Getting Married in Thailand - Documents Required

Just a brief record and guide for those who wants to get married with a Thai partner in Thailand.  You need a few documents before you can do it.

1) A copy of your passport and photos (passport size). and spouse to be.

2) A search result hard copy letter applied at the Registry of Marriage to prove you are Single (or divorced)
https://app.rom.gov.sg/internet/emrs/rom_emrs_start.asp  Cost is bloody $35 for this letter.

3) A letter from work pass division of MOM of your spouse to prove she is not working currently in SG.  Need to have a copy of his/her passport and passport photo.  Apply at the MOM workpass division office.

4) A Certificate of No Criminal Convention (CNCC) applied through Sngapore Police at Cantonment Complex.  Download the form here.  Bloody $45 dollars for this certificate.  (This one better as at least they give a certificate, unlike the stupid letter from ROM)  You may need to draft a letter yourslef if you did not go to the Sinapore Embassy in Bangkok to get a letter of instruction.  Just write that you need a CNCC for marriage purpose in Thailand will be fine.  A copy of photo id or passport of your spouse to be is also required.  And remember to bring your passport (not IC) if you are applying in person.

5) A letter from your current employee, stating your current job and salary.  (A copy of your letter of appointment or contract will do also). 

6)And finally,  a completed Affidavit form (accquired when you go to Singapore emabassy in Thailand) with 2 referees details.

And thats it for first part of the process..... TBC.

 

 

On March 18, 2010 at 12 noon

I received a call from my wife informing me that in her hands, are the documents and new photo id.  Declaring her and my kids to be a full fledge citizens of Thailand.

I just woke up from my sleep actually (I was working night shift last night) so I was half awake and half sleeping when I received that call.  I actually went back to sleep without thinking much.. I thought I was dreaming  :P. But I re-confirmed it just now when I woke up. Immediately gave my wife a call and she said "I'm at home celebrating already!"  

So it hit me. For 5 long years I have waited for this day to come and it came in such a very short notice.  The last update was that they are going up to the Amphur today to get a number but everything was completed in the first half of the day (A very first for me that the Thai officials worked so fast :P).  Normally it will take a day just to even sign a bloody form....

Can't really explain my feelings now.... hands are a bit shaking and still wonder if this is a dream hahahahaha... I actually felt a bit dissapointed as I'm not physically there with my wife today....

So now I have tons of things to do in Thailand.  My options are threw wide open.  I am no longer bounded by my current predicaments.  There are other problems to solve but at least I don't get the answer of "not able to do it" due to my wifer's stateless issues.

It will be a day I will remember forever and its such an easy to date to remember.  March 18.  Just 2 months before my girl's birhtday (May 18).

So just one to declare one more time.  On March 18, 2010.  My wife and kids are stateless no more.  They are citizens of Thailand. :D

 

Some great news.

For those who have been following my blog, my main problem (wife's citizenship) is going to be solved soon.  My wife and I had been travelling up to the Amphur so many times that we befriended some of the officers up in th amphur.  And since my wife dare not to drive the car up the mountains.  We left our contacts to one of the officers in the amphur.  So if there are any information regarding our application, he could give us a call.

Yesterday wify received one of the best phone calls ever.  The officer called and informed my wife that on his hand are the documents that are signed and stamped.  Approving my wife's full citizenship.  Now its only waiting to be called up to the office to take a photo id and she is a full thai citizen.  No more movement restrictions in the country and harressments from other gahment related bodies.

Girl girl is also given Sian Chart.  So its a double win! We were a bit worried as we only applied for Mommy but Thai laws automatically grant her full citizenship too.  So this is true (for those who are speculating in the forum,)  I am a living example that your childrens will be granted full citizenship before the age of 13)

All in all, wife is pretty excited and hopefully she will be called up within this week to take the photo id.  Political tension is high now in Bangkok so I hope she could get it done before everything goes haywire again.....

Will be going back this coming Friday for a short trip.  Girl girl will be performing a dance rountine in a school (end of term) event.  She complained to wify that why I was not around last year so this year I am making sure I will be there for her :).

All fingers crossed. 

 

More photos in slides and some great news from a friend.

I shot more slides on my recent trip to Thailand and I just got them developed and scanned yesterday.

You could view some of the shots over at my facebook album.  I will try to post some higher res shots on flickr or picasa later.

Another good news to point out (although I received it a week before) is another fellow Singaporean who has almost the same predicament as me is finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We actually never met in person but he is a frequent visitor of my blog and we actually get to know each other through facebook. 

Recently, his wife's permit to come to Singapore is finally approved by our dear ICA and she would be coming over in a few days time.  My best wishes to them and I do hope my turn will come soon too. 

HE just have to spoil everything.

We just came back from Chiang Mai today and it was quite an interesting and somewhat enjoyable trip.   All was well until we hit the Ran Stop (Police Checkpoint) at Mae Chan.  As usual, the "police"man there checked my wife and ask her why she never apply for permit again and requested my wife to get out of the bus. 

So the kids and I plus my mum got out and the "police"  got a little surprised that I was getting down as I actually do not need to.  I explained since if he needs to verify with my wife.  My kids especially my boy needs her attention as he needs to be fed by her.  And I can't leave my mum alone on the bus as she's over 60 and can't  speak a word of Thai. I can't possibly left my wife alone with you.

The "police" man a bit reluctant and was a bit surprised by my bold statements as I guess he rarely encounters someone as "experienced" as I am.  I muttered to my wife that he might want "kopi" (bribe) money and he got a bit agitated.  And he kept asking me what I said just now.  After we got down the bus and the bus left.  He kept explaining that only my wife needs to get down while the rest could continue as the bus could not wait.  I coldly tell him I got all the time to "entertain" him and I spoke to him in English.  He got a bit lost with my words and asked his colleague to explain things to me.

Seems like my wife's Work permit is not allowed beyond the point of Mae Chan (first time I heard of that as I clearly understood we could go to Chiang Rai hospital multiple times without issues) and he say my wife needs to get a permit from the Amphue to continue.  ( I know all about this but normally the policeman will let us go as we have children on board)

So I explained to his colleague in plain English.  This is more or less of what I have said.

"I understand you are doing your job and I undestand that you need to explain to me about the restrictions imposed on my wife's status.  We are just simple people going for a simple holiday.  I am bringing my kids, especially my girl to visit the Chiang Mai zoo and we are going back home now.  If there is an issue with us going out.  Then you should have stop us when we are going OUT!  Why are you asking her to get out of the bus when we are going back?  We could have save all this hassle if you did not allow us to go out at all." 

With this explanation, the "police"man seems to understand he is on the loosing side and decided to let us go.  I tried to get his name but all of them started to ignore my queries and ask us to wait for the next bus.  

In total, we spent almost an hour on this total ordeal before we got onto the next bus(those cheap public buses that we need to squeeze) to Maesai.   Not to mention we have 2 huge luggages and other bags we have to carry when we got out.  I'm not sure whether he truthfully wants to explain the situation to my wife or he wants "kopi" money or he just wants to be an arsehole.  But I can safely say this.  Ever since my daughter is born or even when my wife was pregant with her in her belly.  We had NEVER ever been asked to get out of the bus.  Normally they just reprimanded my wife and let us go.  Its common sense and decency as they are kids involved and asking them to get out and get stranded is a big no no themselves too.

No logic at all.  I'm still unhappy over this little incident and I hope I get to meet that "police"man again to get his name....  

A quick one.

I'm working so just a quick post while having a break. Yesterday wife got her Birth Cert for real this time and she has submitted it to her local district office.

Both PaLat has signed the documents and now we are in the queue! According to them, it will take another 1 to 3 months and if there no issues. She should get her citizenship in late December or Jan 2010.

Think we are finally solving one of our biggest problems :) Wish me luck!

Waiting games....

Remember the milestone I wrote a few weeks before? Now its back to square one for the birth certificate. Apparently we need to produce the birth certificate from the place my wife was born, which is Maesai. So now we have completed everything again for Maesai (another bloody rounds of interviews and kopi money) and waiting for the results.

It should be safe sailing this time as the Pa Lat from MaeFaLeung personally gave a call and letter to the Pa Lat of Maesai to help my wife. But the process is really damn slow and inefficient. (kind of miss Singapore's efficiency in this matter)

So more waiting games.... crossing my fingers again.

Milestone!

I have been quite anxious today as my wife was going to the Amphue today to collect her Birth cert and apply for citizenship.

I am on shift today so I could not call her that often for updates. Anyway, we had hit a milestone. My wife's birth certificate was approved and she officially has a certificate that proves her to be born in Thailand!

So at the same time, she has also applied for citizenship (with the help of her Po Long aka Grassroot leader of her district) Her particulars were updated in the computer and her request for Thai Citizenship (Khor Sian Chart)is sent to Ministry in Bangkok for final vetting and approval. Normally this should be the easiest as the birth cert part was the most difficult to get. So now we heard is that the fastest we can get some news is next Monday. Where if its all approved. She will need to go back to the Amphue again to get her photo taken and given an ID card immediately on acknowledgment.

Still anything could go wrong (sorry for bring pessimistic but I had got a lot of bad news ever since we started doing this). If everything is REALLY settled for her. Then we need to start on other things, such as changing the house deeds back to my wife's name, getting married (finally), getting her a passport (so she could finally come visit Singapore) and etc etc etc.

Its a long journey and its just starting to get interesting. :)

Efficiency

is not a word to describe the working attitude in Thailand. Especially Gahment related stuff...

Take for example my wife's birth cert. Its more than 2 weeks since we've applied for it and still we are waiting for the results. Firstly, it was due to a major event in the first week where officials from Bangkok came down to the Amphue to have some meeting and renewal of house books. (Ta Bian Bhan)

Then followed by the Queen's birthday that the Pa Lat (Head administrator) is on leave. Now there are news that there is a change in the Pa Lat. KNS... I smell something fishy already....

Anyway. I'm still crossing the fingers and hope for the best since I have not paid anything yet.

Another year passed and still waiting

I think those who follow my blog would understand the title of this post. Its 2nd of Aug and its my birthday again. It has been 6 years plus since I met my wife and we are still waiting on the status for my wife.

To refresh those who never read the beginning. My wife is born in Thailand but without a birth certificate. And worst still is that she was born near the borders at Maesai which makes things even more complicated. Her status now is actually Thai Yai (2nd class citizenship) which she is confined in the state of Chiang Rai. If she needs to get out of the state. She needs to prove her employment at her Amphue. In this case, at Mae Fa Leung. There are over ten thousands such people like her in Thailand holding this bullshit status. They were often bullied and forced to work as cheap labourer or as sexual workers. My wife is a bit lucky to meet someone in Bangkok to help her out in her store (thats where I met her).

We came back to Maesai when we had our girl and we had been trying hard ever since to sort out her citizenship. She is Thai but do not have Sian Chart (or Thai Citizenship). So we cannot get married and she cannot leave the country. My daughter and son is currently stateless too as Thai law will only grant them citizenship if they are over 12. So apparently if my wife's status is not changed. They will only get their citizenship when they reached 12.

So that's a kind of a summury of my predicament in Thailand.

NOW the good news so far. WE managed to get in touch of an EXPERT in all these sort of things and we are slowly progressing to get the citizenship for my wife. So far it looks promising but I don't want to jump to conclusion as we had a lot of such false hopes so crossing our fingers, we will be going back to the Amphue this coming Tues to Kor Sian Chart (ask for citizenship). The soothsayer wife spoke to say my son will be bringing us good luck. So cross my fingers....

Amphue Mae Fa Lueng

Its the government house where my family will always visit instead of Amphue Maesai as its where my wife's Ta Bian Ban (House Record) is. Its actually quite a beautiful place as its on top of a mountain. I did brought my camera but we were too busy so did not take any photos this time...

Boy boy's name needs to be added into the Ta Bian Ban and wife need to finish her birth cert which was done halfway last time. We brought along 2 elders from Maesai (supposed to be her birthplace) to bear witness and be interviewed by the officials to get her cert.

So now everything is settled and we need to wait for her results. Cross our fingers on this.... and hope everything falls in place... With her birth certificate. It will be much much more easier to get her into the queue for full Thai citizenship.

Just as I thought. Things not that smooth

Think the title summarise today's interview. Seems like there are some paperworks that are missing and the date of my wife getting her current id is not in line with Maesai's rule.(bit complicated, not sure how to explain also). So her birth cert was denied for the moment. Now have to check again with the other district officer on whether she can apply anot.

Sighzz... So used to this type of news. Wify also bad mood. Spent so much effort and wasted her aunties(3 old ladies) time at the district office.

Anyway, Thai politics is going haywire again. Thankfully the north is not affected much by the incidents in Bangkok. Hope everything clears before my trip back at the end of the month.

Counting down...

Tomorrow is a big day. The reason is that my wife and her sis will be at Maesai Amphur to get their birth certificates. The necessary documents are prepared and the 3 old ladies (as witness) will be going down to make their statements. That's the trouble we need to go through as proof that my wife was born in Thailand. (A lot of people around the border never really had a birth certificate, especially those who are poor.)

Anyway, after this step. Wife and her sis could then go back down to Mae Fa Luang's Amphur to convert her to thai citizenship. So I really have to cross my finger that tomorrow's interview to be successful.

Think another sleepless night for me again...

Some good news

Basically its regarding my wife's Thai id card. Recently with some help, she managed to get the first step of owning "Sian Chat" (citizenship) and was asked to go for an interview at her district office.

Since we already "paved" our way in. The interview was a success and now have to wait for a few more months before the next step.

All in all, its good as there is some progress rather than none at all. The political situation in Thailand has not improved and I'm a bit worried that another coup will occur and everything is back to square one again (like last time).

So finger crossed and hopefully, everything can be settled by end of the year. So wify and girl girl can come to SG during CNY 2009 to celebrate together with Grandma and auntie... :P

This looks really promising.

Breaking news from Bangkok post. Seems like the military installed gahment did something good after all. Not sure my wife applicable anot. (Pray hard hard)

Hill tribesmen to be given Thai citizenship
(BangkokPost.com) - Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said the government will give citizenship to 353,000 people who have lived in Thailand for more than 10 years.

These people are mostly hill tribesmen living in the North, he said, adding that the interim government will refer the matter to a new government that will be elected after Sunday's election.

These people will be given Thai citizenship while their newborns will be of Thai nationality.

This is to solve national security problems along the border, he added.

Still, we need to wait for the new gahment to approve the citizenship....