chuck wrote on 11
th Mar, 2011 at 10:03am:
Quote:Hi Chuck
As for my wife, I think she got her single status cert. stamped by the village head. As for where she got the cert., I'll ask her today and get back to you later (she's in laos at the moment). I think the form may have come from the village head as well.
Process I followed was easy. 1. Got married in Hong Kong 2. Registered marriage with Lao embassy in HK (had to show police clearance cert, proof of residence, single status, birth cert - all these docs only for her. I only had to show passport and marriage cert). Guy at embassy said we should have shown all these things before we got married but it didn't matter. He then translated the mariage cert overnight and stamped it. 3. Took translated marriage cert to mofa in Vientiane and got it stamped by them Details of our marriage were then entered into their computer.
Dowry and some food/drink for the in laws - my wife says about 60,000 baht all up (2000 usd). Gold necklace for my father in law (approx 30,000 baht and 30,000 for food/drink).
Cheers
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thank you for replying me. I have a few questions that I don't understand from what you have told me though.
1. Why did you have to show police clearance cert, proof of residence, single status, birth cert - all these docs only for her? Is it required for getting her a pass or something to stay in HK with you?
2. Can you give me the address to MoFA in Vientiane?
3. Is it ok for me to stay in the same hotel room in Vientiane due to the secret law?
4. I thought dowry is for the use of the newly married couple according to some websites I've read. So 60,000 baht = 30,000 baht for gold necklace and 30,000 for food and drinks?
5. How widely is Thai Baht and USD used in Vientiane?
Sorry to bother you with so many questions.
Thank you for checking with your wife about the single status cert.
Hey mate
Q1. With all the docs, we didn't actually know what we needed. We got married in hk and 2 days later told the lao embassy in hk. The lao guy there said we needed those docs. Luckily I had them already because when I was applying for her visa to come over, I thought I might need those things anyway. All I had to do was show my passport and the original marriage cert.
By the way, she said she got the single status cert from one of the ministries. (interior??...not sure).
Q2. MOFA in Vientiane - Google maps is best
Q3. Not an expert on Laos really. But from my own experience, I never got busted in a hotel in Laos. Always felt a bit uneasy tho. Actually, got seperate rooms in Vang Vieng.
Q4. That's what the wife suggested. Seemed fair enough to me so went with it. Different for different folks i guess.
Q5. From my own experience ....widely. Change came in kip.
Take care
Chris