Certifying

[lime12]

Hello, I started asking this question in my other topic, but after looking around on the forum decided to start a new topic.

So my g/f is about to submit her visitor visa application and she obviously has all her original supporting documents but mine are back here in England. These are such things as my payslips.

I can't really send these original documents because I'd then have lost my evidence! So I can either photocopy them, certify them and send the certified photocopies by post to Thailand.

A quicker way which I was originally going to do was to scan these documents in and email them to my g/f for her to print out so I don't have to rely on the postal service. Then we can apply immediately without the worry of the docs getting lost.

The main reason I'm opening this topic is because I've read such conflicting information about certified copies during my searching of this forum. Some people seem to think that copies of original documents like passports etc must be certified and some people say they not to bother. What do people think?

Edited July 17, 2010 by lime12

[sumrit]

You certify copies of your passport pages yourself by just signing and dating each page. The Embassy will accept printed versions of things like pay slips and bank statements (as long as addresses/bank logo etc are clearly visible) and don't need certifying, but if you want to be sure and certify them as well you only need to sign and date each page yourself.

[7by7]

Whilst not disagreeing with Sumrit, and I have heard of people submitting copies of bank statements etc.and being successful, I prefer to follow the advice on the VAC website and submit original documents with copies wherever possible. Submitting copies as well as the originals means that you should get the originals back.

Obviously you cannot send your original passport, so a self certified certified copy of that is fine.

There is a risk that the documents may be lost in transit, although I have never heard of this happening, but I'd rather take that risk than risk the application being delayed, or even refused, because the copies were unacceptable.

Your choice.

[peter124]

Hi,

You could also aproach a local magistrate who could certify all your copies as a true record and it's free.

Peter

[sumrit]

Whilst not disagreeing with Sumrit, and I have heard of people submitting copies of bank statements etc.and being successful

7by7, I know you weren't disagreeing with me, but to explain, the reason I said what I did about printed copies is because the British Embassy in Bangkok told me they would accept printed copies about four/five years ago. Because I was living in Thailand I did all my banking on line and hadn't received a paper bank statement for a few years, so I contacted the Embassy for their advice (yes, even as recently as five years ago they were accessible, and by phone). It was the Embassy themselves that that told me a printed copy was perfectly acceptable, as long as it also showed the address and bank logo as well. They also agreed that, because my pay slips were being sent to my daughters address in the UK, she could email them to me and I could print them off. We've had five visas since then, the last ones being last year, and I've done that each time.

[lime12]

Thanks everyone