Advise on how to marry my thai girlfriend?

[Ian]

Hi Guys!

I have known my girlfriend for 12 months now and want to marry her. How do I go about this n order for the marriage to be both legal under thai and english laws?

We love each other so much and I have also been advise that in order for her to come here, it is easier if we marry first in Thailand? is this true?

Many thanks

[Robert]

Ian

I am just curious.. You say you have known her for 12 months... Does that mean you have been living together for 12 months or does that mean you met on a holiday 12 months ago and have been corresponding ever since?

[Ian]

I met her on holiday 12 months ago and have called her everyday since!

how do i go aboput marrying her?

I understand that the first step is to get an affirmation to marry? but do i need that pre-filled before going to the embassy?

[Leum Laaou]

The following guff is from:

http://www.hotelthailand.com/ezine/2004/issue4/zine1.html

You need to write a Letter of Affirmation. This is simply a declaration that you are free to marry - never been married, divorced, widowed, etc.. This letter is written in your native language. The letter needs to be taken your embassy in Bangkok to be certified. The British Embassy currently charges 2100 Baht for this service.
Sample Letter, from British Embassy in Bangkok (July 2002). Other nationals should contact their embassy for guidance.
The affirmation letter must then be translated into Thai. It seems that just about anyone can do the translation, but the it does need to be certified by the Thai ministry of Foreign affairs;
123 Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok 11120
Tel. 02 575 1056 – 59, 02 981 7171
You need to obtain a Certificate of Residency. Don't let the name confuse you, this has nothing to do with your visa status within Thailand, though you do need to have entered the country legally, and your visa must still be valid. Obtaining a residency certificate is simply case of visiting your local immigration office with your fiancee in tow - she needs to produce her own residency log. You will need to supply two current photos, a copy of your passport and 200 Baht. This takes about 30 minutes to complete.
The pair of you then visit your fiancee's Amphur Office. This government office handles all the registration matters of the local population and is generally visited by Thai's when they move home. The British Embassy refers to this office as a 'Registry office', and whilst that name probably describes the nearest thing that exists in Britain the way it operates it completely different; You can turn up at the Amphur office unannounced, produce all the relevant documentation and leave with a marriage certificate within the space of 30 minutes.
What you need to take;
- Your passport, plus 2 copies including copies of entry visa.
- Letter of Affirmation - both originals and 1 copy each of native and Thai versions.
- Residency Certificate - original and 1 copy.
- Your fiancee's house log, plus 2 copies thereof.
- Your fiancee's ID card, plus 1 copy.
- Two witnesses.
If all goes well you will receive two marriage certificates and supporting documentation that can be used for obtaining visas. The certificates are in Thai, with even the dates written using Thai numerals...

All Thai Registrars will require authentication of the British Consular Official’s signature and certification of the Thai translation. This must be obtained from :

The Legalisation and Naturalisation Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
123 Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok 11120
Tel. 575 1056 – 59, 981 7171
(08.30 – 11.30 and 13.00 – 15.30)
The fee is Baht 400 per document, and it takes up to two full days for the Ministry to process applications

[Ian]

I was under the impression that she would only need her ID card and I would need my passport?

[Leum Laaou]

Hi Ian, well you could try that, but I've read similar advice on other sites, same process etc.

Best to do it 'by the book' for your own protection.

Have fun!

[AD]

Hi Ian, i know that i appear sceptic, but are you perfectly sure that she does'nt also talk to someone else every day. And you did not tell us how and where you met her or how much time you were together back twelve months ago .
This has happened to many farang on their 2 weeks holiday in Pattaya etc., with some very bad results. It seems that you are a young man, so i think that seeing you have got plenty of time ........use it !

[colin howard]

hi ian , AD is spot on with his thoughts , believe in nothing you hear and only half of what you see until you are absolutely SURE sure of your intended , the old saying "fools rush in " springs to mind , AD knows the score as well as any and better than most in affairs of the heart , with maturity comes wisdom and it would appear you are a newcomer to thailand but you have done right in seeking advice from others , as for myself i have lost count of farangs who have finished up broken in heart and finance so slow down a little cos now she,s got khun jackpot she ain,t going anywhere, regards , colin .

[colin howard]

hi AD , true story , about 10 years ago , my late wife and i was on holiday in samui , we met a charming young man from sheffield in england who was teaching english in japan , he turned up one day with this real stunner , the tale he told us was quite normal , the girl he had met was just down from korat to find work so she could get money for her sick bedridden mother , she spoke perfect english , and when we invited them for breakfast at our bungalow cafe , she ordered american breakfast , eggs easy over , and enquired if they had hash browns , black coffee with brown sugar and a separate jug of cream for a floater, the young man did not blink an eye on hearing this, my wife and i knew different of course but said nothing , later they came back to go out for the evening , we went to a local bar were they had a pool table were she proceeded to thrash all comers including myself and believe me i ain,t a bad stick by any means out of sight , of course this went completely unnoticed by this young man who by now was madly in lust , how they finished up i do not know to this day cos we left 2 days later , i truly believe that this sort of thing go,s on the length and breadth of thailand , do i blame the girls? not one bit is the answer , cos if you get burned it is your fault and yours alone , charlie .

[AD]

Ian, one sure way to find out if she is genuine is to turn yourself into a complete bloody "Cheap Charlie" believe me, if she ain't as deeply in love as you, she will suddenly have to return to far flung Isaan to attend her sick mother/father/sister or whatever............they all find a quick way out, when the money dries up. I have seen quite a few for sure.
Good luck !