Registering Gay Marriages

[Dodger]

Jai and I completed the task of obtaining the documentation required for our marriage back in early April but had to wait +2 months to get it registered.

We went to our local amphur in Sattahip with all the documents showing that our marriage had been approved by the U.S. embassy and the Thai consulate (both in Bangkok) as required and were put on a 2 month queue. It really didn't matter to us because time is not of the essense but for some couples this could create a hardship.

Couples can go to any amphur to get their marriage registered. All operate differently and have their own rules (welcome to Thailand)...so my advice would be to contact several amphurs and ask them up-front what their lead times are to avoid this long wait. I'm saying this knowing that most of you here are not the least bit interested in this endeavor...555.

Rumor has it (Asian Now) that some registrations can be done the same day, although when there's a farang involved they seem to prefer that you use one of their agents if you want to get it done that quick...for a $$cost$$ of course. Go figure!

We're just glad to have this behind us and planning a little honeymoon soon... before I tumble off a balcony...

[Gaybutton]

use one of their agents if you want to get it done that quick...for a $$cost$$ of course. Go figure!

It didn't take rocket science to figure . . .

[traveller123]

Wood and I had an interesting and typically Thailand experience back in April.
We obtained all the correct paperwork up in Bangkok stipulating our home province as Surin (thanks Dodger for info)
Off we went to the Amphur in Surin City to obtain a date where we were directed to the boss lady who spoke only to Wood in Thai.
She said she didn't understand the papers and we had to go to Ubon and talk to them, I fail to see what that would achieve as our papers stipulated Surin.
Fortunately Wood knew a lady he went to school with who worked at a small office elsewhere in Surin Province, he showed her the papers and she said they were correct and for us to go to her office with two witnesses the following week.
Which we did and were duly married - we took along a well deserved cake for the office from the best bakery in Surin.

[Jun]

She said she didn't understand the papers and we had to go to Ubon and talk to them

Quite remarkable that the lady "didn't recognise" the paperwork for marriage. Presumably it's exactly the same paperwork for gay marriages as for heterosexual marriages and they probably do a few hundred per year?

[traveller123]

Bearing in mind Surin is not exactly Bangkok, Pattaya etc it was probably her first gay marriage involving a foreigner and she just couldn't be bothered.
it all ended well having the marriage registered in a small office with friendly officials

[Gaybutton]

it all ended well

All's well that ends well. Congratulations to you both. I know traveller123 personally and I know this is one marriage that will be a good, happy one.