Her Thai passport with maiden name - when to change?

[thongd4me 69]

My apologies if this subject has been covered before, but I know at some point

(possibly the normal expiration date) she will have to change her Thai passport

to her married name. I do have a few nuances in my question however.

She asked this question today so I thought I'd throw it out there once more.

Is there any step in the AOS visa journey which would dictate that

she has to change it before the normal expiration date?

I saw other posts which only talked about renewing it just before expiration.

Also, if there are no immediate travel plans (for someone with a GC), is it

OK to let it expire and get it in time for the next travel? Since the non-USC

is on a GC I'm not sure if it is necessary to have a valid passport just to

stay in the US.

I believe there is no reason for her to go out and get a new passport until a

reasonable time before it actually expires.

Thanks in advance for any/all answers.

[bigcasino75 0]

My apologies if this subject has been covered before, but I know at some point

(possibly the normal expiration date) she will have to change her Thai passport

to her married name. I do have a few nuances in my question however.

She asked this question today so I thought I'd throw it out there once more.

Is there any step in the AOS visa journey which would dictate that

she has to change it before the normal expiration date?

I saw other posts which only talked about renewing it just before expiration.

Also, if there are no immediate travel plans (for someone with a GC), is it

OK to let it expire and get it in time for the next travel? Since the non-USC

is on a GC I'm not sure if it is necessary to have a valid passport just to

stay in the US.

I believe there is no reason for her to go out and get a new passport until a

reasonable time before it actually expires.

Thanks in advance for any/all answers.

I have a friend that was married about 12 years ago to a Thai women and she just had a paper stapled in her passport that had her name change on it. I think this can be done at the Thai embassy. She has never done her citizenship and still only has a GC. as for letting the passport expire i dont know if it is alowed or not but I would not. What happens if she wants to go back to Thailand or travel international? What if a family member is sick or need help then you would have to wait for a new passport not a good idea. you should be able to call the Thai embassy or counsel and they may be able to do a name change thru the mail or if you dont live to far make a trip there. good luck and please let us know how you work it out. I will be in the same boat soon. LOL

[thongd4me 69]

I have a friend that was married about 12 years ago to a Thai women and she just had a paper stapled in her passport that had her name change on it. I think this can be done at the Thai embassy. She has never done her citizenship and still only has a GC. as for letting the passport expire i dont know if it is alowed or not but I would not. What happens if she wants to go back to Thailand or travel international? What if a family member is sick or need help then you would have to wait for a new passport not a good idea. you should be able to call the Thai embassy or counsel and they may be able to do a name change thru the mail or if you dont live to far make a trip there. good luck and please let us know how you work it out. I will be in the same boat soon. LOL

Big,

The Thai embassy is very close & convenient to where we live. There won't

be any problem with checking that out.

Too many moons ago to remember my then Japanese wife renewed her passport

but as I recall it may have been expired at that time and she already had the

long-term GC. She didn't need it for travel soon after that but she had it when

she needed it later on. She had overstayed a student visa by over 2 years

and my marrying her cleared up that problem. Those days are gone for sure.

I think on the Japanese passport she still kept her Japanese name because to

the Japanese consulate it was inconceivable that a Japanese citizen have a

"gaijin name." It has something to do with their ancient and time-honored

family registry system I think.

As I recall she just got the renewal without a name change although the fact

that she was married was recognized by the consulate in some way.

The actual facts are a little cloudy in my feeble brain but I can't easily

ring her up and cheerfully ask how she remembers the facts.

Edited December 21, 2009 by thongd4me

[rsn 135]

My apologies if this subject has been covered before, but I know at some point

(possibly the normal expiration date) she will have to change her Thai passport

to her married name. I do have a few nuances in my question however.

She asked this question today so I thought I'd throw it out there once more.

Is there any step in the AOS visa journey which would dictate that

she has to change it before the normal expiration date?

I saw other posts which only talked about renewing it just before expiration.

Also, if there are no immediate travel plans (for someone with a GC), is it

OK to let it expire and get it in time for the next travel? Since the non-USC

is on a GC I'm not sure if it is necessary to have a valid passport just to

stay in the US.

I believe there is no reason for her to go out and get a new passport until a

reasonable time before it actually expires.

Thanks in advance for any/all answers.

There is no need and probably no reason for her to change her name on her Thai passport. In fact, it might be better to not go down this path. I've talked to many Thais who have not changed their name for a variety of reasons, one being the potential problems that might ensue should your future-wife attempt to buy land in Thailand in the future.

Edited December 21, 2009 by rsn

[thongd4me 69]

There is no need and probably no reason for her to change her name on her Thai passport. In fact, it might be better to not go down this path. I've talked to many Thais who have not changed their name for a variety of reasons, one being the potential problems that might ensue should your future-wife attempt to buy land in Thailand in the future.

Thanks,

I seem to recall reading the same too. I'm not too proud to let her keep her name on her passport

and if that's what is necessary to smooth things over for any future real estate dealings, it's better left

that way. She already owns land but in the future there may be other purchases or perhaps a sale/repurchase.

I'd hate to have something as stupid as that stand in the way of having a nice place to live in over there.

[rsn 135]

Thanks,

I seem to recall reading the same too. I'm not too proud to let her keep her name on her passport

and if that's what is necessary to smooth things over for any future real estate dealings, it's better left

that way. She already owns land but in the future there may be other purchases or perhaps a sale/repurchase.

I'd hate to have something as stupid as that stand in the way of having a nice place to live in over there.

I seem to recall hearing about Thais who changed their last name w/out a problem when purchasing land, and others who did have problems. Honestly speaking, it defies common sense that changing one's last name due to marriage would make it difficult for them to prove they are Thai and therefore eligible to own land, but the laws in Thailand seem to defy common sense in some cases and also seem to constantly change. Note that Thai woman cannot buy land with money from her farang husband unless he gifts the money to her. I guess I'm saying that, especially in Thailand, anything can happen so its best not to rock the boat.

[thongd4me 69]

I seem to recall hearing about Thais who changed their last name w/out a problem when purchasing land, and others who did have problems. Honestly speaking, it defies common sense that changing one's last name due to marriage would make it difficult for them to prove they are Thai and therefore eligible to own land, but the laws in Thailand seem to defy common sense in some cases and also seem to constantly change. Note that Thai woman cannot buy land with money from her farang husband unless he gifts the money to her. I guess I'm saying that, especially in Thailand, anything can happen so its best not to rock the boat.

I agree.

This is quite a broad topic and one not only limited to the US vs. Thailand.

My amigo TboneTX has a thread about Mexico also here in the "General Immigration" forum.

Mexico VS. US Immigration policies

People look at US policies and some see a selfless, benevolent superpower that goes around sprinkling

the "fairy dust" of equality and "good vibes" wherever it goes. They complain that other countries

(generally speaking smaller and poorer ones, but not always) only have self-interest in mind when they

create laws concerning citizenship and immigration. These laws often discriminate against Americans

while in America the citizens of any of those countries have pretty much the same rights as US citizens,

if not more due to their not having the obligations of US citizens. That's why Hilary Clinton goes around

the world telling foreign leaders how cool it is to change their ways and be just like us.

Americans will find attractive things about Thailand and other countries, but we can't turn them into America

no matter how hard we try. When we look at the differences in immigration laws between the US and any

given country, it's not just the laws that are different. Each country's laws result from completely different

legal processes.

To me the the laws are the end result, or the "tail" if you will. The processes can be legislative, executive,

bureaucratic or judicial. The processes are part of the national history and character. Those things are

a lot harder to change than just snapping your fingers and changing the law. Sometimes you can't

teach an old dog new tricks, because the old dog is just happy being an old dog.

We want to be "dog trainer to the world" and it's not always possible to do that.

Thailand has had to put up with the British, French and Americans trying to take away their sovereign territory

or at least control it economically and militarily for many many years. It's no wonder that for a good part of

their history they had to agree to many of the unsavory proposals that gave unfair advantages to this or that

foreign country. The consequences would have been occupation and loss of their identity as they knew it.

Now the that "cold war" and the Vietnam war are things of the past, they have discovered that they can

make pretty much any citizenship or immigration law that they please to. So now we know the answer

to why those laws are there. They are there because they feel like having them.

[bigcasino75 0]

Well as I said my one friend (USC) and Thai wife are still doing the GC thing because she has land in Thailand and she was told if she becomes a USC she will loose her land and all rights to it! Now I have other Thai friends (both Thai) that have become USC. Thailand does not alow dual citizanship but when you become USC they dont take the Thai passport. so when they travel to Thailand they enter Thailand on there Thai passport and when they come back to the US they use there US passport. I dontt know if that is legal or not but that is how they keep there land overr there with no problems. I think that maybe be the way to go. My plan is to get done with AOS and then removal of conditions in 2 years get the 10yr GC and just wait and see what will be best for her. to tell you the truth I didnt even ask Sa if she will change her name or not. I dont see it as a big deal, I think it would be easier if we have the same last name but if she didnt want to change it I would not be upset. I live here inn So. CA and you see that a lot more here with all of the asian familys. I grew up in the midwest and there they would ? why a husband and wife have different last names. That is why sometimes it is Clinton and some times it is Rodam-Clinton depends on who they are trying to get votes from! well good luck with everything Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

[thongd4me 69]

Well as I said my one friend (USC) and Thai wife are still doing the GC thing because she has land in Thailand and she was told if she becomes a USC she will loose her land and all rights to it! Now I have other Thai friends (both Thai) that have become USC. Thailand does not alow dual citizanship but when you become USC they dont take the Thai passport. so when they travel to Thailand they enter Thailand on there Thai passport and when they come back to the US they use there US passport. I dontt know if that is legal or not but that is how they keep there land overr there with no problems. I think that maybe be the way to go. My plan is to get done with AOS and then removal of conditions in 2 years get the 10yr GC and just wait and see what will be best for her. to tell you the truth I didnt even ask Sa if she will change her name or not. I dont see it as a big deal, I think it would be easier if we have the same last name but if she didnt want to change it I would not be upset. I live here inn So. CA and you see that a lot more here with all of the asian familys. I grew up in the midwest and there they would ? why a husband and wife have different last names. That is why sometimes it is Clinton and some times it is Rodam-Clinton depends on who they are trying to get votes from! well good luck with everything Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

I will check with the Thai consulate in NY - Do they allow the Thai wife to change name on US GC document but leave her name the same on the Thai passport?

As long as everything is kosher on the US side - can we do without Ampur registration of a local marriage in Thailand to keep her from losing her rights?

There is very little time in which to be wrong here - I want to do what's best for her because on my side whatever the outcome I won't lose any rights.

Edit: actually there is time but I still don't want to shoot either of us or us collectively in the foot.

Edited December 22, 2009 by thongd4me

[bigcasino75 0]

I will check with the Thai consulate in NY - Do they allow the Thai wife to change name on US GC document but leave her name the same on the Thai passport?

As long as everything is kosher on the US side - can we do without Ampur registration of a local marriage in Thailand to keep her from losing her rights?

There is very little time in which to be wrong here - I want to do what's best for her because on my side whatever the outcome I won't lose any rights.

Edit: actually there is time but I still don't want to shoot either of us or us collectively in the foot.

Really I dont think that Thailand will know. The US goverment is not going to tell Thailand you are married and that she changed her name and if you dont tell them they will never know. She could always use the old " this is how the stupid US goverment made me do it sorry it is wrong" everyone loves to blame the gov. As far as registering with the Ampur from what I hear depends on the providence. some I hear want to know if you ###### and it is off color others dont really care too much.

it is good to stay kosher durning the holidays and I dont want to see anyone shot in the foot eather

[JD63 4]

There's no reason you need to change anything at the Amphur, unless there's something I have overlooked. I don't think most people in Thailand register their marriages, since the tax disincentives are so high.

There's a thread on dual citizenship in the Bangkokpost forum

http://www.bangkokpost.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=&t=5247

[bigcasino75 0]

yea that is basicly what I was saying. I will see my friend this week and ask him but if I remember there son has a Thai passport also and he was born outside of chicago.USC and has a US passport aswell. I will try to find out more if I can.