How can I extend my Non-O visa based on my marriage to a Thai citizen without having my marriage certificate translated in time?

May 22, 2018
7 years ago
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all. My first visa was from London on 27th Feb. Non immigration type o ... Runs out 27th may. I'm married in the UK to a Thai girl I met 12 years ago in the UK. To get an extension ...spouse type visa they said this morning we had to have our marriage certificate translated into Thai and stamped by the Thai Embassy in London. Won't have time to do that via fax etc before 27th. Need the easiest way to get an extension to give us more time. .. any advice please.. cheers in advance.. Rick.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Rick is seeking advice on extending his Non-O visa, which is expiring soon, due to the need for a Thai-translated marriage certificate validated by the Thai Embassy in London. Community members suggest alternative options such as visiting the Thai consulate in nearby Laos for a new visa, performing a border run, or considering a visa run to a neighboring country for a temporary extension. It is noted that the translation and certification process for the marriage certificate can complicate the extension. Some suggest that applying for a 60-day extension may also require the certified document.
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Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Cheers Tod. Rick.
Tod *********
I would just go to the thai consulate in Savannakhet Lao and get either a 90 day single entry Non-O visa, OR a year-long, multi-entry Non-O visa <- (the multi-entry one would require you to border-bounce every 90 days).

You can use the british marraige certificate at that consulate without it be translated
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Great advice Tod thanks.
Tod *********
at least IF you got the 90 day single entry Non-O from Savannakhet you would have enough time to send the marriage certificate to the UK and get it thru the channels it needs to and gets back to you so you can get apply for a yearly extension once it runs out.
Tod *********
You follow this sheet to get a marriage certificate of a thai married in the UK certified.
Biff *******
Along with the pre-paid envelopes for the Legalisation office, and for the Thai Embassy to send it on. Looks like you might need to send it to someone in the UK who could get the stamps and postal orders for you.
Biff *******
The Postal Order payment might be an issue if you're not in the UK.
Henry *********
It's quite efficient (takes about 2 weeks) although it helps if you do it while in the UK. The Legalisation Office will forward the legalised document to the Thai Embassy for you; you just need a pre-paid envelope addressed to the Thai Embassy in London SW7, and then another pre-paid envelope for the Thai Embassy to send the document back to you. The Legalisation Office charge 30 GBP and the Thai Embassy 10 GBP, although for the Embassy it can only be paid in postal orders!
Tod *********
@Richard ********
, that's how you get your marriage to a thai in the UK translated and certified. It's the ONLY way to do it now
Thomas *****
That does not sound right. where did you go for the extension
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes
Tod *********
@Thomas ****
and you got married to a thai in the UK?
Tod *********
@Thomas ****
You are incorrect in your assumptions :/

IF a thai is married abroad, the UK consulate here no longer stamps marriage certificates
Thomas *****
certified by which consulate
Tony ********
@Thomas ****
just telling you what the consulate requires. perhaps they have tightened up
Thomas *****
mine was not had it done in BKK at immigration they translated and stamped it .
Tony ********
Thomas Day it has to be certified as an actual marriage certificate by a lawyer or notary first. and then a Thai consulate has to certify the translation
Thomas *****
I would think the UK embassy in BKK could stamp it
Thomas *****
getting it translated is easy
Tony ********
The marriage certificate has to be in thai and certified by consulate
Thomas *****
Border run? but have to pay a fee
Tony ********
Sisaket requires it too
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes.
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Already me this though Paul.
Paul *********
Scratch that cos you would need the affirmation of marriage from the British embassy.
Paul *********
Not sure if this would work but Khet Bang Rak do about 10 foreign thai marriages each day but you have to queue from about 4am to get a place. You could then go to immigration with the Thai wedding certificate and apply for a 60 day extension to stay with your wife.

Just a thought.
Paul *********
Depends if you want to make a trip of it or just out and back same day.

A few companies do minibus one day trips or look if AirAsia has any cheap flights.

I flew to Penang Malaysia return last time cos I can’t stand the minibuses.
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Paul and all on the site. Burma... do you think.
Paul *********
I don’t think you have enough time to get anything translated to extend this current visa.

The Department of Consular Affairs out at changwattan has a translation service and they stamp it as authentic. If you get there early you can sometimes get it done the same day, or go get it the next day.

Not sure if immigration will accept that without verification from the British embassy and it takes 2 weeks to get an appointment there.

Other options will be a visa run to a nearby country and get a 30 day visa exempt on re entry.
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Weeks I should think.
Paul *********
How many more days do you need to get? Weeks? Months?
Paul *********
Just read again you had single entry
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No she doesn't need a visa.
Paul *********
So you’re in Thailand on a multiple entry O visa right?

If it’s use before date is 27th may you can exit and re enter on it before the 27th and get another 90 days.
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My wife is a Thai national and a UK national.
Henry *********
I expect the UK marriage certificate will need to be legalised by the UK Legalisation office and then this has to be certified by the Thai Embassy in London. I had to do this to get my wife's Extension as my dependant. If they mentioned the Thai Embassy in London it will be for more than just certifying the translation. Interestingly, Cheangwattana didn't require our UK marriage certificate to be translated; just legalised and certified.
Tony ********
they only require a certification by a notary or lawyer in vancouver
Robert *******
Difference is that OP is married with a Thai National and you're not. This based on the fact that your wife needs a visa to stay in Thailand.
Robert *******
Yes, you can come back with the Visa Exempt Entry, gives you 30 days and possible Extension for another 30 days to sort it all out. Than apply with all the papers for the Non Immigrant O visa based on Marriage again.
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just for more time to sort the married one out. ??
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No easy way then. Can't fly out and come back as a tourist. ?
Tony ********
I tried with a Canadian marriage certificate last year in sisaket and the answer was NO!
Wayne ******
And you are admin Robert
Thomas *****
I understand and agree.
Robert *******
@Thomas ****
Reason is simple. If agents are welcome this page would be flooded with adds from the thousands visa agents. Hard to find a question between all the adds and promotions.
Wayne ******
No problem
Robert *******
Sorry, I was to quick. I'm a moderator on this page.
Wayne ******
OK thanks
Wayne ******
Sorry was unaware they are just great
Robert *******
Please do not post business cards of Visa Agents. We are on this page to provide service, not for promoting visa agents.
Robert *******
Without the marriage certificate translated and stamped there is no easy way to get an Extension. You can ask for the Extension of Stay for 60 days to visit family, but they can tell you this also needs the marriage certificate.
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