Integrity Legal

It recently came to this blogger’s attention, via a press release from the US Embassy in Bangkok, that the Embassy seems to be in the process of discontinuing issuance of income affidavits pertaining to verification of finances in the context of application for certain types of Thai visa extension. To quote directly from the press release:

As of January 1, 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai will cease to provide the income affidavit for the purpose of applying for Thai retirement and family visas and will not notarize previous versions of the income affidavit.  The Royal Thai Government requires actual verification of income to certify visa applicants meet financial requirements for long-stay visas.  The U.S. government cannot provide this verification and will no longer issue the affidavits.

Those unaware of the importance of these documents should take note of the fact that in the past notarized income affidavits were used in connection with applications for either a Thai retirement visa or a Thai marriage visa. Such documents were utilized in lieu of presenting evidence of a lump sum in a Thai bank account (800,000 THB for a retirement visa, and 400,000 THB for a marriage visa) or proof of a prolonged history of income in a Thai bank account (65,000 THB per month for a retirement visa and 40,000 per month for a marriage visa). These documents were generally issued by the American Citizen Services (ACS) Section of the US Embassy. In the past, a notarized income affidavit from the US Embassy which was legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sufficient to meet the evidentiary requirements of the Thai Immigration officers adjudicating financial documentation in connection with applications for visa extensions. As seems to be the case in matters pertaining to British income letters, American officials appear to be unwilling to continue issuance these instruments in light of the recent official Thai requests that the veracity of the information in the affidavit be verified rather than merely the authenticity of the signature on the document. It seems that although the Embassy is unable to continue issuing such documentation as it was issued in the past, they will continue to notarize other documentation.

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Posted in Thailand Notary, Thailand Visa | No Comments »

In order to provide relevant information to the public-at-large regarding immigration issues in Southeast Asia, the administration of this blog often posts the holiday closing schedules of various American posts in Asia in an attempt to assist those seeking such information. The following is quoted directly from the official website of the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand:

For further information please click HERE.

It has been this blogger’s experience that the personnel at the American post in Bangkok can provide a great deal of assistance with services such as notarization, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, passport renewal, and documentation pertaining to the registration of a marriage in Thailand. It is generally advisable that those seeking such services make an appointment with the Consular Services section prior to arrival at the post. In many cases, this can be accomplished online.

Those wishing to obtain an American visa for a loved one in Thailand are generally required to petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and gain approval of said petition before the case file will be reviewed by a visa section at a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad. Concurrently, the visa applicant is generally required to undergo an interview at the Post with appropriate Consular jurisdiction prior to possible approval of a visa application.

Those seeking a K-1 visa for a Thai fiancee will generally see the visa application processed through the non-immigrant visa unit while those seeking an immigrant visa for a Thai spouse (such as the CR-1 visa or the IR-1 visa) will generally see their visa application consular processed through the immigrant visa unit. In many cases, an approved USCIS petition will be processed through the National Visa Center prior to processing at the appropriate post overseas.

For information regarding legal services in Southeast Asia please see: Legal.

Tags: American Visa, American Visa Thailand, consular report of birth abroad, CR-1 Visa, CR-1 Visa Thailand, K-1 Visa, K-1 Visa Thailand, Notary, us embassy thailand, US Visa, US Visa Thailand
Posted in CR1 Visa, Fiance Visa Thailand, IR1 Visa, K-3 Visa Thailand, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, K2 Visa, K2 Visa Thailand, K3 Visa, National Visa Center, Thailand Notary, US Embassy Thailand, US Visa and Immigration, US Visa Thailand, USCIS | No Comments »

In the Kingdom of Thailand there are often legal matters which require the services of a Thai notarial attorney. Unlike other countries, the Kingdom of Thailand requires that notaries be licensed Thai attorneys prior to becoming licensed to provide notarial services.

Notarial services can be of interest to those with legal matters pending in Thailand. This is not simply the case in the context of Thai limited companies or Thai property, but immigration matters may require the services of a Thai notary. Meanwhile, it is sometimes necessary for Americans resident abroad in Thailand to have documentation pertaining to American legal matters properly notarized.

Under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to obtain notarial services from an American notary abroad. If this is the case, then virtually the only method of obtaining such a notarization may be through contacting of an American Citizen Services section of a US Embassy or US Consulate and requesting notarial services from a Consular officer. Determining whether one needs to acquire an American notarization or a Thai notarization can depend upon the unique factual circumstances of one’s situation. That stated, insight from either an American attorney or a Thai attorney on such matters could prove enlightening for those who are unsure about what type of notarization they need.

Integrity Legal (Thailand) Co. Ltd. is proud to announce that we are offering Thai notarization services for a fee of 200 Thai baht plus 7% Value Added Tax (VAT). The price of this notarization fee has been consciously set low by Integrity Legal as a courtesy to the public-at-large. The administration of this web log and the staff of Integrity Legal sincerely hope that by providing this service to the public at a reasonable rate it will be beneficial for all concerned.

Those thinking of acquiring notarial services are well advised to be aware of the fact that in an American context notaries generally are not entitled to practice law unless they have a specific license to do so. It is unfortunate that some operators described as “notarios” or “netarios” (alluding to such individuals on the internet and World Wide Web) sometimes pass themselves off as attorneys and thereby give the position of notary a bad name. When seeking legal advice it is always prudent to check the credentials of anyone claiming expertise in law. In an American immigration context, the public should make certain that anyone practicing United States immigration law is licensed to practice law in at least one State or relevant jurisdiction pursuant to federal regulation.

Those wishing to acquire a Thai notarization from Integrity Legal are encouraged to Contact Us.

For related information please see: Legal.

Posted in Thailand Notary | No Comments »