Step One: Before the Thai government allows a citizen of a foreign country to marry a Thai citizen they must be provided with proof that the foreigner is free to marry. Proof that is acceptable to the Thai government must be obtained from the foreign citizen’s Embassy. The American Citizens Services Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok provides American Citizens with a notarized and stamped “Affirmation of Freedom to Marry”

To obtain an “Affirmation of Freedom to Marry” there is one form that must be completed for persons who have not been previously married and two forms for persons who have been previously married.

Our firm prepares these forms and escorts our clients to the American Citizens Service Section of the American Embassy.

The process of obtaining the “Affirmation of Freedom to Marry” can take 30-60 minutes and varies with the Embassy’s work load on any given day.

The Embassy charges a fee of 1200 baht for the first document and 800 baht for the second document if required. Cash and credit cards are accepted forms of payment.

Step Two: Our firm will translate the English documents we obtained from the American Embassy into the Thai language for presentation to the Thai government. The translations are certified by a licensed translator.

Step Three: Our staff will take you, and the translated documents, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legalization Division. The Legalization Division will verify the authenticity of your signatures and the Embassy Seal. The translations of the documents will be analyzed for accuracy and certified correct. Our staff will represent you thru this process and complete the necessary forms. Standard processing time is three days, however our firm will complete it for you in one hour.

Step Four: Our staff will take you and your fiancee’ to the district office with a portfolio of all documents required by the Thai government for the legal marriage. Our staff will present you and your fiancee’ along with all documentation to the government officials. The legal marriage is registered and both parties are presented with an original certificate of marriage.

A permanent green card or resident visa allowing Thai spouse entry to the United States.

With the CR-1 visa there is no need to make additional applications for either the green card or social security number, as this is necessary with the K-3 visa.

When the Thai spouse arrives in America on a CR-1 visa the airport immigration officer will stamp one year temporary green card on the passport. The permanent green card and social security card are automatically generated and sent to the home address of the American citizen petitioner within 30-60 days after the US arrival of the foreign citizen spouse.

Obtaining the green card and social security number are both separate processes once in the USA on a K-3 marriage visa. The green card application can be as involved as the K-3 visa application, making the CR-1 visa preferable as everything has already been completed by our firm.

The CR-1 visa is issued for couples who have been married less than two years. Upon arrival in the USA the foreign citizen spouse will receive a conditional temporary two year green card. In the 90 day period prior to the end of the two year term, the couple will file to lift the conditional status and receive a ten year green card.