33 minutes ago, perthperson said:

Is this true ?  When we were married there was not a "staggering" amount of paperwork involved. If I remember correctly it took less than a week to gather the small amount of paperwork needed. 

 

Is there something complex or unusual about your situation?

It's the embassy that requires about a dozen documents from me and my girlfriend in order to issue an Affidavit. Some of which I had to had sent from my home country. Also all of my girlfriend's documents had to be translated. I'm not sure if embassies of other countries are that stringent. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, JoshBe said:

It's the embassy that requires about a dozen documents from me and my girlfriend in order to issue an Affidavit. Some of which I had to had sent from my home country. Also all of my girlfriend's documents had to be translated. I'm not sure if embassies of other countries are that stringent. 

 

 

Thanks for the info but why is your Embassy demanding paperwork from a non-national who does not need an affidavit from your county? 

11 hours ago, JoshBe said:

Thank you very much for the detailed advice JackThompson. I really appreciate that. 
Unfortunately I have already extended my visa and I didn't manage to get all the document in time to get the marriage at the Amphur done in time. The amount of paperwork required is quite staggering.

Also I have already booked the Penang flight and now I'm not sure if I should take the bus from Penang to Hat Yai instead when traveling back. I guess I will roll the dice and hope that the IOs at Don Mueang will be too busy with large Chinese tour groups and not bother to take a long look at my passport... at least that's what happened the last few times I went through Don Muang. God bless the rowdy Chinese hordes

Luckily I don't have a warning stamp in my passport yet. 
I will keep you guys posted on my success or failure. Thank you again for all the advice.

From Penang, I like taking the ferry across to the train-station, then the train North to the border at Pedang Besar.  Malaysia's railway system is nice.  Pedang Besar is now reported to be asking for 20K baht worth of cash or travelers checks shown, but is otherwise more friendly that Sadao, where the bus goes.  The only 'advantage' to Sadao, is that one can purportedly put money in their passport to avoid scrutiny - not my style (is illegal) - and not doing that could add scrutiny / problems.   

 

I am guessing you read this thread about someone with a similar visa-history - and this was at Suvanbumi Airport, which is has been, in the past, reported as 'more friendly' than Don Muang:

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/992077-entry-denied-bangkok-airport/

This is the only case I have read where the person was rejected with a TR Visa + the cash.  I have wondered if there is some sort of "quota" system, where they are trying to meet a count of denied-entries, to show they are, "Doing something," and he was plucked because they didn't have a good count yet that day.  Just guessing, though - it could just be that this particular supervisor doesn't like people from his country - or who knows what.

Edited July 16, 20178 yr by JackThompson

10 hours ago, perthperson said:

Thanks for the info but why is your Embassy demanding paperwork from a non-national who does not need an affidavit from your county? 

 

If I had to guess, I would say they want to keep foreigners out of the social security system as much as possible - thus the paperwork hurdles for my girlfriend. My future wife would have access to quite a generous widower's pension in the case of my death even if she'd never set foot in my home country. 

 

I've seen some EU countries that also have a good welfare or social security system only asking for a ID/passport from the Thai parter. To be honest I don't mind my country being a little more careful with my tax money.
 

5 minutes ago, JoshBe said:

 

If I had to guess, I would say they want to keep foreigners out of the social security system as much as possible - thus the paperwork hurdles for my girlfriend. My future wife would have access to quite a generous widower's pension in the case of my death even if she'd never set foot in my home country. 

 

I've seen some EU countries that also have a good welfare or social security system only asking for a ID/passport from the Thai parter. To be honest I don't mind my country being a little more careful with my tax money.
 

OK .. So what would cause  a foreign national who was the fiancee of a citizen of your country to be rejected? 

 

NB  I ask out of genuine interest. 

1 hour ago, perthperson said:

OK .. So what would cause  a foreign national who was the fiancee of a citizen of your country to be rejected? 

 

NB  I ask out of genuine interest. 

 

They are asking for the Tabienbaan, the birth certificate, certificate of civil status, certificate of name changes and a few of other document if the Thai partner was previously married. Also all of these documents have to be translated. 

I can only speculate but maybe the idea behind all this paperwork is to deter any impulsive vacation marriages which are likely to fail, yet would allow the Thai partner to benefit from a very generous pension system. 

23 minutes ago, JoshBe said:

certificate of civil status

Also required of the Thai fiance now by some amphoes, who are putting up consecutively higher barriers to foreigner-marriages.  Be prepared to "amphoe shop."

Also, be sure to get an Embassy and MFA-certified copy of your passport, while you are doing all this business.  Many amphoes seem to require that, now.

On 6/21/2017 at 9:04 AM, JackThompson said:

Some want your passport-page copy certified as a 'true copy' by your Embassy (which the USA will not do)

so , what do the usa-americans do ?

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

so , what do the usa-americans do ?

I was wrong - they do them now.  Though I ended up using an amphoe which did not require it.

Edited July 16, 20178 yr by JackThompson

Update: I was able to obtain a TR visa in Penang and enter through Don Muang without a problem. My next visa will be a Non-O based on marriage because I'm getting tired of these visa runs and the fear of denied entry.

Thank you all for your advice