Will my marriage in California be recognized by the Thai embassy for a Non-O visa?

Feb 18, 2022
3 years ago
Tin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
If my partner (Thai) and I (US citizen) get our marriage license and certificate here in California US would the Thai embassy recognize that?

Since she will now be considered family, will that qualify me for a 90 day non-o visa? And would we need to get the documents translated?

Thank you
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A marriage certificate issued in California is recognized by the Thai embassy for obtaining a 90-day Non-O visa. However, it is essential to have the marriage certificate translated into Thai and, ideally, certified by the state department and the Thai embassy in the United States before applying for an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai citizen. Some users advise doing the translation and registration at the LA Consulate to streamline the process.
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Tin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
@Steve *********
How long does it take on average for the marriage certificate to get verified/certified by the Secretary of State and department of justice in Washington DC?

I called the Thai consulate here told me that I need to get the US marriage certificate verified by both places in order for them to register it in Thailand as well.

I tried to call but couldn’t reach anyone at my Secretary of State office and the DOJ to find out their turn around time. Just auto responders.
Tin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
We are just trying to figure out our timeline after we get our license and certificate done to see if we have enough time to get it certified and extend our stay in US to get it done.
Steve **********
@Tin ***
Honestly I have no idea no with covid. If you go to the state department website and look for instructions on how to do it they outline the process.
Samantha *****************
I advise Doing the translation and marriage registration at the LA Consulate if you can, as opposed to waiting to translate and certify docs here. We were married in Nevada and I got a Non-O through LA Consulate but now as I’m trying to extend I had to go through several steps to get it registered in the system
Tin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Samantha ****************
thanks for your reply! What is the process like to get it translated and certified at the us embassy in Thailand?
Steve **********
I am American. My wife is Thai. We were married in Hawaii and had no issues. As stated you need it translated to Thai. You should also get it stamped by the state department and the Thai embassy in America. Life will be much easier when you are here trying to do a extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai.

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Tin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *********
can we get it certified and translated in the US embassy in Thailand as well?
Steve **********
Steve **********
@Tin ***
here’s the problem with that. The embassy in Thailand says right on their website the things the don’t do. One is they do not certify marriage certificates. They say they will do an affidavit. The affidavit simply is certifying that you say the marriage certificate is real. We could not confirm if the district office that has to make our “Thai marriage certificate” would accept that. So, if they don’t then you are in Thailand and cannot extend your visa without going back to the states to get your certificate “Authenticated”.
Steve *******
The Thai Embassy will recognize your US marriage cert for the non imm O visa. If you apply for the yearly extention of stay in Thailand you'll need to get it translated and certified.
Tin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
can we get it certified and translated in the US embassy in Thailand?
Tin ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
awesome thanks!
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