Ready to begin our Journey

[KittyCarl 0]

First of all I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who contributes to the forum. I've have found a wealth of information on here and feel more confident now beginning this huge process. Oh yeah I just proposed to my baby last week in Mallorca weeeeeeeeeeeeee.

First a little history in case it helps to answer any of my question.

My Fiancee: Thai Citizen who has been living in Germany since she was 11, she married a German man and was later legally separated and finally has gotten her divorce official as of a couple of weeks ago. We have been waiting on the paperwork from her lawyer. So in case you didn't catch it she was married and divorced here in Germany.

Me: U.S military who was stationed in Germany and met the love of his life 4 month before he had to move back to the states. I wish we would have met earlier so we could go the DCF route but oh well. I am now in Germany on a short 2 week visit and proposed (she said YES!) and coincidentally she got her divorce decree from the court while I was here. That is one of the main documents we were waiting for before we could file.

So my questions) are....

1. All of her documents...passport, previous expired visas, current visa she is listed by her maiden name and we plan to file all the paperwork using her maiden name. The only paperwork that we have that list her married name is her actual divorce decree. Does she need to go thru the German system and have her name legally changed back to her maiden name before we can file? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to the question but just wanted to bounce it off of the forum.

2. Her father/mother are deceased and she doesn't know any of his details (date of birth/death/birth location). How important will this be...will it be ok if we can just add an explanation to the form?

3. As she is a Thai Citizen someone told her that she would have to go Thailand and register her previous marriage/divorce. I call BS on this as she was married in Germany and Divorced in Germany so anything in Thailand shouldn't matter. Am I correct in my thinking?

Once again thanks to you all and I can't wait to go through this journey and keep you all updated in the process.

-Carl

[katie & sifa 25]

First of all I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who contributes to the forum. I've have found a wealth of information on here and feel more confident now beginning this huge process. Oh yeah I just proposed to my baby last week in Mallorca weeeeeeeeeeeeee.

First a little history in case it helps to answer any of my question.

My Fiancee: Thai Citizen who has been living in Germany since she was 11, she married a German man and was later legally separated and finally has gotten her divorce official as of a couple of weeks ago. We have been waiting on the paperwork from her lawyer. So in case you didn't catch it she was married and divorced here in Germany.

Me: U.S military who was stationed in Germany and met the love of his life 4 month before he had to move back to the states. I wish we would have met earlier so we could go the DCF route but oh well. I am now in Germany on a short 2 week visit and proposed (she said YES!) and coincidentally she got her divorce decree from the court while I was here. That is one of the main documents we were waiting for before we could file.

So my questions) are....

1. All of her documents...passport, previous expired visas, current visa she is listed by her maiden name and we plan to file all the paperwork using her maiden name. The only paperwork that we have that list her married name is her actual divorce decree. Does she need to go thru the German system and have her name legally changed back to her maiden name before we can file? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to the question but just wanted to bounce it off of the forum.

2. Her father/mother are deceased and she doesn't know any of his details (date of birth/death/birth location). How important will this be...will it be ok if we can just add an explanation to the form?

3. As she is a Thai Citizen someone told her that she would have to go Thailand and register her previous marriage/divorce. I call BS on this as she was married in Germany and Divorced in Germany so anything in Thailand shouldn't matter. Am I correct in my thinking?

Once again thanks to you all and I can't wait to go through this journey and keep you all updated in the process.

-Carl

First of all, congrats! And welcome to VJ

I can really only address your 2nd question. My husband's parents are also both deceased and he just wrote their names and "unknown" in every other blank - except the blank for city & country of residence, where he wrote "deceased." His K-1 was approved and we put the same thing on his AOS application which is going well so far.

Your first & third questions I have no experience with, but hopefully someone else will!

[Audy_Rob 26]

So my questions) are....

1. All of her documents...passport, previous expired visas, current visa she is listed by her maiden name and we plan to file all the paperwork using her maiden name. The only paperwork that we have that list her married name is her actual divorce decree. Does she need to go thru the German system and have her name legally changed back to her maiden name before we can file? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to the question but just wanted to bounce it off of the forum.

2. Her father/mother are deceased and she doesn't know any of his details (date of birth/death/birth location). How important will this be...will it be ok if we can just add an explanation to the form?

3. As she is a Thai Citizen someone told her that she would have to go Thailand and register her previous marriage/divorce. I call BS on this as she was married in Germany and Divorced in Germany so anything in Thailand shouldn't matter. Am I correct in my thinking?

Once again thanks to you all and I can't wait to go through this journey and keep you all updated in the process.

-Carl

1) No, she does not need to do anything. The divorce decree is sufficient for a name change (back to her maiden name) in itself.

3) No, Thailand has nothing to do with this. Even if her marriage in Germany had been registered in Thailand, the divorce does not need to be registered because Thailand has nothing to do with this.

If she wanted to register with Thailand that is a different matter and would require some changes, but it seems like she does not want to do so and has no need to do so.

Good luck.

[KittyCarl 0]

1) No, she does not need to do anything. The divorce decree is sufficient for a name change (back to her maiden name) in itself.

3) No, Thailand has nothing to do with this. Even if her marriage in Germany had been registered in Thailand, the divorce does not need to be registered because Thailand has nothing to do with this.

If she wanted to register with Thailand that is a different matter and would require some changes, but it seems like she does not want to do so and has no need to do so.

Good luck.

Me and Kittiya both want to say a big thanks! I will keep everyone updated on our journey!

[Kookkai 0]

Dear Carl,

I am Kai , Thai citizen who is waiting for my fiance visa.

Unmarried Certificate : she doesn't need it as she has been married but she has to proof the termination of previous marriages (Final divorce decree or annulment ) to the embassy on her interview date.

Birth Certificate : If an official birth certificate is not obtainable , present the best possible secondary evidence, such as a family register along with an ID card , a baptismal certificate, hospital certificate , school records, and/or a notarized affidavit from your parent.

Good luck for your journey...

[JD63 4]

As for number 2, she should be able to go to her local Amphur that logged her birth. THey should have records of her parents and can give you copy of birth certificate.

I agree she shouldn't need to register marriage in Thailand. What's her status in Germany currently? Is she back in Thailand? Where will you interview?

[thongd4me 69]

The whole process should be able to be achieved in Germany (assuming since

she has a job/apartment there and doesn't spend more than 12 months of the

year in Thailand). Any country where she has been resident over the age of

16 for 12 months or more will have a requirement for a police report for that

country.

I agree with the others that said that Thailand doesn't have to know about

the German marriage/divorce; the USCIS has to know about them however.

Assuming also her name was not changed on the Thai passport during the

German marriage, there should be no problem regarding her name with the

application process.

Welcome to VJ & good luck.

[KittyCarl 0]

Thanks all for the responses...

@kookkai...Thanks! She has her birth certificate she is just not sure of her dads information (birthday, where he was born) as he died a while back.

@thongd4me..she is currently living/working in Germany as she has for the past 17 yrs on a Visa which has obviously been renewed a few times. She will interview at the consulate in Frankfurt. Well let me take that back..she went back to Thailand for 2 yrs to go to college in her early 20's. I'm guessing she will have to get a police report that covers that time frame as well, correct? If so, will she have to go back to Thailand to get it? Is there an easier way?

You are correct, her passport and her current/expired visas in her passport all have her maiden name.We double checked the other day.

[thongd4me 69]

Thanks all for the responses...

@kookkai...Thanks! She has her birth certificate she is just not sure of her dads information (birthday, where he was born) as he died a while back.

@thongd4me..she is currently living/working in Germany as she has for the past 17 yrs on a Visa which has obviously been renewed a few times. She will interview at the consulate in Frankfurt. Well let me take that back..she went back to Thailand for 2 yrs to go to college in her early 20's. I'm guessing she will have to get a police report that covers that time frame as well, correct? If so, will she have to go back to Thailand to get it? Is there an easier way?

You are correct, her passport and her current/expired visas in her passport all have her maiden name.We double checked the other day.

I may be out on a limb on this one, but I distinctly remember SOMEWHERE in VJ

seeing people getting police reports through consulates in cases where the

citizen was an expat living in another country.

I'd have her check the local Thai consulate in the closest major city ASAP.

Only they would be able to tell you of the feasability/procedure for a police report outside of Thailand.

She may have to pay a fee, but it would beat the pants off a "milk run" to Thailand.

Edited June 17, 2010 by thongd4me

[Audy_Rob 26]

I'm guessing she will have to get a police report that covers that time frame as well, correct? If so, will she have to go back to Thailand to get it? Is there an easier way?

Yes, she willl need a police record from Thailand.

You can mail the Royal Thai police. They are very good from inside Thailand. Go ahead and mail them at the address below.

The information for police records from any country can be obtained from the reciprocity table in the DoS web site.

The following link is for Thailand.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_4881.html?cid=3687

Police Records

Available. Police certificates are obtainable from:

Section 3, Sub-Division 2. General Staff Division

Special Branch

Royal Thai Police Department

Rama I Road

Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Residents of Thailand requesting a Thai police certificate will need to present two recent photographs (2 inch x 2 inch), the original and a copy of his/her passport, identification card, household registration, name change certificate (if any), marriage and divorce certificate (if any). Thai males aged 17-45 must also present military record or proof of exemption from military service.

Non-residents should send their requests to the Royal Thai Police Department at the above address with the required documents and a fingerprint taken by a police authority at their place of residence.

Normal processing time is two to three weeks. There is no processing fee.

Good luck.