Thailand Thread

[rsn 135]

Just out of curiosity, if one wants to get a new Thai passport w/ new married last name, what specific steps must be followed? I've read about this in a few different places and have seen conflicting accounts. Some make it sound easy, others not so easy. I'm sure some of you one here have been through this already.

If she wants to get a new Thai passport with her married name, she will need to send in her passport and renewal form, along with the proper documentation to a Thai consulate.

http://www.thai-la.net/passport/pp-change-name-eng.htm

So this can all be done in the U.S.? Nice. Thanks!

It can be done via except if she has an e-passport, she has to go in person. If she has gotten a new passport in the past few years it is most likely the new e-passport.

I told this all to my wife and she swore that this was not possible until she went back to Thailand and first changed the name on her house registration. Turns out she is right. I just finished talking with the Thai embassy in Chicago. This information is only in the Thai version of the embassy's site, and not the English version for some strange reason.

[*Robert* 2]

It would seem some additional research needs to be done to come up with the right answer.

The main point is; however, that a Thai wife does NOT have to change her name back in Thailand, unless that is where she is married.

Once a marriage has be registered at the Amphur's office, the Thai wife is required to change her national ID, and then change her house registration.

I don't know of too many people who feel strongly about their Thai wife, who was married to them in the US, to change everything in Thailand.

[rsn 135]

It would seem some additional research needs to be done to come up with the right answer.

The main point is; however, that a Thai wife does NOT have to change her name back in Thailand, unless that is where she is married.

Once a marriage has be registered at the Amphur's office, the Thai wife is required to change her national ID, and then change her house registration.

I don't know of too many people who feel strongly about their Thai wife, who was married to them in the US, to change everything in Thailand.

We were contemplating this and were not sure if it would be a problem to have a GC/AP with one name and a passport with a different name. It seems like it might cause some issue at some point which is why we considered changing her name on her Thai passport. We will likely make regular trips to Thailand.

[AaronLV 12]

It would seem some additional research needs to be done to come up with the right answer.

The main point is; however, that a Thai wife does NOT have to change her name back in Thailand, unless that is where she is married.

Once a marriage has be registered at the Amphur's office, the Thai wife is required to change her national ID, and then change her house registration.

I don't know of too many people who feel strongly about their Thai wife, who was married to them in the US, to change everything in Thailand.

We were contemplating this and were not sure if it would be a problem to have a GC/AP with one name and a passport with a different name. It seems like it might cause some issue at some point which is why we considered changing her name on her Thai passport. We will likely make regular trips to Thailand.

We were thinking the same thing. However just carrying the marriage certificate with you solves that problem. I know some people changed their last name to a hyphenation of the two names, I am not sure if that will cause a problem. I figure we only have to deal with it for the next 3 to 4 years prior to her getting her naturalization and then her US Passport will be in her married last name.

I have a friend whose wife has been in the us for 20 years and they just recently purchased land and built a house in Ubon. She didn't have a house registration, national id, etc. When she got there she did all the paperwork, reinstated her thai citizenship, and then transferred the land and house to their name. My friend had to sign a paper saying it was her house.

One thing you have to be careful of when you leave her listed as single in Thailand, and not registering the marriage, is if she dies, the land and building automatically transfers to her family (basically you loose it), where as if she is married, it will transfer to you, and you have 6 months to sell the land and house.

My wife wants my last name, and wants to change it in Thailand, so I told her it is up to her. As far as I can see the laws change and it is not going to make a difference if she has my last name. If they really want to check out if she is married, all they have to do is check her departure records and see how long and where she is going, and they could quiz her from there and figure it out. Unlike here we could care less if our citizens left, only that they came back.

[rsn 135]

I figure we only have to deal with it for the next 3 to 4 years prior to her getting her naturalization and then her US Passport will be in her married last name.

She will still need her Thai passport to get back into Thailand, which means she will have a U.S. passport w/ 1 name and a thai passport with another.

I think we'll play the name change thing in Thailand by ear. If we do it, great, if not, oh well. Too many other things to do right now!

EDIT: She will need to use her Thai passport if she wants to stay more than 30 days and not deal w/ visa runs.

Edited August 25, 2009 by rsn

[AaronLV 12]

I figure we only have to deal with it for the next 3 to 4 years prior to her getting her naturalization and then her US Passport will be in her married last name.

She will still need her Thai passport to get back into Thailand, which means she will have a U.S. passport w/ 1 name and a thai passport with another.

I think we'll play the name change thing in Thailand by ear. If we do it, great, if not, oh well. Too many other things to do right now!

EDIT: She will need to use her Thai passport if she wants to stay more than 30 days and not deal w/ visa runs.

Yes but it does not matter cause going in the Name does not need to match the plane ticket. When boarding the plane in the US she would use her US passport which matches the plane ticket name, and then use her Thai Passport at immigration in Thailand entering the country. Then when leaving, show the airline her US Passport, showing that she can enter the US, and then go through the Thai Immigration when leaving showing her Thai passport.

This is how my friend enters and leaves all the time.

[rin and john 71]

It would seem some additional research needs to be done to come up with the right answer.

The main point is; however, that a Thai wife does NOT have to change her name back in Thailand, unless that is where she is married.

Once a marriage has be registered at the Amphur's office, the Thai wife is required to change her national ID, and then change her house registration.

I don't know of too many people who feel strongly about their Thai wife, who was married to them in the US, to change everything in Thailand.

Just asked Rin, she said that when she went to get her ID renewed (at a different amphur than the one we married at) they knew she was married so the information is shared nationwide in their government computers. So her new ID had to show 'Mrs', but she had the option of using her maiden name or my last mine (she chose mine). Same for her Tabian Baan (done at the same time as new Thai ID card).

edit: OOPS! Sorry Robert, what you said is correct! She had to change them, but had the choice of last name. Damn beer!

Edited August 26, 2009 by rin and john

[rin and john 71]

I figure we only have to deal with it for the next 3 to 4 years prior to her getting her naturalization and then her US Passport will be in her married last name.

She will still need her Thai passport to get back into Thailand, which means she will have a U.S. passport w/ 1 name and a thai passport with another.

I think we'll play the name change thing in Thailand by ear. If we do it, great, if not, oh well. Too many other things to do right now!

EDIT: She will need to use her Thai passport if she wants to stay more than 30 days and not deal w/ visa runs.

Yes but it does not matter cause going in the Name does not need to match the plane ticket. When boarding the plane in the US she would use her US passport which matches the plane ticket name, and then use her Thai Passport at immigration in Thailand entering the country. Then when leaving, show the airline her US Passport, showing that she can enter the US, and then go through the Thai Immigration when leaving showing her Thai passport.

This is how my friend enters and leaves all the time.

But Thai immigration checks your boarding pass as well as passport and Thailand departure card. I can understand Thai immigration letting it slide though....

Edited August 26, 2009 by rin and john

[AaronLV 12]

I figure we only have to deal with it for the next 3 to 4 years prior to her getting her naturalization and then her US Passport will be in her married last name.

She will still need her Thai passport to get back into Thailand, which means she will have a U.S. passport w/ 1 name and a thai passport with another.

I think we'll play the name change thing in Thailand by ear. If we do it, great, if not, oh well. Too many other things to do right now!

EDIT: She will need to use her Thai passport if she wants to stay more than 30 days and not deal w/ visa runs.

Yes but it does not matter cause going in the Name does not need to match the plane ticket. When boarding the plane in the US she would use her US passport which matches the plane ticket name, and then use her Thai Passport at immigration in Thailand entering the country. Then when leaving, show the airline her US Passport, showing that she can enter the US, and then go through the Thai Immigration when leaving showing her Thai passport.

This is how my friend enters and leaves all the time.

But Thai immigration checks your boarding pass as well as passport and Thailand departure card. I can understand Thai immigration letting it slide though....

When we left they didn't check hers. I had it in my hand, forgot to give it to her, so I assumed they didn't check.

[*Robert* 2]

It would seem some additional research needs to be done to come up with the right answer.

The main point is; however, that a Thai wife does NOT have to change her name back in Thailand, unless that is where she is married.

Once a marriage has be registered at the Amphur's office, the Thai wife is required to change her national ID, and then change her house registration.

I don't know of too many people who feel strongly about their Thai wife, who was married to them in the US, to change everything in Thailand.

Just asked Rin, she said that when she went to get her ID renewed (at a different amphur than the one we married at) they knew she was married so the information is shared nationwide in their government computers. So her new ID had to show 'Mrs', but she had the option of using her maiden name or my last mine (she chose mine). Same for her Tabian Baan (done at the same time as new Thai ID card).

edit: OOPS! Sorry Robert, what you said is correct! She had to change them, but had the choice of last name. Damn beer!

Totally correct on that one, which is once again, a change in the law. It used to be a Thai women HAD to take on her husband's family name.

Don't worry about the beer!

Yes but it does not matter cause going in the Name does not need to match the plane ticket. When boarding the plane in the US she would use her US passport which matches the plane ticket name, and then use her Thai Passport at immigration in Thailand entering the country. Then when leaving, show the airline her US Passport, showing that she can enter the US, and then go through the Thai Immigration when leaving showing her Thai passport.

This is how my friend enters and leaves all the time.

I support this message!

It may sound confusing, but people do it all the time.

[rsn 135]

It would seem some additional research needs to be done to come up with the right answer.

The main point is; however, that a Thai wife does NOT have to change her name back in Thailand, unless that is where she is married.

Once a marriage has be registered at the Amphur's office, the Thai wife is required to change her national ID, and then change her house registration.

I don't know of too many people who feel strongly about their Thai wife, who was married to them in the US, to change everything in Thailand.

Just asked Rin, she said that when she went to get her ID renewed (at a different amphur than the one we married at) they knew she was married so the information is shared nationwide in their government computers. So her new ID had to show 'Mrs', but she had the option of using her maiden name or my last mine (she chose mine). Same for her Tabian Baan (done at the same time as new Thai ID card).

edit: OOPS! Sorry Robert, what you said is correct! She had to change them, but had the choice of last name. Damn beer!

Totally correct on that one, which is once again, a change in the law. It used to be a Thai women HAD to take on her husband's family name.

Don't worry about the beer!

Yes but it does not matter cause going in the Name does not need to match the plane ticket. When boarding the plane in the US she would use her US passport which matches the plane ticket name, and then use her Thai Passport at immigration in Thailand entering the country. Then when leaving, show the airline her US Passport, showing that she can enter the US, and then go through the Thai Immigration when leaving showing her Thai passport.

This is how my friend enters and leaves all the time.

I support this message!

It may sound confusing, but people do it all the time.

Tell me one thing that isn't confusing!

[*Robert* 2]

Tell me one thing that isn't confusing!

Ray, I luv ya man!

You have a LONG way to go before you have to deal with ANY of this stuff. Just look at MY timeline!

I appreciate you wanting to be informed, but first things first!

Baby steps, Ray. Baby steps!

[rsn 135]

Tell me one thing that isn't confusing!

Ray, I luv ya man!

You have a LONG way to go before you have to deal with ANY of this stuff. Just look at MY timeline!

I appreciate you wanting to be informed, but first things first!

Baby steps, Ray. Baby steps!

I don't take baby steps. Headfirst at full speed is the only way for me.

[*Robert* 2]

Tell me one thing that isn't confusing!

Ray, I luv ya man!

You have a LONG way to go before you have to deal with ANY of this stuff. Just look at MY timeline!

I appreciate you wanting to be informed, but first things first!

Baby steps, Ray. Baby steps!

I don't take baby steps. Headfirst at full speed is the only way for me.

Reckless abandon isn't always a good thing. Besides, the immigration rules, especially with USCIS, change on a regular basis. So anything that might apply today, will not necessarily be what applies in 3 to 6 months from now. Focus on what needs to be done now.

[rsn 135]

Tell me one thing that isn't confusing!

Ray, I luv ya man!

You have a LONG way to go before you have to deal with ANY of this stuff. Just look at MY timeline!

I appreciate you wanting to be informed, but first things first!

Baby steps, Ray. Baby steps!

I don't take baby steps. Headfirst at full speed is the only way for me.

Reckless abandon isn't always a good thing. Besides, the immigration rules, especially with USCIS, change on a regular basis. So anything that might apply today, will not necessarily be what applies in 3 to 6 months from now. Focus on what needs to be done now.

I know. I was joking but forgot to include the appropriate emoticon. Dry humor doesn't translate well over the internet I guess.