What should my American friend do to authenticate his marriage certificate for Thai immigration after recent changes in regulations?

Visa Issues Marriage Certificate Authentication Thai Immigration Retirement Visa US Embassy Procedures

Apr 17, 2023

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello everyone. I have an American friend and his legal spouse from Japan have been living here more than 10 years on retirement visa and follower visa. They have been submitting the original US marriage certificate to the immigration ever since for his spouse to qualify for a follower visa. All of sudden this year , the immigration doesn't accept foriegn document. They request the US embassy authenticated the marriage license for them. Unluckily the embassy says they have no power to authenticate any vital records at all. 

In shorts, immigration needs embassy legalization on a paper work, but the embassy refuses to do so. Have you all got any experiences or ideas to suggest us to work this out? Thanks indeed.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An American expat and his Japanese spouse face challenges with Thai immigration after new regulations require authentication of their US marriage certificate, which was previously accepted for ten years. The US embassy does not authenticate vital records, leading to confusion and frustration. Suggestions from community members include getting married in Thailand, authenticating the certificate in the US, and exploring other bureaucratic options.

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Pom ********

Based on my experiences, There are four places to send marriage certificate to be authenticate in the US and it must be in the following order: 1. Local County office where Certificate issued. 2. States office where certificate issued. 3. US Department of State. 4. Thai Embassy. The whole process took me 2-3 months.

2 years ago

Sarick **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Pom *******

Couldn't thank you enough for your completed explanation. What weird is that this couple have been submitting the US certificate alone since 2013. Only this year they decide to see the authentication.

2 years ago

Reply to

Sarick **********

Phil ********

彼女の戸籍から書類を取得します。区役所で用意できます。代わりにこれを使用してください。

TIT

2 years ago

Steve **********

Try to get the US Consulate to certify anything is impossible.

They Don't answer phones, texts, go there: Guards are not US, all personal, private security.

You'll never see Consul official.

2 years ago

Jeffrey ************

Fly home and get it done.

2 years ago

Max ********

Have yur marriage cetificate legalised in the USA, e. g by Foreign Affairs or other department dealing with such matters. Next your embassy here in Thailand can Legalise as well?

2 years ago

Bennett ********

Not Thailand, but similar situation with authentication of marriage certificate: I'm an American married to a Taiwan citizen, which does require authentication. Having our marriage certificate authenticated required sending the original certificate to the TECO office (sort of like a Taiwan embassy) where we were married in the U.S. They have it authenticated with local authorities where you were married, & then send it back to you. Basically, it needs to be authenticated in the U.S. Can't the U.S. embassy here advise them how to get this done? (But you do not have to go there, can send documents.)

2 years ago

Sarick **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Bennett *******

thank you. Very useful advice. The embassy only sent a link to another office in the US. I will inform this person about your advice. Thanks.

2 years ago

Bennett ********

@Sarick *********

Not sure where they'll need to send theirs - perhaps a Thailand embassy in the city where they were married? I believe authentication is just to verify that the certificate is real.

2 years ago

Reply to

Bennett ********

Bonnie *******

Is she old enough to do her own retirement visa?

2 years ago

Sarick **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Bonnie ******

they use his financial funds alone for 2 people. It's possible if they are married and got required documents.😄

2 years ago

Bonnie *******

@Sarick *********

it's not very much money to tie up having her own account and she wouldn't have to get the marriage paperwork

2 years ago

Reply to

Bonnie *******

John ********

I'm going to give you a idea but I don't know if it will work why don't you just get married here in Thailand. I understand that you are married but for the the thai immigration office it would keep them happy and it would be in thai

2 years ago

Sarick **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *******

good thinking! Thanks. It for another person, not myself. They are American and Japanese. They got married in the US. Her visa ext. stamps got handwritten in Thai as " following husband passport #..." and his as " with wife following passport#..." ever years. This year they start acting like turning down their US marriage certificate all of sudden.

2 years ago

Reply to

Sarick **********

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