I am a United States citizen living in Asia.  I would like to legally
change my name.  Most of all, I want it changed on my passport.  The
last state I was living in was California. Please tell me how I can
change my name without leaving my home country in Asia.

---

Request for Question Clarification by missy-ga on 17 Oct 2002 09:59 PDT

Hi there,

Where in Asia are you?  Such matters are generally handled by the US
Consulate's Office or Embassy.

I'm checking into the general information, in the meantime, if you
could give me a specific country (and city, if you're comfortable
doing so) it would help greatly.

--Missy

Hello again,

I spoke to Mary at the US Department of State Bureau of Consular
Affairs Overseas Citizens Services (202-647-5225) and posed your
question to her.

Mary said that the first thing you need to do is contact the US
Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence to ensure that you
can be issued a new passport after you change your name.  She says
that it's usually not a problem, but that glitches do happen and one
should always check with the Embassy for *anything* relating to the
disposition of one's passport.

Once you've confirmed that, you will need to contact the courts in
your city of residence to apply for a legal name change through their
system.  Although you are a US citizen, you are bound by the laws of
your country of residence, so any legal matters must be handled
through *their* court system - you cannot change your name "by remote"
through the US courts.  The Embassy or Consulate will assist you in
contacting the relevant courts.

Once your name change is complete, you will need to contact the
Embassy or Consulate again to apply for a new passport.  You'll need
to have your current passport and a document from the court in your
country of residence certifying that you have undergone a legal name
change.

To locate the US Embassy/Consulate nearest you, check the following
directory of worldwide US Diplomatic Missions:

US Embassies and Other Diplomatic Missions
http://usembassy.state.gov/

For other information, including passport forms, legal assistance for
US Citizens abroad, and Vital Records Services:

US Department of State:  Travel and Living Abroad
http://www.state.gov/travel/
 

I hope this information is helpful to you!  Good luck!

--Missy

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ahahahaha-ga on 27 Oct 2002 02:53 PST

What I originally had in mind was doing it "from remote" in the USA. 
I am a bit surprised to hear that its even possible to get the
necessary court document here, given the fact that I am a foreigner
here.  Please tell me why I cannot do it "from remote" with the USA.

I must answer your "Request for Question Clarification".  Please find
information specific to Bangkok, Thailand.  Please tell me how to go
about "contacting the courts" here.  I have no idea how to do that. 
Also, please find out if there are any requirements before I am
allowed to "use the court system" for this purpose.

Also, please clarify what you mean by "glitches" in the paragraph in
which you tell me I should contact the USA embassy or consulate before
I go ahead with the name change process.  I have no idea what kind of
"glitch" there could be.  Are you saying there are some kind of
requirements before I can be issued a new passport by the embassy or
consulate?  Please be specific.

---

Clarification of Answer by missy-ga on 27 Oct 2002 07:19 PST

Hi there,

I asked this question of Mary at the US Department of State Bureau of
Consular
Affairs Overseas Citizens Services when researching your original
question.

Although you are a US citizen, you cannot use the US courts to change
your name (or get a divorce or sue your Thai neighbor - or any other
legal procedure) while residing in another country.  As a resident of
Thailand, you are bound by all Thai laws, regardless of your
citizenship.  The same is true here in the US - a foreign citizen
residing here is bound by US laws, not the laws of his home country. 
*Any* legal procedures *must* be handled in accordance to the laws of
your country of residence, as Mary explained to me in the answer
above:

"Although you are a US citizen, you are bound by the laws of
your country of residence, so any legal matters must be handled
through *their* court system - you cannot change your name "by remote"
through the US courts.  The Embassy or Consulate will assist you in
contacting the relevant courts."

This is both a matter of law and a matter of safety.  (If you could
change your name "by remote", anyone claiming to be you could steal
your identity and you'd have no recourse.)

For procedures specific to your country of residence, you *must*
contact the US Embassy there.  If you're living in Bangok, you've got
it considerably easier than other US citizens in Thailand - the US
Embassy in Thailand is located in Bangkok.  The consulate there will
be able to give you specific information for obtaining a legal change
of name through the Thai courts.  This is not information I or any
Researcher can provide for you - as a matter of law, such things
*must* be handled through a US Embassy or Consulate.

The Embassy representatives will explain how to go about contacting
the Thai courts, and will explain in detail the specific procedures
you need to follow in order to obtain a legal change of name, then
have your passport changed to reflect your new name.  You must go
through the Embassy, as you will first be navigating Thai courts to
change your name, then US law to have your passport changed.

With respect to glitches, it means just that.  Mistakes happen - if
any of your records has a mistake, if you are misidentified as someone
else due to clerical error, if you have lost a pertinent document
required to prove your current name...any of these can cause delays in
getting a new passport issued, or could even cause your request for a
new passport to be denied.

[ On a personal note, I've been through denial of passport re-issue. 
While participating in an exchange program in Germany, I lost my
passport.  The record of my residence visa in the local records office
was not sufficient to prove my citizenship, and I had to get Embassy
assistance in obtaining certified copies of my birth certificate,
Social Security card, and my passport application in order to prove my
citizenship and get a replacement.  I didn't change my name or even my
address, but still suffered quite a fright and a long delay while
waiting to get my passport replaced.  I could not have come home
without it.

I cannot stress enough to you how important it is that you ONLY work
through the US Embassy for this.  You *must* follow all of their
instructions to the letter, especially since you want your new name on
your passport.  The US government is notoriously picky about passports
to begin with, and in the wake of 9/11, is now scrutinizing every
change and re-issue very carefully. ]

Here is the contact information for the US Embassy in Bangkok:

    American Citizen Services (ACS)
    Address: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
    Tel: [66](2) 205-4005
    E-mail: acsbkk@state.gov
    Home Page: http://usa.or.th/embassy/acs.htm

    Consular Services
    Address: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
    Tel: [66](2) 205-4000
    Fax: [66](2) 254-1171
    Home Page: http://usa.or.th/embassy/consul.htm    

Embassy representatives are trained to handle legal matters in the
countries in which they reside - as long as you work with the Embassy
and make sure all of your documents are in order, you shouldn't
encounter much more than the typical government paperwork.


Good luck!

--Missy

The only bit of information I can extract from the researcher's
lengthy messages, is "go contact the US emabassy or consulate".  She
tells me she cannot tell me any information specific to my situation.

< In order to change your name on your passport you need to apply in
person at the U.S. embassy. You need to need to complete form DSP-19.
You do not need to produce photographs. Amending your name on your
passport is free of charge.

There are a number of ways that you can change your name these are as
follows:

1. Adoption of spouse’s surname.
2. Change to a hyphenated surname.
3. Married/divorce/widows using maiden name or previous married
surname.
4. Married or previous married surname as “known as” entry.
5. “Know as” professional or religious name.
6. Change of name through usage.
7. Change of name by court.

For a name change due to marriage you need to supply the marriage
certificate.

For a name change by court order to need to supply the court order.

For all other name changes at least three of the following documents
are required:

School record
Employment records
Tax records
Military records
Medicare card
Driving license
Bank books
Federal/state;or local government card
Deeds to property
Insurance records.

Change of name by usage.

This method of name change is the easiest and cheapest. It requires no
legal formalities. You simply start using your new name. To get your
passport changed you need to provide proof that you have used this
name for at least five years. You will also need to provide two
witnesses who must swear that you have been known by your new name for
at least five years. Your witnesses can be friends, relatives or
business associates. You will need to attend the U.S. Embassy in
person with your witnesses, proofs and, at least three of the above
forms of identification. The witnesses will also need proof of their
identity (preferably their passports). At the embassy both you and
your two witnesses will be asked to swear that you have been known by
your new name for at least five years.

The U.S Embassy in Bangkok:
American Citizen Services (ACS) 
Address: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: [66](2) 205-4005
E-mail: acsbkk@state.gov 
Home Page: http://usa.or.th/embassy/acs.htm>


<Additional links:>
<Change of name on passport.>
<http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/acs/passports/namechange.htm>

<U.S. embassy Bagkok.>
<http://www.usa.or.th/>


<Hope this helps.>

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ahahahaha-ga on 06 Nov 2002 19:16 PST

I would like to use the name change by court order method.  How do I
obtain a court order while in Bangkok?

---

Clarification of Answer by belindalevez-ga on 08 Nov 2002 04:48 PST

<You can change your name locally by applying to the Thailand
Department of Local Administration. There are a number of conditions
attached to the name change. Full details can be seen at the link to
last name registration. A request for name change must be filed with
the local registrar. You will be issued with a name change certificate
which costs approximately 50 baht.

You will need the following documents:
House registration certificate.
Identification card.
Alien registration card.>


<Additional links:>

<Thailand Department of Local Administration.>
<http://www.thaisdc.com/thai_immigration_links.html>

<Last name registration.>
<http://www.dola.go.th/English/servi/clname.htm>


<Hope this helps.>

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ahahahaha-ga on 08 Nov 2002 07:35 PST

A few additional questions.  First, about the required documents. 
What is a 'house registration certificate' and where and how do I get
one?  Can "Identification Card" mean passport?  What is a "Alien
Registration Card" and where and how do I get one?  Second, some
questions about some of the other info on the 'Last Name Registration'
page.  It only talks about changing one's last name.  But what about
changing one's name as a whole?  In my case, I want to keep my first
name, but change my middle and last names (although if absolutely
necessary, I am willing to be flexible on this).  Also, I am concerned
about the regulation that reads "Must have a meaning in Thai
language..."  I wasn't planning to adopt a Thai last name (hmmm....
now that's a possibility to ponder about!).  Do I actually have to
adopt a Thai name, or is a Western one okay to?  Lastly, please tell
me the names in Thai of the various offices I will have to visit (with
or without a transliteration) so that I can communicate this with a
Thai friend who can help me find them.  And if you can, please tell me
the addresses to.

---

Clarification of Answer by belindalevez-ga on 08 Nov 2002 21:56 PST

<A house registration certificate is a register of a house’s
occupants. You can get this from the following place:
Section 4 (Record & Statistics), Sub-division 4, Immigration Bureau,
Room 311, Old Building, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Sathorn
District, Bangkok 10120.  Tel: 66-2-287-3111 or 66-2-287-3101 through
10, Ext. 2244

An alien registration card is required if you intend to stay
permanently in Thailand. It can be obtained from the following place.
You must apply in person.
Section 4, Sub-division 1, Immigration Division 1, New Building, 6th
Floor, Immigration Bureau, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Sathorn
District, Bangkok 10120 Tel. 66-2-287-3113 through 3110, Ext. 2200-3

Unfortunately I do not speak the local language. However the addresses
I have given come from the Thailander.com website which is also
available in the local language. I have given a link to their home
page from where you can select the local language. You can then
perform a search from that page.

You can also change your other names. A link is given below which
gives more details. According to the site that discusses surnames, 
names must have a meaning in the Thai language according to the Thai
dictionary.>


<Additional links:>

<Reporting of Alien’s Residence.>
<http://www.thailander.com/aboutthailand/immigration/section1.html#4>

<Alien registration.>
<http://www.thailander.com/aboutthailand/immigration/section2.html#5>

<Change of forename.>
<http://www.dola.go.th/English/servi/cfname.htm>

<Thailander.com – home page.>
<http://www.thailander.com/index.asp>


<Search strategy:>

<"house registration" Thailand>
://www.google.com/search?q=%22house+registration%22+thailand&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=30&sa=N


<Hope this helps.>

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ahahahaha-ga on 08 Jan 2003 05:45 PST

You said that I "can change [my] name locally by applying to the
Thailand
Department of Local Administration".  Where in Bangkok is the
"Thailand Department of Local Administration"?  What is the address?

Also, you said I "need to complete form DSP-19" for "amending [my]
name on
[my] passport".  But I don't want to amend my passport, because I
think would cause confusion when using it.  Instead, I want a new
passport issued.  Please tell me the relevant forms and procedure for
that.

---

Clarification of Answer by belindalevez-ga on 11 Jan 2003 04:34 PST

This is out of the scope of the original question, I would be happy to
answer if you post a separate question.

ahahahaha-ga: 

It shocks me that you could reject this answer. Even though you would
like to change your name remotely, it is not possible. You must go to
the Embassy to change your name legally. This was confirmed by direct
telephone calls to the agency in the USA that controls this activity. 
The fact that you cannot make this change the way you wish to do it is
no reason to reject the legitimate answer with the correct
information.

seedy

missy:

There's no need to be shocked.  The reason you cited is not the reason
I rejected your answer, as I already said.  There were a few things
wrong with your answer and your research method.  First of all, your
idea of "research" was a bit lacking.  You did little more than call
the embassy, which isn't going to be enough to get me the information
I requested.  Second of all, honestly I found your messages a bit
wordy and disorganized.  I suggest that next time you take some time
first to collect your thoughts and then write them down concisely. 
Better luck next time.

I didn't write the comment above.

If you'll look at the author, it clearly says that the comment was
from Seedy.  I am not Seedy.

I'm sorry you found my answer lacking.  However, having lived abroad
and having dealt with passport matters, I do firmly stand by my
answer.

One must be exceedingly careful, especially these days, when doing
*anything* which might cause your passport to be revoked.  To do so
without contacting and working closely (and in person) with the US
Embassy is asking for something to go wrong - a single mistake can
void your passport and leave you stranded in Thailand with even more
red tape to fight through should you ever decide you want to come home
to the US.

All of the information you seek is available immediately, for free,
from the US Embassy, and they will even provide you with someone
intimately familiar with Thai law to help you accomplish your goal. 
Attempting this without help from the Embassy is inadvisable.

I wish you the best of luck.

--Missy