Marriage VISA

I am married to a Thai. We have a US marriage certificate in addition to a certified translation from English to Thai. I have been in Thailand for the past two years on a non-immigrant Type O visa. I am getting close to my third extension and would like to apply for a marriage visa.
The local immigration office in Chiang Khon told us that we have to have our marriage certificate "stamped" at the American Embassy in Bangkok. I've contacted the embassy and the response was that they do not understand what is being asked for. They also said that they do not certify any state or local documents from the US. That has to be done in the US. I also read that on the American Embassy website.

My question is does anyone have experience in getting a marriage visa in Thailand and is there some kind of "stamp" that has to be done in the American Embassy in Thailand?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-@rzugnoni

Thai immigration wants the original marriage certificate to be verified/legalized = stamped and signed at the US Embassy in BKK (it's not free). The US Embassy should know what this is about. Then it has to be translated,but not in any corner-shop, it has to be a translation office which is approved by the MFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. THEN, this officially translated marriage certificate MUST be legalized = stamped and signed by MFA in BKK. This is non-negotiable. You can google MFA and ask your wife to call MFA for additional info. This info should still be correct but I'm not 100% sure:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok 10400.

Tel: 02-203-5000

Office Hours : Monday - Friday, 08.30 - 16.30

(Except public and official holidays)

I am married to a Thai. We have a US marriage certificate in addition to a certified translation from English to Thai. I have been in Thailand for the past two years on a non-immigrant Type O visa. I am getting close to my third extension and would like to apply for a marriage visa.
The local immigration office in Chiang Khon told us that we have to have our marriage certificate "stamped" at the American Embassy in Bangkok. I've contacted the embassy and the response was that they do not understand what is being asked for. They also said that they do not certify any state or local documents from the US. That has to be done in the US. I also read that on the American Embassy website.

My question is does anyone have experience in getting a marriage visa in Thailand and is there some kind of "stamp" that has to be done in the American Embassy in Thailand?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-@rzugnoni
Thai immigration wants the original marriage certificate to be verified/legalized = stamped and signed at the US Embassy in BKK (it's not free). The US Embassy should know what this is about. Then it has to be translated,but not in any corner-shop, it has to be a translation office which is approved by the MFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. THEN, this officially translated marriage certificate MUST be legalized = stamped and signed by MFA in BKK. This is non-negotiable. You can google MFA and ask your wife to call MFA for additional info. This info should still be correct but I'm not 100% sure:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok 10400.
Tel: 02-203-5000
Office Hours : Monday - Friday, 08.30 - 16.30
(Except public and official holidays)
-@Leeds forever!

Thank you  VERY MUCH for the information. This is very helpful.

@rzugnoni, I suggest that you and your wife go to a Thai Registry Office and ask them how, if possible you can use your American Marriage Certificate to gain a  Thailand Marriage Visa.   

@rzugnoni, I suggest that you and your wife go to a Thai Registry Office and ask them how, if possible you can use your American Marriage Certificate to gain a Thailand Marriage Visa. 
-@Barry343

The only way to apply for a 1 year extension based on marriage (abroad) at the local immigration office is the way I explained an hour ago.

I am married to a Thai. We have a US marriage certificate in addition to a certified translation from English to Thai. I have been in Thailand for the past two years on a non-immigrant Type O visa. I am getting close to my third extension and would like to apply for a marriage visa.
The local immigration office in Chiang Khon told us that we have to have our marriage certificate "stamped" at the American Embassy in Bangkok. I've contacted the embassy and the response was that they do not understand what is being asked for. They also said that they do not certify any state or local documents from the US. That has to be done in the US. I also read that on the American Embassy website.

My question is does anyone have experience in getting a marriage visa in Thailand and is there some kind of "stamp" that has to be done in the American Embassy in Thailand?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-@rzugnoni
Thai immigration wants the original marriage certificate to be verified/legalized = stamped and signed at the US Embassy in BKK (it's not free). The US Embassy should know what this is about. Then it has to be translated,but not in any corner-shop, it has to be a translation office which is approved by the MFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. THEN, this officially translated marriage certificate MUST be legalized = stamped and signed by MFA in BKK. This is non-negotiable. You can google MFA and ask your wife to call MFA for additional info. This info should still be correct but I'm not 100% sure:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok 10400.
Tel: 02-203-5000
Office Hours : Monday - Friday, 08.30 - 16.30
(Except public and official holidays)
-@Leeds forever!
Thank you VERY MUCH for the information. This is very helpful.
-@rzugnoni

This is the information that is posted on the American Embassy website under the notaries services heading:

"Services we CANNOT provide:

Authentication, certification, or certified copies of public documents issued in the United States such as birth, residency, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; commercial records, driver’s license, and other credentials."

Do you know if the "verified/legalized = stamped and signed at the US Embassy" is different than notary services? I'm wondering if when I call I am asking for the wrong thing.

@rzugnoni, I suggest that you and your wife go to a Thai Registry Office and ask them how, if possible you can use your American Marriage Certificate to gain a Thailand Marriage Visa.
-@Barry343

The only way to apply for a 1 year extension based on marriage (abroad) at the local immigration office is the way I explained an hour ago.
-@Leeds forever!

Yes. What you said was very clearly stated and I believe it. I'm just trying to figure out why the US Embassy is saying something different. I'm getting these responses from e-mails that I sent. I'm mostly wondering if my wording to them is wrong. I was asking about notary services. I'm trying to figure out if I should be wording my questions to them differently.

I'm going to try again and word it exactly as you stated and see what happens.

I am married to a Thai. We have a US marriage certificate in addition to a certified translation from English to Thai. I have been in Thailand for the past two years on a non-immigrant Type O visa. I am getting close to my third extension and would like to apply for a marriage visa.
The local immigration office in Chiang Khon told us that we have to have our marriage certificate "stamped" at the American Embassy in Bangkok. I've contacted the embassy and the response was that they do not understand what is being asked for. They also said that they do not certify any state or local documents from the US. That has to be done in the US. I also read that on the American Embassy website.

My question is does anyone have experience in getting a marriage visa in Thailand and is there some kind of "stamp" that has to be done in the American Embassy in Thailand?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-@rzugnoni
Thai immigration wants the original marriage certificate to be verified/legalized = stamped and signed at the US Embassy in BKK (it's not free). The US Embassy should know what this is about. Then it has to be translated,but not in any corner-shop, it has to be a translation office which is approved by the MFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. THEN, this officially translated marriage certificate MUST be legalized = stamped and signed by MFA in BKK. This is non-negotiable. You can google MFA and ask your wife to call MFA for additional info. This info should still be correct but I'm not 100% sure:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok 10400.
Tel: 02-203-5000
Office Hours : Monday - Friday, 08.30 - 16.30
(Except public and official holidays)
-@Leeds forever!
Thank you VERY MUCH for the information. This is very helpful.
-@rzugnoni
This is the information that is posted on the American Embassy website under the notaries services heading:

"Services we CANNOT provide:

Authentication, certification, or certified copies of public documents issued in the United States such as birth, residency, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; commercial records, driver’s license, and other credentials."

Do you know if the "verified/legalized = stamped and signed at the US Embassy" is different than notary services? I'm wondering if when I call I am asking for the wrong thing.
-@rzugnoni

When the new requirements about legalizing a marriage abroad were

released,(I think it was 2019), the process I described was non-negotiable. Only the local immigration office (or MFA) can tell what options you have if the US Embassy refuses to certify your marriage certificate. The US Embassy  in BKK together with consulates are totally useless and must have forgotten what purpose they have abroad, which is helping US citizens. In 2018 they refused to start issue documented income letters instead of bogus affidavits. That's why immigration

from January 1 2019 won't accept those affidavits, so, no more income letters from the US Embassy or consulates. Talk to the local immigration office in the province where you're staying, and if they still want the marriage certificate to be certified by the US Embassy,can't you get married again in your wife's home town? Go for the easiest and cheapest way = no party 😎 and register the marriage at the district office (amphoe). It's never wrong to have a marriage certificate issued in your home province.

@rzugnoni, I suggest that you and your wife go to a Thai Registry Office and ask them how, if possible you can use your American Marriage Certificate to gain a Thailand Marriage Visa.
-@Barry343

The only way to apply for a 1 year extension based on marriage (abroad) at the local immigration office is the way I explained an hour ago.
-@Leeds forever!
Yes. What you said was very clearly stated and I believe it. I'm just trying to figure out why the US Embassy is saying something different. I'm getting these responses from e-mails that I sent. I'm mostly wondering if my wording to them is wrong. I was asking about notary services. I'm trying to figure out if I should be wording my questions to them differently.

I'm going to try again and word it exactly as you stated and see what happens.
-@rzugnoni

It takes maybe 10 min to certify any document. It's basically a stamp and a couple of signatures. They can also make some easy money, like ฿2,000. Ask them what happened to helping citizens abroad.

They (US Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai) are pretty worthless for notarization of documents. I've been dealing with them over this since 2019. They got worse during the covid-19 lockdowns in April 2020 and still remain terrible.

I recommend getting the documents notarized in the USA before coming here or get remarried while here under Thai jurisdiction.

They (US Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai) are pretty worthless for notarization of documents. I've been dealing with them over this since 2019. They got worse during the covid-19 lockdowns in April 2020 and still remain terrible.
I recommend getting the documents notarized in the USA before coming here or get remarried while here under Thai jurisdiction.
-@JayEsCee

Immigration (or MFA) won't accept any document being certified/legalized outside Thailand. That's the whole idea about the marriage certificate being certified/legalized at an embassy or consulate in Thailand,because they are vouching for the authenticity of the certificate.

@Leeds forever!

The US Embassy refuses to do any kind of notarization or certification of documents. They even say that on their website. Therefore, if the Thai government won't accept any documents certified outside of Thailand that means he has to get remarriage at his local Thai amphoe and have all the paperwork done right in front of them. That is what my wife and I ended up doing in January of 2021.

@Leeds forever!
The US Embassy refuses to do any kind of notarization or certification of documents. They even say that on their website. Therefore, if the Thai government won't accept any documents certified outside of Thailand that means he has to get remarriage at his local Thai amphoe and have all the paperwork done right in front of them. That is what my wife and I ended up doing in January of 2021.
-@JayEsCee

Yes, you're right and I did suggest he should get married again in his wife's home province.

i guess from the US Embassy POV, earning chump change on a simple stamp and couple of signatures were not worth it embroiling themselves over possible fake documents being presented to them for authentication.   It is 2023 now, I wish US has a big national database of all marriages, drivers license, and other things they had listed they can't do,  so they can do this authentication thing again. 

i guess from the US Embassy POV, earning chump change on a simple stamp and couple of signatures were not worth it embroiling themselves over possible fake documents being presented to them for authentication.  It is 2023 now, I wish US has a big national database of all marriages, drivers license, and other things they had listed they can't do, so they can do this authentication thing again.
-@Bigrad Wolf

An embassy,it doesn't matter from what country, is supposed to help their citizens abroad. That's one function that most countries embassies and consulates still honors. The US Embassy is probably the least helpful embassy in Thailand and loads of US expats have had problems with for example non-existing income letters since January 2019. If they on top of that will stop certifying or legalizing documents that are important when staying in Thailand, what use are they to people living here long term? There are no federal databases for everything in the US, that's the downside with a country with 50 independent states.

@Bigrad Wolf

"i guess from the US Embassy POV, earning chump change on a simple stamp and couple of signatures were not worth it embroiling themselves over possible fake documents being presented to them for authentication."

That is just their official stance, not wanting to put themselves at risk of authenticating false documents. They really don't want to see US citizens living overseas and not paying taxes into the IRS. You cannot even open a bank account overseas without reporting it to the IRS. Luckily, I opened my bank account with most of my savings in an account opened in the 1990s which the IRS doesn't know about because it was before that law went into place. All my other bank accounts had to be registered with the IRS, therefore, I keep very minimal amounts in them. The US govt is just greedy and power-hungry and don't care about helping US citizens if it doesn't involve them paying taxes into the IRS. Not only that, but the US Embassy knows very clearly what the Thai laws are and how this policy of refusing to notarize anything causes difficulty for US citizens living and trying to work here and don't care one bit.

@Bigrad Wolf
"i guess from the US Embassy POV, earning chump change on a simple stamp and couple of signatures were not worth it embroiling themselves over possible fake documents being presented to them for authentication."
That is just their official stance, not wanting to put themselves at risk of authenticating false documents. They really don't want to see US citizens living overseas and not paying taxes into the IRS. You cannot even open a bank account overseas without reporting it to the IRS. Luckily, I opened my bank account with most of my savings in an account opened in the 1990s which the IRS doesn't know about because it was before that law went into place. All my other bank accounts had to be registered with the IRS, therefore, I keep very minimal amounts in them. The US govt is just greedy and power-hungry and don't care about helping US citizens if it doesn't involve them paying taxes into the IRS. Not only that, but the US Embassy knows very clearly what the Thai laws are and how this policy of refusing to notarize anything causes difficulty for US citizens living and trying to work here and don't care one bit.
-@JayEsCee

I totally agree with you. I know Thai bank branches that actually don't allow americans to open a simple savings account because of the paperwork. Then coming up with bad excuses for not helping people when they need a simple marriage certificate to be legalized is just sad. They don't need to be experts to be able to recognize an american marriage certificate. They can easily charge ฿2,000 for a stamp and a couple of signatures and everybody will be happy. It's like you said, they don't care one bit.

In some countries a marriage certificate made by Municipality or Marriage office, needs various steps to become international.

Has to be stamped there by Ministery of Interior, then counterstamped by Ministery of Exterior, then brought to Thai Embassy in that country to be translated and certified with an Apostille stamp.

Only in this way the document could become approved to be used in Thailand and also recognized by an American Embassy that need an official prove from the homeland (let's say) head office.

Might be the reason for which US Embassy don't want to lose time with non approved documents that they cannot know if real or fake without the necessary steps.

In some countries a marriage certificate made by Municipality or Marriage office, needs various steps to become international.
Has to be stamped there by Ministery of Interior, then counterstamped by Ministery of Exterior, then brought to Thai Embassy in that country to be translated and certified with an Apostille stamp.
Only in this way the document could become approved to be used in Thailand and also recognized by an American Embassy that need an official prove from the homeland (let's say) head office.
Might be the reason for which US Embassy don't want to lose time with non approved documents that they cannot know if real or fake without the necessary steps.
-@Maxi Mari

Embassies never translates marriage certificates. They can only be translated at an MFA-approved translation service.