American Man Marry Thai Woman, Both Live In Japan?

[maryanneh]

my son (American serviceman) wants to marry his girlfriend. They both have lived in Japan for about 5 years. The American Embassy in Japan's website is very straightforward about what an American who lives in Japan needs to do to get married there. But the Thailand Embassy in Japan's website has no information at all. Does anyone know what a Thai-born woman living in Japan needs to do to get married there? I don't know what kind of Visa she has (but I can find out). Any help would be appreciated.

[bluedragon]

my son (American serviceman) wants to marry his girlfriend. They both have lived in Japan for about 5 years. The American Embassy in Japan's website is very straightforward about what an American who lives in Japan needs to do to get married there. But the Thailand Embassy in Japan's website has no information at all. Does anyone know what a Thai-born woman living in Japan needs to do to get married there? I don't know what kind of Visa she has (but I can find out). Any help would be appreciated.

Maryanneh, I live in Japan. and was in the service.

I suggest your son go to his personnel office and ask some questions. The last time I heard any info on this for marrying a japanese, all you had to do was submit her family register, showing that she is not already married and then the U.S. Consulate, or Embassy can marry them on paper using a witness. I suspect marrying a thai in Japan would be similar. I will forward this to a friend of mine that married a thai while living in Japan and see what he has to say.

Regards, BD

[lopburi3]

The Japanese will be setting the requirements for marriage in there country - not Thailand. But as said service persons are subject to special rules so he must follow those - not what the Embassy says for non service people.

[hitori_one]

Maryanneh:

I married my Thai girlfriend and brought her back to Japan where I have been living the past ten years. Yes the first stop is the U.S. embassy websites for Japan and Thailand. Second stop is the local personnel office if he is in the military or a government civilan.

Getting married is the least of his problems. Getting her back to Japan is really a pain in the butt, however, patience and some mental gymnastics on all the paperwork, and enough money for the stay in Thailand to work the paperwork it can be done.

1. I sat throught the Buddist Ceremony for my wife's sake which in the minds of the Thai people you are married. Heck, you don't even really need that. Just saying yea, "Were married" also is the same. However, this will not be the case for your son.

2. Next step is that they get their marriage recognized by a city official. I had mine done in Bangkok. In order for this to happen he will need documentation (affidavit) stating that he is not currently married. He can get this form from the U.S. embassy and then you have to have it translated into Thai. There are also local forms to fill out, of course he may need personal documentation such as birth certificate, passport, etc... She will need her family book (same as our birth certificate except it covers everyone in her family). Once he hits the papers with the red ink (government seal) bingo he is married. No problem.

3. Now you have to take all that documentation have it translated to English including it being certified and bring it to the U.S. Embassy. They will take it, God only knows how long it will take but, they will eventually provide an official document in English signed by some Dept. of State bubba saying this is a valid marriage and recognized by the U.S. government.

4. Now for the hard part, bringing the new bride back to Japan. Guess, what more paperwork, more time, and more money. I highly recommend that before he begins this protion is ensure that he gets his wife a U.S. government ID card. I got mine at the Joint Unitied States Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) administrative office.

5. Get the appropriate forms for a visa at the Japanese embassy in Thailand. They also have the forms on their website. Fill them all out and provide them the Thai copies of the marriage and possibly the U.S. embassy affidavit stating that they are married along with copies of the government ID cards. Also, he will have to provide documentation of his current position and that he has the financial means to support his wife. At this point your son in new daughter-in-law are at the mercy of the Japanese embassy. They can decide to issue a visa or not. Mine took approximately 5 days. I have heard some people had theirs denied. Paperwork problems the approving officer drank too much the night before and was in a bad mood, background information on his girlfriend is bad, etc...

6. If all goes well, she gets a standard entry visa to Japan. Once in Japan, he should immediately head to his personnel office and get a SOFA stamp in his wife's passport. Then head to the Japanese immigration office with her, show present her Thai passport with the SOFA stamp and they will cancel the orginal entry stamp and list her under the Status of Forces Agreement that we have with Japan. This is important since her original Japanese entry visa will only be good for 90 days.

7. Lastly in know way do I present this as the gospel. Some things may have changed, however, it is a pretty good idea of what needs to be done.

Good luck,

Richard