in Baht. I don't want to transfer a lot of money to Thailand. Or I could do a mixture but I have run out of time to have it seasoned for two months. Non o Visa only until May 17th. What would I have to provide as evidence to UK embassy in Bangkok?

For an "income" letter from the British Embassy you provide the detail of your income and evidence of its source.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505204/Pension_07_03_16.pdf

The Embassy will note your income in GDP which will be converted to Baht, at current exchange rates, by immigration when you apply for the extension.

[OJAS]

. What would I have to provide as evidence to UK embassy in Bangkok?

For your rental income, the current tenancy agreement(s) relating to the property(ies) being let out (I have successfully obtained letters from the Embassy including rental income on this basis).

For your employment income, the latest monthly pay statement(s) provided by your employer(s).

[evadgib]

I am now thinking of getting extension in my own right. However I don't have a pension, only rental income and some employment income in uk which would probably equate to requirements in Baht. I don't want to transfer a lot of money to Thailand. Or I could do a mixture but I have run out of time to have it seasoned for two months. Non o Visa only until May 17th. What would I have to provide as evidence to UK embassy in Bangkok?

There's nothing to stop you declaring your joint assets in order to to obtain a pension letter if you're a little short.

[flossiebear]

Many thanks for all your suggestions and help

[Liquorice]

@flossiebear, re your post #10.

The easiest way to get your marriage document 'legalised' in the UK, would be to contact a Notary Public in the UK.

He can get your document authenticated by Milton Keynes. (FCO), then legalised by the Thai Embassy in London, before returning to yourself.

Your certificate will carry a vignette from the Thai Embassy and will be accepted as a legal document for use in Thailand.

The translation should be approved by the Thai MFA in Bangkok.

The British Embassy in Bangkok have removed so many services recently, they no longer fully support British citizens in Thailand.

The last time I had a document legalised for use in a foreign Country, was about 4 years ago, Notary cost was £150 which included the fees of the FCO, Embassy, Couriers and return to myself. I dare say those costs have increased since.