"Single Certification" for HK/Thailand?

[Michael Smith 0]

My fiance is Thai and working in HK on contract. We have NOA1, and I just returned the IMBRA RFE.

We are trying to make sure we have all of the documents needed for Packet 3 sorted out as far in advance as possible. She lost her birth certificate so we have to do a power of attorney to her sister in Thailand to get it, etc. We will wait for the Medical and Police till we get NOA2.

While she was in the Thai Consulate in HK, some gal at the consulate tried to convince her that she would need to haved a "Single Certificate" that certifies she has never been married. Getting the certificate while she is in HK is fairly expensive because of the whole "remote'" thing.

I emailed the HK Consulate, and asked them if the "Single Certificate" was required for Packet #3. They answered in vague generalities that "Any document that you think might help" should be produced. I sent them a second email asking specifically if it was required for Packet 3 and the guy said :

"A certificate of never married is not listed on the document checklist;

however, it may be required when the consular officer deems it useful at the

visa interview. Alternatively, your fiancée may wait for the consular

officer's decision at the visa interview if such document is required in her

case."

Thanks for the clear "Yes" or "No"...... Jerk.

What does the collective mind here think? Should I get it? The cost will probably be USD $250+ by the time all is said and done. It is small money if it saves us a longer wait, but it is large enough that I do not want to flush it if I do not need to.

I personally think I annoyed the guy answering the emails by making him answer the question twice, and he wants to make me sweat a little. My inclination is not to get it, but I don't want to make my sweetie think that there is any comparison between being with her sooner and a few dollars.

Any info or opinions are welcome, as I have never heard of this "Single Certificate" thingy before.

Best Regards,

Michael

[Yodrak 7]

Michael,

A 'single certificate' is not often requested by the consular officers in the consulate in Bangkok, but I have heard of it being asked for on rare ocassions - e.g. when the woman's title on her passport or ID card indicates that she is a Mrs. and she claims never to have been married, or when the evidence of relationship includes information about a Thai wedding ceremony.

The consulate in Hong Kong's response to your question was quite appropriate, whether you liked it or not. And to my mind, they did answer your question - a 'singles certificate' is not a firm, across-the-board requirement, but in some cases it may become a requirement.

There is much about the visa process that is subjective and there are few documents that are firm requirements. A visa applicant is free to present whatever information they have and wish to present in support of their application. If the consular officer handling the application is satisfied that they can approve the application with the information that has been provided they will do so, if there are any points on which they are not satisfied they will ask for something more. Can't be more specific than that about your fiancee's application until they have seen what her situation is and what information she presents.

Yodrak

My fiance is Thai and working in HK on contract. We have NOA1, and I just returned the IMBRA RFE.

We are trying to make sure we have all of the documents needed for Packet 3 sorted out as far in advance as possible. She lost her birth certificate so we have to do a power of attorney to her sister in Thailand to get it, etc. We will wait for the Medical and Police till we get NOA2.

While she was in the Thai Consulate in HK, some gal at the consulate tried to convince her that she would need to haved a "Single Certificate" that certifies she has never been married. Getting the certificate while she is in HK is fairly expensive because of the whole "remote'" thing.

I emailed the HK Consulate, and asked them if the "Single Certificate" was required for Packet #3. They answered in vague generalities that "Any document that you think might help" should be produced. I sent them a second email asking specifically if it was required for Packet 3 and the guy said :

"A certificate of never married is not listed on the document checklist;

however, it may be required when the consular officer deems it useful at the

visa interview. Alternatively, your fiancée may wait for the consular

officer's decision at the visa interview if such document is required in her

case."

Thanks for the clear "Yes" or "No"...... Jerk.

What does the collective mind here think? Should I get it? The cost will probably be USD $250+ by the time all is said and done. It is small money if it saves us a longer wait, but it is large enough that I do not want to flush it if I do not need to.

I personally think I annoyed the guy answering the emails by making him answer the question twice, and he wants to make me sweat a little. My inclination is not to get it, but I don't want to make my sweetie think that there is any comparison between being with her sooner and a few dollars.

Any info or opinions are welcome, as I have never heard of this "Single Certificate" thingy before.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited July 7, 2006 by Yodrak

[Michael Smith 0]

A 'single certificate' is not often requested by the consular officers in the consulate in Bangkok, but I have heard of it being asked for on rare ocassions - e.g. when the woman's title on her passport or ID card indicates that she is a Mrs. and she claims never to have been married, or when the evidence of relationship includes information about a Thai wedding ceremony.

Ok. This makes perfect sense.

The consulate in Hong Kong's response to your question was quite appropriate, whether you liked it or not. And to my mind, they did answer your question - a 'singles certificate' is not a firm, across-the-board requirement, but in some cases it may become a requirement.

Appropriate, perhaps, but hardly informative. Your description was much more to the point.

There is much about the visa process that is subjective and there are few documents that are firm requirements. A visa applicant is free to present whatever information they have and wish to present in support of their application. If the consular officer handling the application is satisfied that they can approve the application with the information that has been provided they will do so, if there are any points on which they are not satisfied they will ask for something more. Can't be more specific than that about your fiancee's application until they have seen what her situation is and what information she presents.

I am beginning to realize that process is not as "cut and dried" as I would like. If I just know the requirements, I will meet them. It seemed to me as though the guy was being purposefully evasive, when evidently he was not.

Thank you for the response, and in particular for reminding me how subjective the entire process is. I was looking for a firm "Yes" or "No", when in fact "Maybe" really is the correct answer.

Regards,

mds

[Yodrak 7]

mds,

You've got it! I think that most people would like clearly defined targets to shoot at, but the subjectivity can be very beneficial if one recognizes the freedom it gives them to make their case. If there were a fixed set of firm documentary requirements, and one couldn't meet any one of them, they'd be SOL. How 'fair' would that be?

Yodrak

I am beginning to realize that process is not as "cut and dried" as I would like. If I just know the requirements, I will meet them. It seemed to me as though the guy was being purposefully evasive, when evidently he was not.

Thank you for the response, and in particular for reminding me how subjective the entire process is. I was looking for a firm "Yes" or "No", when in fact "Maybe" really is the correct answer.

Regards,

mds

Edited July 10, 2006 by Yodrak

[*Robert* 2]

Michael,

I asked the same question about getting that "single certificate" before it was our turn for the K-1 interview. We were not asked for one, and several other people have received their K-1 visas recently, and to my knowlege, none of them had a single certificate either.

Clearly, it is possible they can ask for one, because they have asked for one in the past, but like Yodrak said, it was because there was uncertainty on the part of the consulate that the beneficary was indeed single.

It is better to have too much evidence then not enough, but at the same time, no point wasting time and money when not necessary.

As a single certificate is not asked for on any of the documents from the US consulate in Bangkok, we chose to go without.

As they say in Thailand... up to you!

Good luck!

Robert

[Michael Smith 0]

mds,

You've got it! I think that most people would like clearly defined targets to shoot at, but the subjectivity can be very beneficial if one recognizes the freedom it gives them to make their case. If there were a fixed set of firm documentary requirements, and one couldn't meet any one of them, they'd be SOL. How 'fair' would that be?

While I agree with you in principle, in this little exercise all I want is to get my girl to me in the least possible amount of time. (the phone bills are KILLING me). Ambiguity slows things down. I guess I just have to accept that it is part of the process, and quit looking for black and white answers.

Roi_aggie - Thanks for the response, and I think I am going to follow your lead. My girl has been working at an old folks home in HK for 5 years, and there really isn't any question about her documentation, so I am not too terribly worried we will be asked to produce the document.

Besides- anyone who sees a copy of the slushy stuff we have been exchanging lately is going to see it and say "Get those two a ROOM!". :-)

Regards,

Michael