Answereda year ago
What steps should we take to register our US marriage in Thailand for my visa as the spouse of a Thai citizen?
My husband and I have retired in Thailand, where he was born and has acquired citizenship. We entered the country on a retirement visa, but are experiencing difficulties in obtaining the necessary paperwork to legally reside in Thailand as his spouse. We possess a valid marriage license and certificate issued in the USA. Should we consider remarrying in Thailand to simplify the process, given our 28 years of marriage?
Answer summary
An expat couple living in Thailand, where one is a citizen, faces challenges getting residency as the spouse. They have a valid US marriage license but consider remarrying in Thailand to simplify the process. The community advises against remarriage and instead suggest properly registering their existing marriage in Thailand. This involves legalizing their US marriage certificate through the US embassy, translating it, and then registering the marriage at a local Amphur. Once registered, the expat can apply for a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa based on marriage without financial proof required.
38 repliesnewest first
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Chris ********
Assuming your husband now has his Thai ID card and house registration you can do the following:
- get an extension of stay married to a Thai husband for a year at a time. No money in the bank needed if the husband is Thai.
As others have mentioned you’ll need to have your US marriage certificate properly legalised and translated. The US embassy may be the place to do this, but if not, you’ll need to do the multi step legalisation process starting back in the states as others have described.
You can’t get married twice here. If you try the local marriage registry will want to see a certificate of no impediment from back in your home country to say you aren’t already married.
- assuming he has a Thai ID card, there is no urgency any more for him to leave the country to ‘swap out’ passport. He can simply present his Thai ID card and US passport next time he leaves to avoid overstay (see link below).
- get an extension of stay married to a Thai husband for a year at a time. No money in the bank needed if the husband is Thai.
As others have mentioned you’ll need to have your US marriage certificate properly legalised and translated. The US embassy may be the place to do this, but if not, you’ll need to do the multi step legalisation process starting back in the states as others have described.
You can’t get married twice here. If you try the local marriage registry will want to see a certificate of no impediment from back in your home country to say you aren’t already married.
- assuming he has a Thai ID card, there is no urgency any more for him to leave the country to ‘swap out’ passport. He can simply present his Thai ID card and US passport next time he leaves to avoid overstay (see link below).
**********************************************************************************
John ******
When you got married in USA that means you are married worldwide.
Greg ***********
@John *****
that's not the point. . . . . . It is Thai Immigraion which will only let you apply for the 1-year Extension of Stay Permit based on a marriage to a Thai husband, if you have registered your marriage inside Thailand, and if you are able to show the freshly printed marriage registry record from a Thai Amphoe office
Jidel ******************
OPI appreciate all the advice and will follow up with the U.S. embassy in Thailand to explore our options further. Will keep you all posted on the outcome.
John ******
@Jidel *****************
good luckSalali ********
After reading all the comments it appears you do not need 400k Thai baht in a bank. But, what does need to happen that is accurate. Husband needs to exit on US passport ' and reenter on his Thai passport. Then according to some people's comments here you can get your US marraige certificate certified in Thailand for MFA, but unfortunately I am.not familiar with that process. I only know the channels how to get your US marraige certificate legalized in the US. Maybe that person can provide the steps how you can legalize your US marraige certificate within Thailand so it can save you some time. I wish you two the best of luck and enjoy your retirement in Thailand.
Salali ********
The process is actually very simple and you do not need an agent. The husband needs to re enter on his Thailand passport and not a retirement visa.
Step2. The Secretary of State needs to certify your marriage certificate.
Step 3. Then your marriage certificate needs to be sent to the Department of State in Washington DC to be authenticated.
4. Next you need to send it to the correct Thai embasy to authenticated the marraige certificate. There are several locations. Washington Thai Embassy, NYC Thai Consulate, Chicago and California embasy.
After you receive your marriage certificate back with all the Authentication. The document then needs to be translated into Thai.
I recommend Sawadee Transportation located in Bangkok. This office will also have the MFA certify the document for you.
Then the final step is to register the marriage at the local Amphur building.
I recommend this over the retirement Visa since you are married to him it is much easier.
Step2. The Secretary of State needs to certify your marriage certificate.
Step 3. Then your marriage certificate needs to be sent to the Department of State in Washington DC to be authenticated.
4. Next you need to send it to the correct Thai embasy to authenticated the marraige certificate. There are several locations. Washington Thai Embassy, NYC Thai Consulate, Chicago and California embasy.
After you receive your marriage certificate back with all the Authentication. The document then needs to be translated into Thai.
I recommend Sawadee Transportation located in Bangkok. This office will also have the MFA certify the document for you.
Then the final step is to register the marriage at the local Amphur building.
I recommend this over the retirement Visa since you are married to him it is much easier.
Greg ***********
@Salali *******
step 2, 3 and 4 is totally hogwash. I am sorry to say it in harsh words. . . . The process of getting US marriage documents acknowledged inside Thailand is much easier - if you know HOW to proceed . . . . . . and totally wrong is what you wrote about the 400,000 THB proof. A foreign woman married to a Thai husband does not need to show any financial proof when applying for the 1-year Extension of Stay based on being married to a Thai husband. . . . . She doesn't need any money in the bank nor has to show any incomeSalali ********
@Greg **********
thank you for the support. My apologies as I only know the reversed roles. This is very helpful to know.Greg ***********
@Salali *******
a foreign woman married to a Thai husband does not need to show the financial proof when applying for the 1-year Extension of Stay based on being married to a Thai husband. . . . . She doesn't need any money in the bank nor has to show any incomeJidel ******************
OP@Salali *******
thank you. What about just getting married in Thailand, is that an easier process. We are already in Thailand, do we need to exit and come back with my husband using his Thai passport.Greg ***********
@Jidel *****************
your husband should have entered using his Thai passport. And you coukd have entered visa-exempt, got stamped in for 60 days, which is enough time to get your US marriage documents legalized by the US Embassy in Bangkok and then get them acknowledged & legalized by the Thai MfA in Bangkok. You then register your marriage inside Thailand. Exit Thailand, re-enter using the visa exempt again, and apply for the change to the 90-days Non-Imm-O Family Visa based on being married to a Thai husband using the fresh printout "Kor Ror 22" from the local Amphur showing your marriage acknowledged inside ThailandGreg ***********
@Jidel *****************
AFAIK, you can get your US marriage documents translated and then legalized by the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. With these documents you show up at the MfA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and get them "co-legalized" (some call it "over-legalized"). The next step is to get your marriage registered at the local Amphoe with these documents. Once your marriage is registered, you, the wife, exits Thailand and re-enters on a 60-days visa exempt. Then visit Immigration and apply for the "change of visa type" from the touristic entry to the "90-days Non-Imm-O Family Visa based on being married to a Thai husband". For this application no financial proof is needed! You need to prove your marriage with the "Kor Ror 22" freshly printout from the Amphoe of the Thai marriage registry. Once on the last 30 days of this 90-days stay permit, you can apply for the "1-year Extension of Stay Permit based on being married to a Thai husband" and again, no financial proof is required . . .you do not have to fly back to the USA, if you can get the paperwork done by your embassy in Bangkok and the MfA. Loads of bad advice you received hereAndy **********
@Jidel *****************
you need Thai government permission to marry. To get this you need a statement from the US embassy that you are not already married.Andy **********
@Greg **********
some people don't read. The couple are already married. The question that was asked whether it was easier to remarry. My response indicates that foreigners need permission from the MFA to take to the Amphur. To get that permission they need to go to the US Embassy to get a freedom to marry certificate, whereupon the scheme falls apart. They are in Thailand now, and perhaps they didn't pack their US marriage licence, or its an utter ballache to travel 7 hours to sit in a waiting room to be confronted by suspicious state department officials. A department that's been cut to the bone, so that will be used as an excuse in collective foot dragging. The documents presented to the MFA are already notarized. Going to block you chap for being a barrack room lawyer.Greg ***********
@Andy *********
the Mfa in Bangkok does NOT have to approve anything because THEY DON'T GET MARRIED AGAIN . . . . . . . . . . . The MfA in Bangkok only needs to co-legalize the translated and U.S. Embassy stamped & legalized original U.S. marriage documents. Once the Mfa has acknowledged these documents for being "real", they can use them to get their marriage registered on an Amphoe . . . . the whole process is only a document legalization on the level between the U.S. and the Thai Ministries of Foreign AffairsAndy **********
@Greg **********
That's my point. They won't get MFA approval to marry as they are not free to marry.Greg ***********
@Andy *********
they don't need to get married again! They just need to get their US marriage acknowledged inside Thailand and register their marriage on a Thai Amphoe. And this can be done by legalizing the US marriage documents by the US Embassy in Bangkok, and get the documents co-legalized by the Thai MfA in Bangkok. With these documents they get their marriage registered in Thailand
Frank **********
@Salali *******
are you sure she needs 400k baht as she is married to a Thai citizen. That is only for foreigners that have a Thai wifeGreg ***********
@Frank *********
not only this point, also all of his other advice is completely wrong.
David ************
@Frank *********
400k in bank or more than 40k per month being paid into bank with proof of where these payments are from eg. A pension..Frank **********
@David ***********
my statement is correct. Only foreign men married to a Thai need to show 400k.Greg ***********
@David ***********
a foreign woman married to a Thai husband does not need to show the financial proof when applying for the 1-year Extension of Stay based on being married to a Thai husband. . . . . She doesn't need any money in the bank nor has to show any income
Tony *****
@Frank *********
without appearing to be picky the rules state married to Thai citizen. I think this is applicable to both sexesTony *****
@Frank *********
i think you’ve made your point several times 😂😂😂. We all learn something newFrank **********
@Tony ****
false.Greg ***********
@Tony ****
a foreign woman married to a Thai husband does not need to show the financial proof when applying for the 1-year Extension of Stay based on being married to a Thai husband. . . . . She doesn't need any money in the bank nor has to show any incomeSalali ********
Hello I can assist you with understanding the steps to properly be in the country given he is a citizen and your legally married front the US. Feel free to PM. I typically work with adoptees reinstate their citizenship but I do understand your situation and the proper channels you need to do.
Niall *******
You will need to get your marriage certificate legalised in your home country, then translated. You will need to send both marriage certificate and translated copy to Thai Embassy in your home country for verification of translation. Then you can obtain a non immigrant 'O' visa based on marriage provided you meet all the other criteria. Good luck.
Greg ***********
@Niall ******
They do not need to travel back to the USA. They can get the original U.S. marriage documents translated and certified on the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. After this, they will need to get a co-legalization of the certified documents done by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. With both legalized documents they can get a marriage registered on a Thai AmphoeNiall *******
@Greg **********
Yes, totally agreeJidel ******************
OP@Niall ******
I guess that's the way to go. Will look into it.Greg ***********
@Jidel *****************
well, that's a very complicated way to go. Stay inside Thailand and follow the steps I describedNiall *******
@Jidel *****************
It's not easy. A retirement visa is much easier but you need 800k in a Thai bank. Other than that it's very straight forward
Brandon ************
You wouldn't be able to get married again in Thailand, unless you want to fraudulently produce a freedom to marry certificate stating you are single, which you are not. You need to do the proper procedure to get your existing marriage registered, which involves paperwork being certified in the US. It would probably be easier if you used an agent that specializes in those registrations.
Jidel ******************
OP@Brandon ***********
got it, thanks for the info.
Wayne ********
@Jidel *****************
my Thai wife and I were married in Texas when we returned to our home in Thailand we went to the local Ahmpur (District )office. where you reside, bring a translated copy along with the original. They will check your spouses “Free to Marry Status”. Then your marriage will be registered ®️ n Thailand. I can’t remember, but you may have to send the translated copy of your marriage certificate to the Ministry of foreign affairs for an authentication stamp before you go to the district office.Greg ***********
@Jidel *****************
You do not need to travel back to the USA. You can get your original U.S. marriage documents translated and certified on the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. After this, you will need to get a co-legalization of the certified documents done by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. With both legalized documents you can get your marriage registered on a Thai AmphoeActivity
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