Future Planning for Marriage / Bureaucracy

[roman50]

Question:

Can Thai spouse change name on Thai passport to (US) married name – while in Thailand?

If yes, time frame?

 

Was told by Thai Embassy in Los Angeles that “name change for marriage, for Thai passport, must go through Thai embassy in foreign country” in this case – Los Angeles, CA.

There are four involved / long steps to accomplish this through Thai embassy in LA.

 

Thinking that it might be easier to do during a visit to Thailand.

 

Reason for the question: Last time through US immigration, we were told that “next time have a Thai passport (before married name) that reads like US green card (married name) --or-- an original (US) marriage certificate with Thai passport and green card to enter country”.

 

Carrying a marriage certificate to go through immigration would be easy.

 

However….. I began thinking about future planning of our marriage and the “government bureaucracy”.

 

In Thailand and, in our case, the US.

 

Therefore, I now solicit your experience and advice about this “stuff”.

 

Note: We have not (yet) initiated any “official” paper work in Thailand. Thai spouse, now in the states for six years,  has all US government “paper work” with married name – Green card, Social Security, Insurance policies, Taxes, Licenses, etc.

 

We have done all our own “paper work” to date.

 

Current thought is to continue living in US then “retire” to Thailand.

Thanks for your input.

[ubonjoe]

Where were you married?

If you were married in the states it will require registering your foreign marriage at at an Amphoe. You would need to do a self certification by your marriage certificate  by doing a Affidavit that it is true and correct. Then your marriage certificate and the affidavit would have to be translated to Thai and the translation certified by the consular affairs department in Bangkok (translation service can get this done for you). Then you could do the registration at an Amphoe. Then she could do the name change and get a new passport.

If married here to change her name would require a name change at an Amphoe to change her name in her house book registry and ID card. Then she would have to apply for a new passport.

[timkeen08]

Where were you married?
If you were married in the states it will require registering your foreign marriage at at an Amphoe. You would need to do a self certification by your marriage certificate  by doing a Affidavit that it is true and correct. Then your marriage certificate and the affidavit would have to be translated to Thai and the translation certified by the consular affairs department in Bangkok (translation service can get this done for you). Then you could do the registration at an Amphoe. Then she could do the name change and get a new passport.
If married here to change her name would require a name change at an Amphoe to change her name in her house book registry and ID card. Then she would have to apply for a new passport.

I agree, it is very easy when using both green card and US marriage certificate together. Leave US with green card and re-enter US with green card. Enter Thailand with Thai passport and leave Thailand with Thai passport. Show Thai passport and marriage certificate when required at airports on the way. Unless she is planning on becoming a US citizen before you retire to Thailand, remember that the green card is usually rendered void if she is out of the US over one year. We chose for my wife to keep her Thai name when we were remarried in Thailand. Carrying a US marriage certificate in America and Thai marriage certificate in Thailand is much easier than jumping through many hoops in the US and Thailand getting a name change, not to mention the expenses involved. There are benefits associated with my wife keeping her Thai name on all her Thai documentations. Unless, it is important for your wife to have your last name. I know plenty of Thai/American marriages that do the same. Doing everything here with immigration, amphur, and everything else was no hassle with her keeping her Thai name.

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[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, timkeen08 said:

There are benefits associated with my wife keeping her Thai name on all her Thai documentations.

What might those be?

As far as I know and from my wife's experience there is none. She had to take my name when we registered our marriage since at that time their was no other option (prior to 2002 when the law was changed).

[timkeen08]

What might those be?
As far as I know and from my wife's experience there is none. She had to take my name when we registered our marriage since at that time their was no other option (prior to 2002 when the law was changed).

1. She does not have to go through any processes or paperwork to change any of her documentation or identification in Thailand.
2. Her US green card with her American last name is no longer valid since we have not re-entered the US in over one year and we have no intentions of returning to the US. I will only declare myself on tax returns and will never have to report bank account balances in my name of over $10,000.

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[ubonjoe]

11 minutes ago, timkeen08 said:

1. She does not have to go through any processes or paperwork to change any of her documentation or identification in Thailand.
2. Her US green card with her American last name is no longer valid since we have not re-entered the US in over one year and we have no intentions of returning to the US. I will only declare myself on tax returns and will never have to report bank account balances in my name of over $10,000.

1. That was all done on the date we registered our marriage. As I wrote before she had no choice on the name change. She got a new passport so she had one showing her name.

2. I can't see how not changing her name helps with any of that. My wife is exempt from US taxes. Anything over $10,000 is in her name.

[timkeen08]

1. That was all done on the date we registered our marriage. As I wrote before she had no choice on the name change. She got a new passport so she had one showing her name.
2. I can't see how not changing her name helps with any of that. My wife is exempt from US taxes. Anything over $10,000 is in her name.

1. We had a choice and decided not to bother with her taking my last name.
2. If you never filed a joint US tax return in your wife's new name and social security number then you definantly do not have to worry about US taxes involving her name.

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[ubonjoe]

Just now, timkeen08 said:

2. If you never filed a joint US tax return in your wife's new name and social security number then you definantly do not have to worry about US taxes involving her name.

She has never been to the states. So no SSN and no TIN.

[timkeen08]

She has never been to the states. So no SSN and no TIN.

Different situations require different reasons to assure peace of mind. Besides, I like my wife's Thai last name and so does her family and friends. My last name just never did fit her in America. Her name is on my joint bank account I use for SSA transfers and the account will be used for my 2019 AT&T lump sum retirement check with a ONE TIME over $10,000 balance reporting. Then I am finished with US tax returns and reporting foreign bank accounts.

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[roman50]

Thanks for the responses. For us the current question is for ease of travel into the US.

Answer - it is easy to carry US marriage certificate with Thai passport, before married name and green card with married name.

 

We have not yet initiated any marriage paper work in Thailand.

Now, we have an understanding about registration of  marriage in Thailand, THANKS.

 

Going forward (retiring to Thailand) - Given that green card will become void when we will be out of the states for more than 6 months. I am researching what we will need to do for spouse to "visit US" to visit family - or -access US government bureaucracy - Social Security, Insurance policies, Taxes, Licenses, etc. As well as preparation for our "living" in Thailand.

[timkeen08]

Thanks for the responses. For us the current question is for ease of travel into the US.
Answer - it is easy to carry US marriage certificate with Thai passport, before married name and green card with married name.
 
We have not yet initiated any marriage paper work in Thailand.
Now, we have an understanding about registration of  marriage in Thailand, THANKS.
 
Going forward (retiring to Thailand) - Given that green card will become void when we will be out of the states for more than 6 months. I am researching what we will need to do for spouse to "visit US" to visit family - or -access US government bureaucracy - Social Security, Insurance policies, Taxes, Licenses, etc. As well as preparation for our "living" in Thailand.

US citizenship is your best solution if staying in US until retirement. US citizenship does not require her to give up her Thai citizenship. Then SSA is definately not an issue. Beware, I had an insurance policy for a very long time. When I informed them I would be permanently moving to another country, I was sent a copy of my policy highlighted that I would not get any death benefits if I die in a foreign country

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