Arriving on O visa from USA, what do I need to prepare for long stay?

[Tanoshi]

28 minutes ago, revgreen said:

So why the <deleted> did they tell me I was wrong with what I wanted, and give me a "correct" form. When they were incorrect all along.

You stated you provided a blank affidavit form.

 

You take a fully written affidavit and ask them to notarise it, which in effect is witnessing your signature to the statement you provided. It does not infer your statement is true. 

You sign the affidavit in front of the Consular officer and he is merely authenticating your signature.

They cannot help with drafting the affidavit.

[JimGant]

30 minutes ago, revgreen said:

So why the <deleted> did they tell me I was wrong with what I wanted, and give me a "correct" form. When they were incorrect all along.

Obviously a communications failure. They heard the two words "marriage" and "affidavit," so they just assumed you were the standard single/divorced guy they see all the time, wanting the affidavit swearing you're single/divorced/widowed and thus eligible to marry your Thai sweety. https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/marriage-affidavit-chiang-mai-2017.pdf

 

I have a feeling you weren't familiar with the above affidavit, and thus couldn't argue forcibly enough that you weren't single/divorced/widowed. And that you just wanted to affirm your US marriage license (had you shown that, they may have understood).

 

Anyway, my experience with the Consulate is that they're pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable. Too bad you didn't have a more comprehensive conversation with them, as I'm sure they weren't trying to be obstinate.

 

Oh, please tell me you didn't arrive into the plastic booth with a completely blank affidavit....!?. hoping they'd assist you with what to write? They're explicit: " The unsigned, completed, and clearly flagged/organized document(s) you need notarized;"

 

Believe this is what Tanoshi was suggesting.... If so, your bad.

 

[Tanoshi]

This the form you should have completed and presented to the US Consulate in CM.

https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2017/03/blank-affidavit-chiang-mai-032917.pdf

 

[revgreen]

You guys are misunderstanding. I had the affidavit filled out stating I’m confirming my marriage. I did explain to them I’m NOT single and we aren’t trying to obtain a Thai marriage certificate. We are confirming the US certificate. My wife was with me and also explained to them as much in Thai (though they all spoke excellent English obviously). 

 

So yes there was a misunderstanding. I’ve made many mistakes but this definitely wasn’t one! My mistake was relenting and letting them change my mind despite everything I knew going in.

 

Anyway, it sucks but I will live

[JimGant]

Just now, revgreen said:

My mistake was relenting and letting them change my mind despite everything I knew going in.

OK, looks like the Consulate's first string may have gone home, now that the work load is zip, with the end of the income statements.

[Tanoshi]

2 hours ago, revgreen said:

They told me this was the wrong form, I needed to confirm I was single and can marry in Thailand. After 20 minutes of back and forth I finally let them win, and turns out I was right all along.

I have to say, there are those who didn't follow the procedure to get their foreign marriage certificates legalised in their home Country before arriving in Thailand and faced the same problems.

 

They completed an affirmation of single/divorced/widowed to marry at their respective Embassy, had it translated, then certified at the MFA, then married (again) at a local Amphoe, who have no record of their foreign marriage.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

3 hours ago, revgreen said:

I transfer from my US bank account to my Thai account. These show up as "FT" which my local immigration office confirmed would be acceptable. So I just need the letter from the bank, which my local immigration office provided an example of.

 

My local immi office has been amazingly helpful. It's the US Consulate that I'm currently pissed at.

 

Indeed, "FT" is the passbook code you want to see on your foreign transfers, and is the kind that Immigration probably will be looking for as well.

 

Thus, ATM cash withdrawals, bank counter cash advances, other such methods aren't going to satisfy Immigration in terms of the type of xfers they want to see.