I'm trying to get a US tax ID number for my Thai wife.  To do this you must fill out the W-7 form which asks for "supporting documentation".  It seems like a certified copy of her Thai ID card would suffice.  They also accept a US Visa which she has in her passport.  Has anyone done this exercise before and had a Thai ID card or something else certified in Chiang Mai?  If so, please let me know what document you had certified and where to do it in CM.

 

Thanks.

The only standalone ID proof is an original passport AFAIK.  You send that with the application and it will be returned per there instructions.  Other methods require two items and this can be hard to find/and require certifications which suspect would have to be from MFA.  Unless special circumstances you can only do application with a tax return.  I am currently having to do outside of tax return as a renewal.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf

 

This site seems to imply that a certified copy is acceptable.  

 

"2. You must submit original documents, or certified copies of these documents from the issuing agency"

 

I'd rather not send anything original overseas.

Believe this is the paragraph 

Quote

If you submit an original passport or a certified copy from the
issuing agency, you do not need to submit any other documents
from the table.

So if you get MFA to certify a copy under seal that should be accepted (international legalized document).  In our case did not have current passport so had to make and just sending that as not required for anything else.

You can get a certified copy of a Thai passport at the Provincial Offices on Mae Rim Road, easy and fast and cheap.  In or next door to the PP office there, think it is next door.

 

Doubt you need to mess with MFA in Bkk.

Edited October 4, 20178 yr by Dante99

Agree if passport office will certify that should be good from above wording - also passport office comes under MFA so the same people in effect.

2 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Agree if passport office will certify that should be good from above wording - also passport office comes under MFA so the same people in effect.

no if about it, they will provide certified copies, nicely stickered, stamped, signed and dated

New surprise!  Her US visa is in an expired passport.  She has a new Thai passport with a different passport number than the old one.   She's been told she can go to the States but just bring both passports.

 

The W-7 form wants a US visa # and Thai passport # but the visa passport # isn't the same as the current Thai passport #.  I know, I know...

 

Should I try to get the US visa re stamped into the current passport?  Should I fill out the W-7 form using only the old passport number?  I'm just trying to this right the first time because apparently it takes several months to process the form in the States.

 

Thanks.

 See post 4 above.  Nothing to do with the visa is required.  Lots of people get US tax id numbers without visas.

 

You won't get the visa put in the new passport but given how you are complicating issues, why dont you try and prove me wrong.

As said if you use the valid passport (or certified copy) that should take care of ID requirement and believe the reason for issue is section D so you write your name and SSN where indicated.  No visa is required.

The US Consulate in BKK confirmed you can't transfer US Visa to new passport.  I will have the new passport certified at the Provincial Offices.  Wife needs both passport to travel there.

 

The W-7 form clearly asks for U.S. Visa information. There is nothing written about this optional.  If that's not necessary than that sure is swell.

 

"Line 6c. Enter only U.S. nonimmigrant visa information. Include the USCIS classification, number of the U.S. visa, and the expiration date in month/day/year format. For example, if you have an F-1/F-2 visa with the number 123456 that has an expiration date of December 31, 2018, enter “F-1/F-2,” “123456,” and “12/31/2018” in the entry space. Individuals in possession of an I-20/I-94 document(s) should attach a copy to their Form W-7."

 

If inquiring about this government request is 'complicating issues' I don't what to say.  It's good to see at least one person on this thread has that good old TV 'fighting spirit'.  I was afraid this thread might end up in the rare 'civil and helpful' category.'

 

Thank you all for your help on this.

The form states "Type of U.S. visa (if any), number, and expiration date"

 

So US visa in not necessary, the information is only required if the applicant has one.

If you are making application under D/E provisions there is no need to be in USA and you may or may not have a visa,  But as she does have such a visa I would put the information on the form - that is a US issued document so they can confirm validity with just that information.

I agree with lopburi3 that I should put her visa number on the form since she does indeed have one.  I will also put her last date of arrival in the States even though she's back here.  If they don't care at least I put down the correct information.