Affirmation to Marry Queries

[alien365]

I've read many people saying that it is possible to get the affirmation of marriage stamped by the British Embassy, translated to Thai and then confirmed by the MFA in one day. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more unrealistic it seems.

I have my appointment at the BE on Friday at 9am but am now concerned about how long it will take in the BE. How long does it usually take for them to return your letter so that you can continue with the process? 10 mins, an hour, or will they tell me to come back Monday morning (as I hear they are closed Friday afternoons)?

My wife also wants to translate the document herself to save time and money. Does the translator have to sign and stamp the translated affirmation also before handing it to the MFA, or is it the MFA who put the stamp at the bottom of the translation? We have searched for the translated document online but can't find anything.

Thanks

[colinneil]

When i did mine it was done in a day.

First British embassy did affirmation, left at 10.30 crossed over the road up stairs translation done.

Sky train/taxi ministry of foreign affairs. Arrived at 11.52, papers in before 12.00 (deadline)

Collected papers at 15.30. Home Banphai 22.35.

[Morakot]

My wife also wants to translate the document herself to save time and money. Does the translator have to sign and stamp the translated affirmation also before handing it to the MFA, or is it the MFA who put the stamp at the bottom of the translation?

MFA legalises the translation by stamping the document. They will not do so unless the document bears a proper stamp with the translator's name and details.

Doing a legal translation is a specialist task and is usually beyond the competency of a degree-educated person who is fluent in both Thai and English.

[alien365]

My wife also wants to translate the document herself to save time and money. Does the translator have to sign and stamp the translated affirmation also before handing it to the MFA, or is it the MFA who put the stamp at the bottom of the translation?

MFA legalises the translation by stamping the document. They will not do so unless the document bears a proper stamp with the translator's name and details.

Doing a legal translation is a specialist task and is usually beyond the competency of a degree-educated person who is fluent in both Thai and English.

Thank you. This is what I thought but I have struggled to find supporting evidence on the net. From reading other peoples personal accounts, I think I will use the translation service in the MFA on the first floor so it is easier to sort out if the MFA are unhappy with the translation. I just hope they can do it efficiently.

[alien365]

When i did mine it was done in a day.

First British embassy did affirmation, left at 10.30 crossed over the road up stairs translation done.

Sky train/taxi ministry of foreign affairs. Arrived at 11.52, papers in before 12.00 (deadline)

Collected papers at 15.30. Home Banphai 22.35.

Handed in the papers 8 minutes before the deadline. Nicely done Can you remember what time your appointment was at the BE?

[happylarry]

If your wife is after saving money then why spend on skytrain's and taxi's etc travelling to the MFA in North Bangkok (or wherever it is). By the time you add all the fares up and also the MFA translation fee's then you would probably be paying less to give it to the translation office opposite the embassy and get them to do the whole thing and post it to your home. Certainly more stress free, I really cant understand why people would want to go and queue up all day themselves.

Think about it....you go along with one document but you have to wait for many translation offices all taking a dozen or so documents in one go. They are going to get priority over you because they go every day and know the people well, and probably also drop a bit of tea money to jump the queue. But some people cant be told and wont learn....lol

HL

[alien365]

If your wife is after saving money then why spend on skytrain's and taxi's etc travelling to the MFA in North Bangkok (or wherever it is). By the time you add all the fares up and also the MFA translation fee's then you would probably be paying less to give it to the translation office opposite the embassy and get them to do the whole thing and post it to your home. Certainly more stress free, I really cant understand why people would want to go and queue up all day themselves.

Think about it....you go along with one document but you have to wait for many translation offices all taking a dozen or so documents in one go. They are going to get priority over you because they go every day and know the people well, and probably also drop a bit of tea money to jump the queue. But some people cant be told and wont learn....lol

HL

I take your point Larry and its very valid. I guess its down to peace of mind and knowing that if anything goes wrong then we are there to try and sort it out. I remember once when I had to do a visa run to change jobs. I used a recommended service as I didn't want to stress but because I didn't have a thousand papers like the Filipinos, I had to hand in my application personally anyway. To get what I needed certainly wasn't hassle free those two days.

[Wiggy]

Had an appointment at the embassy at 10:00am on a Monday. Due to a small glitch, I didn't leave until 11:30am. I went across the road to a translation place (who were excellent, by the way) and paid 2,500 baht for the translation, following which they sent it to the MFA and it arrived back at my home by EMS on the following Wednesday. Simple, easy, stress free and not too expensive.

[northernboy]

Hi

It must be signed by a Thai FM approved translator.

It is now Almost impossible to get certified on the same day. .

[happylarry]

If your wife is after saving money then why spend on skytrain's and taxi's etc travelling to the MFA in North Bangkok (or wherever it is). By the time you add all the fares up and also the MFA translation fee's then you would probably be paying less to give it to the translation office opposite the embassy and get them to do the whole thing and post it to your home. Certainly more stress free, I really cant understand why people would want to go and queue up all day themselves.

Think about it....you go along with one document but you have to wait for many translation offices all taking a dozen or so documents in one go. They are going to get priority over you because they go every day and know the people well, and probably also drop a bit of tea money to jump the queue. But some people cant be told and wont learn....lol

HL

I take your point Larry and its very valid. I guess its down to peace of mind and knowing that if anything goes wrong then we are there to try and sort it out. I remember once when I had to do a visa run to change jobs. I used a recommended service as I didn't want to stress but because I didn't have a thousand papers like the Filipinos, I had to hand in my application personally anyway. To get what I needed certainly wasn't hassle free those two days.

Ok, let's look at this realistically, all the MFA is doing is looking at two pieces of paper and then signing and stamping to say one matches the other. That is all!!! So what on earth do you envisage being wrong that you can sort out.....lol....lets just say that the translator did make a mistake, which is doubtful because they do hundreds of these things and use the same templates and just change the names etc. but supposing they did then don't you think the best person to be there to correct it is the person from the translating office.

As I said before "some people can't be told and won't learn.....lol

HL

[ajnamoon]

So when u fill out the affirmation in one part they ask for date and place of wedding do you leave that blank if you plan to go to Amphur outwith Bangkok ???

Also when you go to BE do u take your partner with you does her Thai affirmation need to be translated to English are her ID passport and yellow book also required, as no relevant info on website

Anyone gone through the process recently as no requirements about what documents if any Thai partner has to bring

Thanks

[happylarry]

The British Embassy are not interested in your prospective wife and do not need or want any information about her or your place of the wedding. All they are doing is confirming (to whoever you choose to give the affirmation to) that you are free to marry anybody at that time.

You need to take your decree nisi, if you are divorced, or the death certificate , if you are widowed, or simply swear that you are single and they then give you the paper saying just that which you then get translated and stamped to say it's a true translation. People read too much into this document, it is a simple notification and that's all.

HL

[TKDfella]

The British Embassy are not interested in your prospective wife and do not need or want any information about her or your place of the wedding. All they are doing is confirming (to whoever you choose to give the affirmation to) that you are free to marry anybody at that time.

You need to take your decree nisi, if you are divorced, or the death certificate , if you are widowed, or simply swear that you are single and they then give you the paper saying just that which you then get translated and stamped to say it's a true translation. People read too much into this document, it is a simple notification and that's all.

HL

Unfortunately that is not so. I downloaded the affirmation form sent by the BE last week. The affirmation does ask for details of your intended and where you intend to register;

'A marriage is proposed to be solemnised between me and....of [address]... a THAI National at[registry office]...'

Also required are the names and addresses of two people proposed for verification. This latter point seems superfluous to me but it is on the form.

[happylarry]

The British Embassy are not interested in your prospective wife and do not need or want any information about her or your place of the wedding. All they are doing is confirming (to whoever you choose to give the affirmation to) that you are free to marry anybody at that time.

You need to take your decree nisi, if you are divorced, or the death certificate , if you are widowed, or simply swear that you are single and they then give you the paper saying just that which you then get translated and stamped to say it's a true translation. People read too much into this document, it is a simple notification and that's all.

HL

Unfortunately that is not so. I downloaded the affirmation form sent by the BE last week. The affirmation does ask for details of your intended and where you intend to register;

'A marriage is proposed to be solemnised between me and....of [address]... a THAI National at[registry office]...'

Also required are the names and addresses of two people proposed for verification. This latter point seems superfluous to me but it is on the form.

In that case I stand corrected and apologise for giving incorrect information. This must be quite a recent addition, it certainly wasn't so when I did the dastardly deed umpteen years ago.....lol.....but it is still just a simple notification and is not worth getting your knickers in a twist over....lol

HL

[Bantex]

When i did mine it was done in a day.

First British embassy did affirmation, left at 10.30 crossed over the road up stairs translation done.

Sky train/taxi ministry of foreign affairs. Arrived at 11.52, papers in before 12.00 (deadline)

Collected papers at 15.30. Home Banphai 22.35.

I went to the translation office across the road from the British Embassy a few months ago and it had closed. I could see through the shutters and the office was completely empty which is a pity as he had the forms on his computer and the translation only took him 20 minutes.

When I got my affirmation done a few years ago, the entire process took me six hours from leaving the hotel to returning.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

I remember doing that.I went into the BE,wife had to wait outside.I filled in the affirmation,produced my absolute cert,stamped by a judge in the Uk (i lost my origanal) we went across the road for a company to do all the rest of the work.We paid 1000,baht,and went home.The papers we required and all the translations were sent to our address here,in one week.We were in Bkk for about 5 hours,didnt have to stay.great,would recommend it.

[blackcab]

You need to take your decree nisi

HL

You mean your Decree Absolute.

[blackcab]

Seriously, just pay the translation company to do it all for you. That's how I did it and it took a relaxing 3 or 4 days.

Unless you enjoy the stress and you like complaining that is.

[Eneukman]

When i did mine it was done in a day.

First British embassy did affirmation, left at 10.30 crossed over the road up stairs translation done.

Sky train/taxi ministry of foreign affairs. Arrived at 11.52, papers in before 12.00 (deadline)

Collected papers at 15.30. Home Banphai 22.35.

I went to the translation office across the road from the British Embassy a few months ago and it had closed. I could see through the shutters and the office was completely empty which is a pity as he had the forms on his computer and the translation only took him 20 minutes.

When I got my affirmation done a few years ago, the entire process took me six hours from leaving the hotel to returning.

That's unfortunate. I used them last year and was happy with the service they provided. Anyone know any other translation places near the British Embassy?

Alan

[blackcab]

Express Translations just inside Mahatun Plaza. I've used then for a few things.

http://www.expresstranslationservice.com/cms.php?id_cms=6&id_lang=1

[ajnamoon]

Download from BE website

[Eneukman]

Express Translations just inside Mahatun Plaza. I've used then for a few things.

http://www.expresstranslationservice.com/cms.php?id_cms=6&id_lang=1

Thanks for that. Easy walking distance from the British Embassy and the Sky Train.

Alan

[alien365]

Just to let you guys know I went there today. My appointment at the BE was 9am, I got there at 8:15 as the traffic was light. There were only 3 of us there at that time but I wasn't seen until 9:15 (appointment at 9 so I cant complain too much). One BIG point to help any future guys is to e mail your document to yourself. If you do they can amend it there and then;if not you have to change the document yourself, get it printed and end up e mailing it to them anyway. If your passport was issued at UKPA you also need to say issued in the UK. Further, I was recommended to use my UK address. If a Thai address is used, the local amphurs can be funny about it and end up asking for more documentation when you try to tie the knot. You may also need to change the size of the document to ensure there is enough room at the bottom of the document for their stamp. They reduced mine and deleted the ".................." under their approval. Oh, and before I forget your wife to be can enter the BE with you. There were many couples there by the time I was eventually seen and I was asked to bring my missus after amending my document (as I hadn't emailed it to myself beforehand, I only had it on a memory stick which they will not use)

Once I eventually got it stamped I went to the MFA but it was too late to do the one day. As some others have said 9am is the cut off period. In the end I just paid a guy there to translate my document, get it authorised and post it through to me as I couldn't be bothered by this point. Paid 1,100baht in total. Then I went to Central Ladprao, got some food, drove home, and have had a few beers to call it a day.

One final word of warning in the MFA is that all the signs are in Thai. I can read Thai but only the vocabulary that I know. I didn't understand what all the Thai meant over the multitude of desks within the building. Not good if you are stressed and under time constraints. (I was looking for the bookshop that translates documents).

As I didn't finish the process myself I cant say much for the MFA, but at the BE they were nice and helpful. It took me longer than expected to sort it but the staff were polite and respectful.

Apologies for rambling, but I hope my notes may help others soon to go through this process.

[happylarry]

Just to let you guys know I went there today. My appointment at the BE was 9am, I got there at 8:15 as the traffic was light. There were only 3 of us there at that time but I wasn't seen until 9:15 (appointment at 9 so I cant complain too much). One BIG point to help any future guys is to e mail your document to yourself. If you do they can amend it there and then;if not you have to change the document yourself, get it printed and end up e mailing it to them anyway. If your passport was issued at UKPA you also need to say issued in the UK. Further, I was recommended to use my UK address. If a Thai address is used, the local amphurs can be funny about it and end up asking for more documentation when you try to tie the knot. You may also need to change the size of the document to ensure there is enough room at the bottom of the document for their stamp. They reduced mine and deleted the ".................." under their approval. Oh, and before I forget your wife to be can enter the BE with you. There were many couples there by the time I was eventually seen and I was asked to bring my missus after amending my document (as I hadn't emailed it to myself beforehand, I only had it on a memory stick which they will not use)

Once I eventually got it stamped I went to the MFA but it was too late to do the one day. As some others have said 9am is the cut off period. In the end I just paid a guy there to translate my document, get it authorised and post it through to me as I couldn't be bothered by this point. Paid 1,100baht in total. Then I went to Central Ladprao, got some food, drove home, and have had a few beers to call it a day.

One final word of warning in the MFA is that all the signs are in Thai. I can read Thai but only the vocabulary that I know. I didn't understand what all the Thai meant over the multitude of desks within the building. Not good if you are stressed and under time constraints. (I was looking for the bookshop that translates documents).

As I didn't finish the process myself I cant say much for the MFA, but at the BE they were nice and helpful. It took me longer than expected to sort it but the staff were polite and respectful.

Apologies for rambling, but I hope my notes may help others soon to go through this process.

There are always those that don't listen.....lol

HL

[alien365]

There are always those that don't listen.....lol

HL

I always knew what you said would be the least hassle, as I said from the start you made very good points. I wanted it done in the day but after waiting an hour with no activity I knew it wasn't going to be my day. Nevermind though, only once in a lifetime I hope. The drive was fun in the rain, had some good food and had a chat with some nice people waiting. Best of luck to the guy who was there who had lost his passport too. I hope never to be in that position.