Translation at Foreign Affairs

[TomTao]

I just put my income documents as well a stat dec for translation as part of the annual visa renewal process in Bangkok.

It is costing ฿3,900 to have three docments translated. Are there any other translation services available that are accepted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? It seems that since the translation service moved upstairs, thier price went upstairs too.

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[Mario2008]

You only need to have documents translated into Thai if they are not in English!

[TomTao]

Immigration has asked for my income documents and stat dec to be translated into Thai every year so far, they are sent from Australia by Veterans' affairs and Comsuper.

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[Mario2008]

First time I have heard of this.

But there are many translation agencies, a document normally costs about 300 to 400 baht a page. Almost all will offer to take care of the Thai MFA legalisation for you.

Legalisation by the Thai Foreign ministry costs 400 baht per 1 page document for normal service and 800 baht for same day service. Normal service just takes about 4 days and for 60 baht they send it to your home by EMS.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

What Immigration office are you dealing with??

You might ask if they accept the "income statement" in English from the Australian Embassy:

http://www.thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/consular.html

Services for Australians

The Consular Services Section of the Embassy provides advice and assistance to Australian citizens in need in Thailand, performs notarial services (e.g. witnessing of signatures and true copies of documents),

• witness and authenticate signatures and provide certain other notarial services (fees apply for these services)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If they're like the Brit Embassy, you take your paperwork to show the Consular Section your income.

This is more than likely less expensive than going through the hoops you seem to be doing.

BTW, if Immigration still wants Thai translations, is just the translation sufficient? Lots of services downtown Bangkok do this. Perhaps Immigration will accept this without the added expense of MoFA "certification."

Mac

[TomTao]

First time I have heard of this.

 

But there are many translation agencies, a document normally costs about 300 to 400 baht a page. Almost all will offer to take care of the Thai MFA legalisation for you.

 

Legalisation by the Thai Foreign ministry costs 400 baht per 1 page document for normal service and 800 baht for same day service. Normal service just takes about 4 days and for 60 baht they send it to your home by EMS.

I had my documents translated by a service near the British Embassy a couple of years ago, they made a couple of spelling mistakes and thier translation was rejected by Foreign Affairs. The price asked for by the service at the ministry is over the top this year, since I only have today and tomorrow before returning to Chumphon, I dont have a much choice this time, but if I can find somewhere else next time that is acceptable to Foreign Affairs, then I will use them.

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[TomTao]

What Immigration office are you dealing with??

 

You might ask if they accept the "income statement" in English from the Australian Embassy:

 

http://www.thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/consular.html

 

Services for Australians

 

The Consular Services Section of the Embassy provides advice and assistance to Australian citizens in need in Thailand, performs notarial services (e.g. witnessing of signatures and true copies of documents), 

 

• witness and authenticate signatures and provide certain other notarial services (fees apply for these services)

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

If they're like the Brit Embassy, you take your paperwork to show the Consular Section your income.

 

This is more than likely less expensive than going through the hoops you seem to be doing.

 

BTW, if Immigration still wants Thai translations, is just the translation sufficient?  Lots of services downtown Bangkok do this.  Perhaps Immigration will accept this without the added expense of MoFA "certification."

 

Mac

I have to deal with the Ranong Immigration office. I tried presenting an uncertified translation before, it was unacceptable. I have to get a photocopy of my income documents notorised at the Australian Embassy every year, then off to translation, then certification at the MoFA.

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[ubonjoe]

That is unusual that they want everything notarized (other than statutory delaration) and then translated. Even the back up documents are not normally required at most offices.

Most translation services for a small additional fee will handle the MFA certification. In your case it might be useful to have them EMS them to you which might save a day or two waiting in Bangkok for it to be done.

Here is a list of translators from US embassy with prices for translation. I have used number 5 before. http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/translators_photographers.pdf

[lopburi3]

Have they actually required this each year or was it perhaps an exception/exceptional officers idea and since then they accept as you have? The requirement is an embassy letter of income which is just a stat document you fill out and sign and there is no requirement for translation as immigration accepts both Thai and English language documents. If that office is not accepting it is not going by normal policy. But there should not be a requirement for more than the actual Embassy letter of income except in very unusual cases where other proof could be asked but it should also not have to be translated or notarized by your Embassy. In no case should translations require MFA sign off.

[TomTao]

Have they actually required this each year or was it perhaps an exception/exceptional officers idea and since then they accept as you have?  The requirement is an embassy letter of income which is just a stat document you fill out and sign and there is no requirement for translation as immigration accepts both Thai and English language documents.  If that office is not accepting it is not going by normal policy.  But there should not be a requirement for more than the actual Embassy letter of income except in very unusual cases where other proof could be asked but it should also not have to be translated or notarized by your Embassy.  In no case should translations require MFA sign off.

It may be because all of my income is in the form of foreign pensions, but yes they have asked for new notorised and certified income documents each year. It's a real pain in the proverbial.

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[ubonjoe]

Are the pension documents the only proof you have?

Most offices will accept a bank book showing regular transfers into the bank as back up proof to the income declaration.

[TomTao]

Have they actually required this each year or was it perhaps an exception/exceptional officers idea and since then they accept as you have?  The requirement is an embassy letter of income which is just a stat document you fill out and sign and there is no requirement for translation as immigration accepts both Thai and English language documents.  If that office is not accepting it is not going by normal policy.  But there should not be a requirement for more than the actual Embassy letter of income except in very unusual cases where other proof could be asked but it should also not have to be translated or notarized by your Embassy.  In no case should translations require MFA sign off.

It may be because all of my income is in the form of foreign pensions, but yes they have asked for new notorised and certified income documents each year. It's a real pain in the proverbial.

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Sorry I forgot to insert 'translated' after notorised. I tried to edit, but the data speed in Bangkok is frustratingly slow.

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[lopburi3]

Most offices do not require any such paperwork - only the Embassy letter of income - which should be all that is normally required. And for Oz that would be a document signed by applicant and notarized by Embassy of monthly income in Oz currency which immigration than converts to baht to be sure above the 65k figure. Only occasionally is anyone asked for more than this. Would be interested in others using that office reporting what they require.

[TomTao]

Most offices do not require any such paperwork - only the Embassy letter of income - which should be all that is normally required.  And for Oz that would be a document signed by applicant and notarized by Embassy of monthly income in Oz currency which immigration than converts to baht to be sure above the 65k figure.  Only occasionally is anyone asked for more than this.  Would be interested in others using that office reporting what they require.

The officers said they would require the same every year I asked about using the same documents each year or simply supplying a notorised, translated and certified stat dec with supporting documentation, the answer was no.

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[lopburi3]

Using the same document each year may question may have caused issues as that would not be allowed - new letter is indeed required each year. But do they actually require others now - not what they said they would require a year ago? Many times an officer will say something and next year not ask for it unless presented to him. Best to only present normal requirement until asked for more (have in a folder as 'just in case' if you really believe they may be needed).

[TomTao]

Using the same document each year may question may have caused issues as that would not be allowed - new letter is indeed required each year.  But do they actually require others now - not what they said they would require a year ago?  Many times an officer will say something and next year not ask for it unless presented to him.  Best to only present normal requirement until asked for more (have in a folder as 'just in case' if you really believe they may be needed).

When I first applied for the non o visa I supplied all the requested documents, the officer who processed my application said to return the following year with the same documents, which I did, a different officer processed my renewal with the original officer sitting beside him, the new officer said I needed new documents to support my application, my wife reminded the original officer what was said the previous year, he concurred with the second officer. At that time it was just the stat dec notorised, translated and stamped, then last year the requirement changed to include the pension payment documents translated as well as the stat dec, which is the reason I am doing it again this year.

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