Verification Of Bank Funds In Canada

[zziffle]

Hi folks,

It's getting close to time for me to apply for my O-A visa through the Vancouver Consulate office and I'm running into an obstacle regarding verification of sufficient funds. Here's the documentation requirement as quoted from the consulate website:

2. Documents Required to Apply for a One-Year O-A Visa

• A passport valid for no less than one year and a half at the time of application
• Three passport-sized photos of the applicant taken within the past six months
• 1 original personal data form entitled "Additional Visa Application Form for O-A Long Stay." This must be notarized.
• 3 original "Visa Application Forms". All must be notarized.
• A bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to no less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (original copy) indicating a monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht. Alternatively, applicants can make a deposit and provide an income certificate indicating a total income of no less than 800,000 Baht a year. All financial statement must have the signature of the bank officer. Any bank statements require a letter of guarantee from the bank (original copy) as well.
• A criminal record check indicating that the applicant has no criminal record in the country of his/her nationality or residence (this document must be valid for no more than 3 months).
• A medical certificate issued from the country in which the application is submitted, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535) (this certificate shall be valid for no more than 3 months). This must be stamped by a medical doctor.
• In the case that the applicant wishes to be accompanied by his/her spouse but the spouse does not meet the requirements for the O-A Visa, a marriage certificate shall also be included in the application package (The spouse will be considered for the Visa for Temporary Residents under the 'O' Code).

My problem is with the bolded section about a letter of guarantee from the bank. I have contacted my bank and they don't know what a letter of guarantee might be, nor is it something they provide. What they do provide is a single document - a Balance Of Account - that details how long I've been a customer, what my account balances are, and is signed by someone from the bank. The consulate is very clear that they want two documents from the bank, one of them being this mysterious "letter of guarantee", and the bank is very clear that they provide one document and don't have anything that might be a "letter of guarantee".

Am I pooched? Do you think I will be unable to obtain an O-A because I will be unable to provide this second bank document they are requesting? It would be especially helpful if someone reading this has recent experience obtaining an O-A through Vancouver, but perhaps that is hoping for too much.

Thanks!!!

[Jingthing]

Good to ask advice here. If no success you can always retire in Thailand without ever getting the O-A. The money only needs to be seasoned in a Thai bank account for TWO months for the first extension, so you could make sure you're sorting with your Canadian bank while you're there, and then enter Thailand on a single entry O (among other options).

[zziffle]

Thanks Jingthing.

Remember me? I'm the guy you recommended an O-A visa to because I intend to be vagabond for an extended period of time before settling down in one spot. Besides, I'm pretty sure that Vancouver is one of those consulates that does not issue O visas for the purpose of retirement. I'm not getting any warm and fuzzies about this.

I've sent an email inquiry about this to the consulate but I'll be mildly surprised if they actually answer. If they do, I'll be sure to post their reply.

[Jingthing]

Now I do. I googled letter of guarantee from bank and yes it is indeed something that sometimes is asked for by different companies, for example auction houses. However, I don't get the logic of why they are demanding this. In any case, they are, so you're in a fix.

Since your bank doesn't know about this (which sounds weird to me that they wouldn't) here is what I would try if I were you. First I would contact the consulate again and tell them you are financially qualified but your bank doesn't understand this request. So ... you can ask them can the consulate provide some SAMPLE text of the kind of information they expect to see in such a letter. Maybe/probably they will say no, but no harm in asking. Then with that text you can approach your bank and ask them if they are able to write a letter (must be on their letterhead) using similar text. Of course they can also say no as they might not be willing to "guarantee" your monies in this way.

Another option, call your bank's customer main service line with the problem. You need the letter, your bank doesn't get it. Again, couldn't hurt.

I see that Ottawa also requires this guarantee letter, notarized, so no point trying there. However, here is an idea, if Vancouver is unwilling to supply you with sample language they expect in the letter, maybe you can contact Ottawas and they might be more helpful. For all you know all they mean by guarantee is a short signed note on your branch letterhead saying something generic like on this date Mr. X indeed does have $X on balance.

If I were you, I would just keep pushing this and not give up too easily, so good luck.

http://www.thaiembassy.ca/en/

[moe666]

Just have the word garantee in the letter somewhere. Like, we guarantee that Mr. so and so has this amt on this date and he is a member of our bank of good standing. But Jing is right put some heat on the consulate and or the Embassy for what they want.

[zziffle]

I've received a response from the consulate and it's sounding good. They say:

"If you can provide the balance of account statement and showing the account balances and signed by the bank officer, this is also acceptable."

It looks like I'm back on track. See you in November!!!!

[TerraplaneGuy]

I recently got an O-A in Toronto. The term "letter of guarantee" is simply wrong. I assume it's the Thais' imprecise use of English business terminology. I just got a bank statement and then a letter from the same branch stating that the statement was correct. They did not use the word "guarantee" (quite rightly). Then I got copies of both notarized and I had no problem gettting the visa. Neither the bank letter nor the notarization make any sense at all (they add nothing to the bank statement, which says it all) but Thailand wants them. Good luck.

[JusMe]

I've always had great service and help from the Vancouver consulate-general. Sure hope that hasn't changed, as I'll be applying for another retirement visa later this summer.

In the past, I've used information from my broker as well as my bank, and a copy of the statement from Revenue Canada regarding my previous year's income.

[zziffle]

Yes, the Vancouver consulate people seem to be reasonable and helpful. I'm thankful for this.

I totally agree that the "letter of guarantee" and notarization are silly requirements. I assume the letter is to verify that the account statement is truthful. So, by that logic, we would need a letter of guarantee for the letter of guarantee as well - and so on until the end of time. And the purpose of having the documents signed by a notary is what exactly? They can't vouch for the content, only that, yup, they saw it, signed it, and charged a nice little fee for that. This adds no value at all.

Semi-related, the medical form on the Vancouver site looks seriously unprofessional. (http://www.thaiconge...Medicalcert.pdf). I'd be embarrassed to present that to my doctor for him to fill out. Fortunately, there's a somewhat better one available from Ottawa at http://www.thaiembas...ms/MED_FORM.pdf.

Cheers...

[moe666]

Yes, the Vancouver consulate people seem to be reasonable and helpful. I'm thankful for this.

I totally agree that the "letter of guarantee" and notarization are silly requirements. I assume the letter is to verify that the account statement is truthful. So, by that logic, we would need a letter of guarantee for the letter of guarantee as well - and so on until the end of time. And the purpose of having the documents signed by a notary is what exactly? They can't vouch for the content, only that, yup, they saw it, signed it, and charged a nice little fee for that. This adds no value at all.

Semi-related, the medical form on the Vancouver site looks seriously unprofessional. (http://www.thaiconge...Medicalcert.pdf). I'd be embarrassed to present that to my doctor for him to fill out. Fortunately, there's a somewhat better one available from Ottawa at http://www.thaiembas...ms/MED_FORM.pdf.

Cheers...

As some would say get use to it if you are moving to Thailand. I would say get your thinking outside the box hat on, they just do not have the same priorities we have.

[Maestro]

...And the purpose of having the documents signed by a notary is what exactly? ...

The notary certifies the authenticity of the signature on the document. Nothing more and nothing less.

[zziffle]

The notary certifies the authenticity of the signature on the document. Nothing more and nothing less.

True in the case of application forms that the applicant fills out and signs himself. The notary can witness the signing of the application forms. The problem is, the Ottawa Thai embassy site is very explicit about requiring that the bank statement, police report and medical report all be "certified by a Notary Public". They put that in bold letters after the description of each of those documents.

A notary is not present at the completion or signing of any of these documents and is not able to verify any aspect of the documents. Given this, I'm actually doubtful that a notary would be willing to sign any of them.

Fortunately, the Vancouver consulate does not state that these supporting documents need to be notarized. I'm going with them.

[lopburi3]

From all reports I have seen they want the applicant to sign, as is always required for copies to Immigration, and have his (applicants) signature notarized.

[TerraplaneGuy]

The notarial requirement makes no sense but you have to do it, so you have COPIES of the documents notarized as "true copies of the original". Since you are submitting the original as well (whether bank documents, medical, etc.) there is nothing added by this. But it is required. The Thai embassy in Ottawa just asks for notarized copies. The signatures are in no way being verified or guaranteed by the notary. I myself am a notary so I do have some understanding of this stuff.