Registering UK Marriage in Thailand

**can123** · 29-04-2015, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Horatio Hornblower

Come on just admit the fact your skint, and you don't want to cross the border every 3 months.

We I'll be living is Isaan and I am quite looking forward to visa runs into Laos. I want to see Luang Prabang and also the Plain of Jars.

I spent over two hours on the phone yesterday trying to speak to the Thai Embassy in London. When I eventually spoke to somebody all she could say was "it's on the website". The consulates are unable to issue retirement visas and to have to go to London would necessitate two nights hotel accommodation, considerable uncertainty and £20.000 in a current account.

If I was able get a "retirement visa" in Cardiff, I would almost certainly do that. All the consulates have advised initial entry with a marriage visa followed by subsequent conversion.

**Horatio Hornblower** · 29-04-2015, 03:10 PM

Ring Liverpool there very helpful

**Horatio Hornblower** · 29-04-2015, 03:18 PM

Royal Thai Consulate
Boodles House
35 Lord Street
Liverpool
L2 9SQ
Tel: 0151 255 0504
Fax: 0151 255 1070

Please telephone the Consular Officer during the following hours if you require personal assistance.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
If telephoning, please leave only your name and number so that we can call you back.

**peterpan** · 29-04-2015, 03:22 PM

why do you need any thing translated, I was getting my tits in a lather over this as we were married in NZ but actually its never been a problem.
One guy told me at in Vientiane that we had to have a translation but since then I have got 3 marriage visas with out a hitch.

**jamescollister** · 29-04-2015, 03:32 PM

can123, I'm getting a little confused on what you are trying to do.
A multi O spouse or just a 90 day spouse visa is a easy to get in the UK or in Lao.
You apply for your retirement visa in Thailand, first application money in bank 60 days, wife or no wife.

What's the need for your wife to change her name on her ID card before applying for a retirement visa.

Are you sure you are not getting a spouse extension of stay confused with a spouse O visa,

**can123** · 29-04-2015, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by peterpan

why do you need any thing translated, I was getting my tits in a lather over this as we were married in NZ but actually its never been a problem.
One guy told me at in Vientiane that we had to have a translation but since then I have got 3 marriage visas with out a hitch.

There is no need for translation in the country which issues the visa. Getting into Thailand is no problem for me and I will get the O-visa without any hassle. The difficulty arises in Thailand if one wishes to remain in that country. I can only assume that you have had three marriage visas and they have all been issued outside Thailand. I don't want to have to leave the country to get new visas and I when I enter Thailand next it will be for the rest of my life.

**peterpan** · 29-04-2015, 03:38 PM

I obtained the visas in Vientiane, thai consulate.

**can123** · 29-04-2015, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by jamescollister

can123, I'm getting a little confused on what you are trying to do.
A multi O spouse or just a 90 day spouse visa is a easy to get in the UK or in Lao.
You apply for your retirement visa in Thailand, first application money in bank 60 days, wife or no wife.

What's the need for your wife to change her name on her ID card before applying for a retirement visa.

Are you sure you are not getting a spouse extension of stay confused with a spouse O visa,

No confusion. I cannot get a retirement visa other than by visiting the Thai Embassy in London. I will get my marriage visa from a local consulate, enter Thailand using it and get a retirement visa when funds have been in Thai bank account for more than three months. The marriage visa will be extended after 90 day periods but will eventually disappear and I will have a "retirement visa".

You are correct that my wife does not need to change her name in order for me to get a retirement visa. There are, however, other factors, primarily relating to shared assets in the UK, which require her to use my surname.When she uses my name, everything should go smoothly whether or not I am alive or dead.

**can123** · 29-04-2015, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by peterpan

I obtained the visas in Vientiane, thai consulate.

The current regime in Thailand has made it clear that obtaining visas as you have done is not going to be allowed in future. They have already clamped down on people who have abused the tourist visa and I want to live a quiet life. I am not leaving the country other than to satisfy the requirements of one marriage visa, leaving every 90 days. I am not going to do more than three visa runs.

**Necron99** · 29-04-2015, 03:50 PM

If you are eventually going to get a retirement visa just come on a double entry tourist visa and save yourself a lot of hassle.....

**jamescollister** · 29-04-2015, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by can123

Originally Posted by peterpan

I obtained the visas in Vientiane, thai consulate.

The current regime in Thailand has made it clear that obtaining visas as you have done is not going to be allowed in future. They have already clamped down on people who have abused the tourist visa and I want to live a quiet life. I am not leaving the country other than to satisfy the requirements of one marriage visa, leaving every 90 days. I am not going to do more than three visa runs.

Why are you going to do any visa runs, you can arrive on a 60 day tourist visa, open a bank account and apply for your retirement visa.
If a bit more time is needed get a 1 month extension at your local immigration office.

There is no crack down that I know of on visas obtained outside of Thailand, some consulates like to see money in a bank, others not, but no rule changes.

**can123** · 29-04-2015, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Necron99

If you are eventually going to get a retirement visa just come on a double entry tourist visa and save yourself a lot of hassle.....

Thank you. This is a sensible alternative and worthy of consideration. It will not, however, deal with the other issues relating to assets and recording of the marriage in Thailand. Also, even if funds were transferred on my day of entry into Thailand it would be doubtful if I could satisfy the full requirements for a retirement visa as the 800,000 would not be held for the full three months. The marriage visa gives me more time to sort things out.

**can123** · 29-04-2015, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Why are you going to do any visa runs, you can arrive on a 60 day tourist visa, open a bank account and apply for your retirement visa.
If a bit more time is needed get a 1 month extension at your local immigration office.

A retirement visa could not be granted as the funds would not have been deposited for long enough. I am not able to obtain a Thai bank account while I am in the UK. I tried opening an account with Bangkok Bank in London but their facilities did not extend to the Kingdom other than to transfer funds to an already existing account.

**Necron99** · 29-04-2015, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by can123

Originally Posted by Necron99

If you are eventually going to get a retirement visa just come on a double entry tourist visa and save yourself a lot of hassle.....

Thank you. This is a sensible alternative and worthy of consideration. It will not, however, deal with the other issues relating to assets and recording of the marriage in Thailand. Also, even if funds were transferred on my day of entry into Thailand it would be doubtful if I could satisfy the full requirements for a retirement visa as the 800,000 would not be held for the full three months. The marriage visa gives me more time to sort things out.

You don't need a marriage visa to register your marriage.
When you want to convert to a Non-O for marriage or retirement, they give you a 90 day extension to allow the funds to mature before they extend it.

**can123** · 29-04-2015, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by Necron99

You don't need a marriage visa to register your marriage.
When you want to convert to a Non-O for marriage or retirement, they give you a 90 day extension to allow the funds to mature before they extend it.

Yes, I know that a visa is not required to register the marriage. The conversion will be done as soon as bank accounts have been opened and funds deposited in them.

I have sorted myself out now and my attention has turned to my dogs.

**toddaniels** · 01-05-2015, 08:53 AM

taxexile; while you may indeed hold a thabien baan house book (yellow, because that's the one foreigners get here). All that does is show you live at that address. I'd bet money that you most definitely don't have your name on the chanote (title deed) to the land.

Also, IF the O/P doesn't want to bank a single baht here, that's fine. He can easily go to the UK Embassy, show his proof of pension letter and they'll write him the "funds from abroad" letter without a problem..

Peterpan; while you may indeed have gotten three separate, year long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type-O visas in Lao based on being married to a thai, I take it to mean, what you haven't done is gotten a yearly extension of stay INSIDE the country at a local immigrations office based on being married to a thai? Is that correct??

Okay, again, we're confusing terminology and bandying around the terms "retirement visa" "marriage visa" with abandon.

The O/P can come into the country on a 30day visa exempt stamp, apply at Immigrations in Bangkok for a single entry 90 day Non-O visa (based either on being married to a thai national OR on being over 50). After that he can apply for a yearly extension of stay based on one of the two above things. NEITHER of those require ANY money be inside thailand, ONLY the letter from the UK Embassy here stating he meets the monthly financial criteria for either marriage (40k baht) or being over 50 (65k baht).

Again, the confusion is the difference between a year long multi-entry Non-O (garnered at a Thai Embassy outside the country); where you border bounce every 90 days, a year long extension of stay (garnered at thai Immigrations inside the country) AND a Non-Immigrant Type-OA (called longstay or retirement by clueless Thai Embassies the world over) which requires the police check, the medical certificate etc.

peterpan, is just pulling year long, multi-entry, Non-O's in Vientiane or Savannakhet, he can't stay in country longer than 90 days..

Once more for the thick;

The O/P can wing his way into the kingdom on a 30 day visa exempt stamp
get the U/K marriage recorded here in thailand
go to the UK Embassy and get a notarized statement that he meets the financial requirements for what ever extension he's going to go for (marriage or over 50)
go to Bangkok Immigrations, apply for a single entry Non-O
two weeks later go back get the visa stamped into his passport
two months later go back to Immigrations and apply for a yearly extension of stay (again based either on being married to a thai national or being over 50)

Now, the O/P could cut two steps out of the process IF he could get a single entry 90 day Non-Immigrant Type-O visa BEFORE he showed up. Then all he'd need to do is apply for a yearly extension of stay when he had 45 days or less left on that initial 90 day entry.

As an aside; the type of extension of stay he is on inside thailand in regards to his estate, his assets or anything, is totally irrelevant. There are NO legal ramifications if he comes here and secures a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 rather than based on marriage to a thai national. That doesn't affect how things are divvied up once he dies.

We now return to the slagging match already in progress.

**Thamesbank** · 26-10-2015, 09:30 AM

My Thai wife and I were married in the UK.

As part of obtaining the Marriage extension, the marriage has to be officially recognised.
Firstly, the UK Consulate has to officially stamp and sign that the marriage is legal.
They take a copy of the marriage certificate, then stamp that it has been recognised.
Secondly, you then take this to the M.O.F.A. in Chaeng Wattana where they tecord the details, and also stamp & sign that it has been recognised,
You are offered a 3-day postal service for 200 bt or an "express" 1-hr service for 400 bt

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