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Should I report my marriage to the U.S. embassy after marrying a Thai woman, and what are the implications?

Marriage RegistrationU.S. EmbassyThai Marriage RecognitionVisa and ResidencyTax ImplicationsITIN ApplicationDependency Claims
Dec 27, 2022
2 years ago
Alexandr *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
After getting married to a Thai woman, should one report to the local embassy?(U.S. Passport). What will it change if so?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
After marrying a Thai citizen, it is not mandatory for Americans to report the marriage to the U.S. embassy, as Thai marriages are recognized legally in the U.S. However, doing so may be beneficial for recognition of the marriage in official U.S. records. To secure a one-year marriage permission of stay in Thailand, necessary documentation such as the kor ror 22 from the local amphoe must be obtained, indicating the marriage is logged with Thai authorities. Additionally, for tax purposes, an ITIN can be applied for the Thai spouse, allowing the married couple to file jointly and potentially receive tax benefits.
กะลาสี *****
My comment doesn't have anything to do with registering your wife with the embassy. However, if you and her are going to remain in TL (i.e. not move to the US) you may want to file for an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number) with the IRS, so that you may claim her as a dependent on your taxes and add her to a US bank account, if you so desire. It's basically the equivalent of an SSN for someone who does not have a "Green Card." It increased my tax refund by over $1,400 for 2020 & 2021 tax years.
2 years ago
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Alexandr *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@กะลาสี ****
 Can I claim her as a dependent if even if she lives in Thailand?)
2 years ago
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Jackie ***********
@Alexandr ************
 you don't claim her as a dependent. You file married jointly. This gives you an extra standard deduction. I just got an ITIN for my thai wife last year. Application for an ITIN must be submitted with a *paper* 1040 filing, so you might want to do this when you file your 2022 tax return. I did this last year, cost me 1500 baht to DHL the paper 1040 and w7 ITIN application to the ITIN processing center in texas. I sent it in early March 2022, did not receive my refund until August 2022. IRS is notoriously slow processing paper returns
2 years ago
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กะลาสี *****
@Jackie **********
 I did mine in spring of 2020 and I didn't get my refund until October 2020. Of course CoVid was raging at the time and I believe it slowed down the already slow IRS.
2 years ago
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กะลาสี *****
@Jackie **********
 yes, married filing jointly, not a dependent! 👍
2 years ago
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กะลาสี *****
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กะลาสี *****
@Alexandr ************
 yes, exactly. That's what I do and I've never even taken her to the US yet (been married bout 5
***
years.)
2 years ago
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กะลาสี *****
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Greg ********
As an Australian passport holder I did not need to report back to the embassy after getting married. Should you need to show somebody in the US then have the certificate and Kor ror 2 translated by somebody certified by the ministry of foreign affairs
2 years ago
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Kool *******
No, as an American you don't have to register the marriage with the US embassy, as Thai marriages are already recognized as being legal. If you are retired then you do list the change on the questionnaire you submit every year. In order for your Thai wife to get any part of your social security when you pass on, you both must live in the US a certain number of years. If I remember right it is ten years.
2 years ago
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Dave **********
Called the five year rule. SSA in Manila is happy to provide all the details upon request.

Highly suggest Americans get their SSA Information from them.
2 years ago
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Kool *******
@Dave *********
 considering the Manila office handles all SSA details for most of South East Asia, yes, that is who you talk to if you live here. Their email service is very efficient, as I've used them many times.
2 years ago
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Dave **********
@Kool ******
 agree I have had great help from them over the years.
2 years ago
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Dave **********
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Eric **********
@Kool ******
 And married for 10. Then she can draw it in Thailand after you pass.
2 years ago
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Eric **********
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Jeremy ********
Only do this if you want the marriage recognized by the USA if you don’t want it recognized then don’t report it…
2 years ago
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Dave **********
Here is what the US Embassy says and for some reason there in disagreement with the FB Experts.

Embassies and Consulates cannot perform or register marriages. The following information is provided:

A legal marriage in Thailand consists of two parties registering their union with a local Amphur (Thai district office, similar to a county office). It is a process that can take several days to complete.

****************************************************************************************************************************
%20and%20Consulates%20cannot%20perform,take%20several%20days%20to%20complete.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Dave *********
 until you want to take her to the USA on her Thai Passport and the Embassy asks what’s her status…then they have to acknowledge it for the visa process
2 years ago
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Dave **********
@Jeremy *******
 what are you on about? The American Embassy does not Register Marriages.

Took my my wife in 75, she passed, remarried and my second wife went on a tourist Visa in 2012. Her being married to a American certainly helped but the fact she was working and owned property got her the Visa. As noted the above by the American Embassy link to their Web Site they DO NOT Register Marriages,
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Dave *********
 if she says she’s married during a visa interview it’s annotated in her records for perpetuity…this is how the govt works
2 years ago
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Dave **********
@Jeremy *******
 lol you claim was you register Marriages with the Embassy. The Embassy link says different.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Dave *********
 if you want the govt in your life you claim things if you don’t want them in your life you don’t claim anything…
2 years ago
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Dave **********
@Jeremy *******
 retired military and did military contact work and retired from Boeing Act. so Uncle Sam and me have a understanding going way back to 1965 and my life was, maybe still is, an open book to my Uncle. However, I still never registered my two marriages, both to Thais, at the US Embassy but you can bet Uncle was aware, because of my job, who I married no matter if American or other Nationality. Have a great evening.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Dave *********
 wow you sound like a salty Boomer retiree most likely because you wanted to make SM but never could…if you don’t register than dear Uncle never knew about them unless you put it on an SF86 for your clearance
2 years ago
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Dave **********
@Jeremy *******
 your so much fun as you claimed we need to register marriages with the Embassy. Simpley not ture, per the US Embassy, as the Embassy does not register marriages. Let that sink in, as you put it. Goodbye
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Dave *********
 you an old dear uncle have an intimate relationship most likely…
2 years ago
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Dave **********
@Jeremy *******
 T he Embassy does not register Marriages for anyone. Read their web site.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Dave *********
 until you try to get her/him to the USA with a visa
2 years ago
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Dave **********
@Jeremy *******
 took both Thai wifes to the USA and the Embassy still did not register the marriage as they DON'T REGISTER MARRIAGES, LOL Read the Embassy Web Site link I provided you. Your no longer fun
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Dave *********
 you’ve never been fun it’s always been my way or at ease parade rest while I fill you with audacious claims that make me sound right…
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
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Jeffrey *********
@Jeremy *******
 All legally registered marriages that do not violate public policy are automatically "recognized" by the US and all states. There is no US equivalent to Thailand's Kor Ror forms, and the embassy can't do anything with your marriage information. Of course, you may wish to update beneficiary details for US pensions, insurance, etc, so it might be helpful for you to find out what each of those might require in addition to the Thai marriage certificate, such as translation into English.
2 years ago
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Frank **********
It is possible for a foreign spouse to file for a divorce against an American citizen in a court in the US. The laws vary from state to state, but your marriage abroad could result in a divorce proceeding back home. Probably a good idea to look in to that and make sure you don’t get caught off guard some day by a crafty lawyer.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Frank *********
 I’m sure most people that marry Thai women have to worry about that 😂🫣
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
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Jeremy ********
@Jeffrey ********
 your opening salvo “all legally registered marriages”…. If you don’t report it then it never happened…let that sink in
2 years ago
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William *******
@Jeremy *******
 I think you're right.

This is what I've always been told .
2 years ago
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William *******
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Marco ********
Married outside thailand? If you want get a 1 year marriage permission of stay, you have to get the kor ror 22 paper from the amphoe and to get that you have to register at the MFA. For a 90 day non-o you can use the foreign marriage certificate.
2 years ago
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Marco ********
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