Statutory declarations of income being bounced back.

[PunkRockerGuy]

I agree with OMG. I came to Thailand after doing a stint of consulting for Korean government agencies and private consulting. I lived in s. Korea for 2 yrs andbefore all this trendy snail masks and k-pop were even conceived. I came to thailand with only the money I made while in S. Korea, which was about 14.0 million baht. I immediately put 4 million in a bank account afterafter I got here and settled down about 2003.

1. If you truly don't mind lying to your government, they will certify just about any income document (whether real or not) after you raise your right hand. However, don't do this lightly.

2. I had have had millions of baht scattered between 5-6 thai banks since I came here. I have never had even 1 baht go unaccounted for. Every Thsi bank has given me a credit card with a work payment ... most credit limits were 350, 000++ baht, and service was always good, although a bit slow. I do admit, I was always firm and demanding though from their customer service.

3. Just make sure you get 800, 000 baht in a separate bank account, to make sure funds don't get confused. Or, do as I do, drop 1.0 million into a Thai bank account and forget about it until you go to reserve your Non-O.

4. I just don't see the reasonable planning that goes into coming to Thailand with just a very small amount of funds and tries to stay here without a sufficient income.

Take my uncle as an example, he was 65 when he retired in the U.S., with just a small, maybe $35, 000 USD maximum in the bank and a paid-off small 3 bedroom ranch just 1 yr after my aunt died of lung cancer. He's not going to spend a few thousand dollars to fly to thailand, look for an apartment to rent while he looks for a house to buy, etc... it makes far better sense to rely on the small savings he had, plus SS... now, if he had planned for a few yrs, saved up his money and then planned his move.

[ubonjoe]

A couple recently at Kap Cheong. The immigration official believed they were fake. No other options offered.

The tow guys went ot Savannakhet to get new O visa and will now use the 800000 in the bank method.

The couple were fake, or the stamp was fake? I'm going to Savannakhet on Monday, so do I have to be careful that nothing will be fake?

It was two income documents that the officer thought was fake.

Nothing to do with visas other that the two people then went to Savannakhet to get non-o visa to start the extension process again.

[Tolley]

I find the banking security procedures more secure in Thailand than some western countries...sometimes to the point of annoyance...like joint accounts can only get a single ATM card. I have had millions of baht in multiple Thai bank accounts for years and never lost a satang

.

Actually many people have been royally screwed by Thai bank "security" and the bank never took responsibility even when withdrawals where fraudulent made from withing the bank.

I would certainly advise for anyone having trouble with their income declarations to just put a few million in a Thai bank and be done with it.

Small detail, not everybody has millions.

I beg to differ...most screwed themselves...not enabling SMS security services, giving out passwords to friends and girlfriends/boyfriends, using dodgy ATMs, etc.

I'll stand by my 15 years of experience using Thai banks without any problems.

If someone doesn't have a few (or many) millions of baht equivalent to deposit in a local bank what is one doing living overseas?

You would be wrong well.

I went with a thai friend of mine to complain about fraudulent withdrawl of funds. She had SMS enabled and there was no SMS for the 20k baht withdrawl. Do you think the bank did anything? Nope. We also weren't the only ones complaining. Another thai woman lost over a million baht from her account.

It can and does happen.

[PunkRockerGuy]

I don't mean to say that the only way is to always be able to show 800, 000 when renewal time comes, but it is the sure-fire technique. And, if you came to thailand to live, or any country for that matter, without a high-paying job waiting for you, or without at least $50, 000, then you will end up with all this immigration nonsense and border runs, etc.

I've been here 10+ yrs, had spouse visas, work visas from companies I created, and now a nice Non-O visa. Haven't had any serious problems or issues with Immigration yet.

And, I might note, I have never paid a bribe to anyone in my time here.

[Si Thea01]

Went through this several times during the application process. They made me come back again and again

asking for additional 'new' documents culminating in my morning wasted at immigration on Xmas day while my kids and nieces sat at home, by the tree to waiting to open their presents. If I was cynical I would say that the 'official' enjoyed my inconvenience.

Others could be cynical and say that you did not attend there prepared in the first instance. What were the other documents that you needed that would warrant you having to go through this several times and come back again and again. After you provided what they required was you application processed that morning. If so, your morning was not wasted as you got what you wanted. Lighten up, It could be said that you obtained a life experience, Thai Style.

[OJAS]

A couple recently at Kap Cheong. The immigration official believed they were fake. No other options offered.

The tow guys went ot Savannakhet to get new O visa and will now use the 800000 in the bank method.

The couple were fake, or the stamp was fake? I'm going to Savannakhet on Monday, so do I have to be careful that nothing will be fake?

Just make sure that they give you a receipt for the new non-O - I recall from another recent thread that you should be OK with this if challenged by an IO at the border.

[puchooay]

The subject of the OP is income statements.

That is to what my comment was referring.

[Si Thea01]

The tow guys went ot Savannakhet to get new O visa and will now use the 800000 in the bank method.

They'll just need to cross their fingers that the account-skimming fraudsters (who seem to be particularly prevalent in LOS thanks to lax banking security procedures) don't strike during the seasoning period then! I have personally been the victim of their dubious activities with 2 separate Thai bank accounts, which left me 50,000 THB poorer. That is why I personally don't trust this method of proving finances at annual extension of stay time.

What is it that you don't trust. You only go to the bank for a letter to prove you've had sufficient funds there for the regulated time and also have you passbooks updated at the same time. Are you saying that somehow during this process you might have funds taken, without authority, from your account.

I am not saying that at other times you cannot have your details skimmed when using a card but if one is diligent when withdrawing funds from an outside ATM, then the odds of this happening is lowered substantially. It would be absolutely impossible for anything untoward occurring at the time you were obtaining a letter and update.

Maybe I am lucky, who knows but in the tens years I've held two accounts here I have never experienced any withdrawals that I did not authorise. But then again, I check around the ATM's before I use them and if I see anything unusual I go elsewhere. I also cover the pad when I put in my pin and I have SMS alerts for every withdrawal and deposit.

Also, when I transfer money from my home country to here, via internet banking, I have added an SMS security alert and I have to enter a number that the bank texts me before the transaction is completed. Maybe in you took extra precautions then you would not have had funds misappropriated from your accounts as you allege.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Si Thea01

[IMA_FARANG]

I have tried to get the message across before that a declaration of income is not a guarantee.

The immigration ALWAYS has the right to require further proof at any time IF THEY WISH TO.

Usually they don't, but it is their right to do so when they desire.

Therefore, if you have a pension or other source of income from outside of Thailand, an intelligent person would always have proof of that fact....... just in case that person was asked for proof.

You don't need to show it, but at least have something with you if needed.

[IMA_FARANG]

The tow guys went ot Savannakhet to get new O visa and will now use the 800000 in the bank method.

They'll just need to cross their fingers that the account-skimming fraudsters (who seem to be particularly prevalent in LOS thanks to lax banking security procedures) don't strike during the seasoning period then! I have personally been the victim of their dubious activities with 2 separate Thai bank accounts, which left me 50,000 THB poorer. That is why I personally don't trust this method of proving finances at annual extension of stay time.

What is it that you don't trust. You only go to the bank for a letter to prove you've had sufficient funds there for the regulated time and also have you passbooks updated at the same time. Are you saying that somehow during this process you might have funds taken, without authority, from your account.

I am not saying that at other times you cannot have your details skimmed when using a card but if one is diligent when withdrawing funds from an outside ATM, then the odds of this happening is lowered substantially. It would be absolutely impossible for anything untoward occurring at the time you were obtaining a letter and update.

Maybe I am lucky, who knows but in the tens years I've held two accounts here I have never experienced any withdrawals that I did not authorise. But then again, I check around the ATM's before I use them and if I see anything unusual I go elsewhere. I also cover the pad when I put in my pin and I have SMS alerts for every withdrawal and deposit.

Also, when I transfer money from my home country to here, via internet banking, I have added an SMS security alert and I have to enter a number that the bank texts me before the transaction is completed. Maybe in you took extra precautions then you would not have had funds misappropriated from your accounts as you allege.

---------------------

In your passbook, any "foreign funds transfer" is indicated by a specific code.

For Bangkok Bank that code is FTT.

If you claim a monthly pension or funds transfer into Thailand, your bank passbook should show at least a monthly FTT entry.

The immigration knows the codes, and they look for them.

I've seen them making a copy of my bank passbook, going through the entries, and underlining them and the dates to see my deposit records (monthly deposits from overseas).

When they were satisfied, they put a checkmark at the top of that record.

That was to show the supervisor who approved the extension that my deposit records passed the inspector's check.

[thailiketoo]

I have tried to get the message across before that a declaration of income is not a guarantee.

The immigration ALWAYS has the right to require further proof at any time IF THEY WISH TO.

Usually they don't, but it is their right to do so when they desire.

Therefore, if you have a pension or other source of income from outside of Thailand, an intelligent person would always have proof of that fact....... just in case that person was asked for proof.

You don't need to show it, but at least have something with you if needed.

I get that but what was the point of the OP? Where does he see this stuff happening? People who go there should be prepared.

Edited December 9, 2014 by thailiketoo

[puchooay]

So an affadavit that is signed an certified from your home embassy cannot be construed as proof? Why do Immigration say this is a requirement?

[thailiketoo]

They'll just need to cross their fingers that the account-skimming fraudsters (who seem to be particularly prevalent in LOS thanks to lax banking security procedures) don't strike during the seasoning period then! I have personally been the victim of their dubious activities with 2 separate Thai bank accounts, which left me 50,000 THB poorer. That is why I personally don't trust this method of proving finances at annual extension of stay time.

What is it that you don't trust. You only go to the bank for a letter to prove you've had sufficient funds there for the regulated time and also have you passbooks updated at the same time. Are you saying that somehow during this process you might have funds taken, without authority, from your account.

I am not saying that at other times you cannot have your details skimmed when using a card but if one is diligent when withdrawing funds from an outside ATM, then the odds of this happening is lowered substantially. It would be absolutely impossible for anything untoward occurring at the time you were obtaining a letter and update.

Maybe I am lucky, who knows but in the tens years I've held two accounts here I have never experienced any withdrawals that I did not authorise. But then again, I check around the ATM's before I use them and if I see anything unusual I go elsewhere. I also cover the pad when I put in my pin and I have SMS alerts for every withdrawal and deposit.

Also, when I transfer money from my home country to here, via internet banking, I have added an SMS security alert and I have to enter a number that the bank texts me before the transaction is completed. Maybe in you took extra precautions then you would not have had funds misappropriated from your accounts as you allege.

---------------------

In your passbook, any "foreign funds transfer" is indicated by a specific code.

For Bangkok Bank that code is FTT.

If you claim a monthly pension or funds transfer into Thailand, your bank passbook should show at least a monthly FTT entry.

The immigration knows the codes, and they look for them.

I've seen them making a copy of my bank passbook, going through the entries, and underlining them and the dates to see my deposit records (monthly deposits from overseas).

When they were satisfied, they put a checkmark at the top of that record.

That was to show the supervisor who approved the extension that my deposit records passed the inspector's check.

The code would only show up in your Direct Deposit account book (Social Security) and that account is only for receiving money. You make a cash withdrawal from the direct deposit account to your standard savings account so the normal bank book that immigration sees would not have any FTT codes in them.

[robblok]

So an affadavit that is signed an certified from your home embassy cannot be construed as proof? Why do Immigration say this is a requirement?

Some countries like the USA don't check the income. US citizens just say they have the money and the embassy will sign some paper that they have without checking it. I can understand that those are far less credible then those of countries that do check the income.

There will probably be people now replying how I am wrong how its a big crime to do so. But I doubt people have ever been prosecuted for this here in Thailand. It might be that the Thai immigration is wising up about this.

Edited December 9, 2014 by robblok

[thailiketoo]

So an affadavit that is signed an certified from your home embassy cannot be construed as proof? Why do Immigration say this is a requirement?

Some countries like the USA don't check the income. US citizens just say they have the money and the embassy will sign some paper that they have without checking it. I can understand that those are far less credible then those of countries that do check the income.

There will probably be people now replying how I am wrong how its a big crime to do so. But I doubt people have ever been prosecuted for this here in Thailand. It might be that the Thai immigration is wising up about this.

Forgive me for butting in but I don't think you got the point. The OP and the post above are concerning the embassy letter not being enough proof. Not the veracity of the embassy letter whatever embassy may be involved. I think this is a 1 in 100,000 happening but the OP seems to suggest otherwise.

[ubonjoe]

The code would only show up in your Direct Deposit account book (Social Security) and that account is only for receiving money. You make a cash withdrawal from the direct deposit account to your standard savings account so the normal bank book that immigration sees would not have any FTT codes in them.

If you are using proof of income the bank book for direct deposit is what you would show immigration.

There would be no need to show the other book.

I have direct deposit and do not do a cash withdrawal. I transfer it to another account I have. When I walk into the bank I have a withdrawal slip and a deposit slip completed with both bank books.

You do not have to take it out in cash.

[robblok]

So an affadavit that is signed an certified from your home embassy cannot be construed as proof? Why do Immigration say this is a requirement?

Some countries like the USA don't check the income. US citizens just say they have the money and the embassy will sign some paper that they have without checking it. I can understand that those are far less credible then those of countries that do check the income.

There will probably be people now replying how I am wrong how its a big crime to do so. But I doubt people have ever been prosecuted for this here in Thailand. It might be that the Thai immigration is wising up about this.

Forgive me for butting in but I don't think you got the point. The OP and the post above are concerning the embassy letter not being enough proof. Not the veracity of the embassy letter whatever embassy may be involved. I think this is a 1 in 100,000 happening but the OP seems to suggest otherwise.

The embassy letter not being enough proof is because you can swear your santa claus and they stamp it ok at the US embassy without checking. Can't blame the Thais for not accepting that.

But your right this is one of the few times I have ever read about it.

[rizla]

I have tried to get the message across before that a declaration of income is not a guarantee.

The immigration ALWAYS has the right to require further proof at any time IF THEY WISH TO.

Usually they don't, but it is their right to do so when they desire.

Therefore, if you have a pension or other source of income from outside of Thailand, an intelligent person would always have proof of that fact....... just in case that person was asked for proof.

You don't need to show it, but at least have something with you if needed.

A bit presumptuous to say that i am not intelligent.

One cant obtain a letter of notorisation from the UK Embassy unless one has proof of income.

Yes that document was in hand at the immigration office along with the Embassy letter.

[mikosan]

I find the banking security procedures more secure in Thailand than some western countries...sometimes to the point of annoyance...like joint accounts can only get a single ATM card. I have had millions of baht in multiple Thai bank accounts for years and never lost a satang

.

Actually many people have been royally screwed by Thai bank "security" and the bank never took responsibility even when withdrawals where fraudulent made from withing the bank.

I would certainly advise for anyone having trouble with their income declarations to just put a few million in a Thai bank and be done with it.

Small detail, not everybody has millions.

I beg to differ...most screwed themselves...not enabling SMS security services, giving out passwords to friends and girlfriends/boyfriends, using dodgy ATMs, etc.

I'll stand by my 15 years of experience using Thai banks without any problems.

If someone doesn't have a few (or many) millions of baht equivalent to deposit in a local bank what is one doing living overseas?

I agree with your comments on Thai bank security and to date I have had no issues myself. I particularly like the SMS system that often notifies me of a withdrawal before the money actually comes out of the ATM machine. Great system even though my bank has just started charging THB 199 per year for the pleasure. Well worth it I think.

However, I beg to differ with you on the subject of needing a few (or many) millions of baht equivalent otherwise I shouldn't be living overseas. I have no millions, but live here on a monthly pension income, admittedly well in excess of the required amount. So why shouldn't I be living here, or anywhere else overseas, if I can afford it on my monthly income? Living overseas is not exclusive to people with millions in the bank my friend.

[thailiketoo]

The code would only show up in your Direct Deposit account book (Social Security) and that account is only for receiving money. You make a cash withdrawal from the direct deposit account to your standard savings account so the normal bank book that immigration sees would not have any FTT codes in them.

If you are using proof of income the bank book for direct deposit is what you would show immigration.

There would be no need to show the other book.

I have direct deposit and do not do a cash withdrawal. I transfer it to another account I have. When I walk into the bank I have a withdrawal slip and a deposit slip completed with both bank books.

You do not have to take it out in cash.

Why would you need to show a bank book as proof of income if you have an embassy letter as the immigration requirement requests? It is my understand that you would show a savings account book and the embassy letter to make up to 800,000. The most my direct deposit account ever has in it is one month pension.

What I am saying is the OP is talking about a 1 in 100,000 occurrence and immigration almost never asks for any other proof of income besides the embassy letter. I'm wondering why the OP has posted?

[thailiketoo]

The embassy letter not being enough proof is because you can swear your santa claus and they stamp it ok at the US embassy without checking. Can't blame the Thais for not accepting that.

But your right this is one of the few times I have ever read about it.

That was the point, it was the embassy letter not a specific embassy letter. You added the country. USA was never mentioned in the OP.

[ubonjoe]

The code would only show up in your Direct Deposit account book (Social Security) and that account is only for receiving money. You make a cash withdrawal from the direct deposit account to your standard savings account so the normal bank book that immigration sees would not have any FTT codes in them.

If you are using proof of income the bank book for direct deposit is what you would show immigration.

There would be no need to show the other book.

I have direct deposit and do not do a cash withdrawal. I transfer it to another account I have. When I walk into the bank I have a withdrawal slip and a deposit slip completed with both bank books.

You do not have to take it out in cash.

Why would you need to show a bank book as proof of income if you have an embassy letter as the immigration requirement requests? It is my understand that you would show a savings account book and the embassy letter to make up to 800,000. The most my direct deposit account ever has in it is one month pension.

What I am saying is the OP is talking about a 1 in 100,000 occurrence and immigration almost never asks for any other proof of income besides the embassy letter. I'm wondering why the OP has posted?

I did not say I showed it. If you were asked for back up to the income declaration that is what you would show.

If you were using the money in the bank option you could leave the money in the direct deposit account if you wanted to.

Also there is no need to show proof the funds in an account for the 800k baht in the bank option came from abroad.

Did you read all the posts. There have been recent reports of immigration asking for the back up proof of income. The OP lives near Kap Choeng immigration office.

[charliebru]

I did my retirement extension a few months ago at Chiang Mai and consulate income letter was accepted, no problem. I had backup to prove the income but was told I didn't need it.

[JLCrab]

So an affadavit that is signed an certified from your home embassy cannot be construed as proof? Why do Immigration say this is a requirement?

Some countries like the USA don't check the income. US citizens just say they have the money and the embassy will sign some paper that they have without checking it. I can understand that those are far less credible then those of countries that do check the income.

There will probably be people now replying how I am wrong how its a big crime to do so. But I doubt people have ever been prosecuted for this here in Thailand. It might be that the Thai immigration is wising up about this.

Forgive me for butting in but I don't think you got the point. The OP and the post above are concerning the embassy letter not being enough proof. Not the veracity of the embassy letter whatever embassy may be involved. I think this is a 1 in 100,000 happening but the OP seems to suggest otherwise.

The embassy letter not being enough proof is because you can swear your santa claus and they stamp it ok at the US embassy without checking. Can't blame the Thais for not accepting that.

But your right this is one of the few times I have ever read about it.

What the US Embassy Notary Affidavit would say is that Kuhn Robblok appeared before me on this day and swore under penalty of perjury that he is Santa Claus and that "The U. S. Embassy does not guarantee the contents of my own sworn statement."

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/231771/acs/blank_affidavit.pdf

[OMGImInPattaya]

I find the banking security procedures more secure in Thailand than some western countries...sometimes to the point of annoyance...like joint accounts can only get a single ATM card. I have had millions of baht in multiple Thai bank accounts for years and never lost a satang

.

Actually many people have been royally screwed by Thai bank "security" and the bank never took responsibility even when withdrawals where fraudulent made from withing the bank.

I would certainly advise for anyone having trouble with their income declarations to just put a few million in a Thai bank and be done with it.

Small detail, not everybody has millions.

I beg to differ...most screwed themselves...not enabling SMS security services, giving out passwords to friends and girlfriends/boyfriends, using dodgy ATMs, etc.

I'll stand by my 15 years of experience using Thai banks without any problems.

If someone doesn't have a few (or many) millions of baht equivalent to deposit in a local bank what is one doing living overseas?[/

quote]

You would have to be insane to bring all your money to this country. Most wise expats I know keep their cash and assets in their home country. Bring only what you can afford to lose here. This is not a first world country and there are no consumer protections for your finances.

Remind me again which financial system had a systematic meltdown in 2008? Remind which currency has strengthened 20-30 percent against most western currencing the past decade? Which local stock market has quadrupled since 2000?

Let's just say I sleep well at nite.

[robblok]

The embassy letter not being enough proof is because you can swear your santa claus and they stamp it ok at the US embassy without checking. Can't blame the Thais for not accepting that.

But your right this is one of the few times I have ever read about it.

What the US Embassy Notary Affidavit would say is that Kuhn Robblok appeared before me on this day and swore under penalty of perjury that he is Santa Claus and that "The U. S. Embassy does not guarantee the contents of my own sworn statement."

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/231771/acs/blank_affidavit.pdf

Merry Christmas.... hooo hooo hooo

But what I am saying is its open for abuse because its highly unlikely that people will get in trouble if they swear to something they don't have. The Thai immigration would just not accept it I doubt they would make a case and send it to the US embassy.

That severely d evaluates the value of the document, so that is why I can understand if more proof is asked for.

But as i stated before that almost never happens. (asking for more proof)

[Lee4Life]

I find the banking security procedures more secure in Thailand than some western countries...sometimes to the point of annoyance...like joint accounts can only get a single ATM card. I have had millions of baht in multiple Thai bank accounts for years and never lost a satang

.

Actually many people have been royally screwed by Thai bank "security" and the bank never took responsibility even when withdrawals where fraudulent made from withing the bank.

I would certainly advise for anyone having trouble with their income declarations to just put a few million in a Thai bank and be done with it.

Small detail, not everybody has millions.

I beg to differ...most screwed themselves...not enabling SMS security services, giving out passwords to friends and girlfriends/boyfriends, using dodgy ATMs, etc.

I'll stand by my 15 years of experience using Thai banks without any problems.

If someone doesn't have a few (or many) millions of baht equivalent to deposit in a local bank what is one doing living overseas?

Lets see....maybe the answer to that is that they are aid workers, or teachers, or maybe they just feel like living overseas and don't believe that you should have to be rich to do so. The fact is that the law does not require people to have "millions of baht", It stipulates that they can have proof of a decent income...which is what this thread is about.

[JLCrab]

The embassy letter not being enough proof is because you can swear your santa claus and they stamp it ok at the US embassy without checking. Can't blame the Thais for not accepting that.

But your right this is one of the few times I have ever read about it.

What the US Embassy Notary Affidavit would say is that Kuhn Robblok appeared before me on this day and swore under penalty of perjury that he is Santa Claus and that "The U. S. Embassy does not guarantee the contents of my own sworn statement."

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/231771/acs/blank_affidavit.pdf

Merry Christmas.... hooo hooo hooo

But what I am saying is its open for abuse because its highly unlikely that people will get in trouble if they swear to something they don't have. The Thai immigration would just not accept it I doubt they would make a case and send it to the US embassy.

That severely d evaluates the value of the document, so that is why I can understand if more proof is asked for.

But as i stated before that almost never happens. (asking for more proof)

It is US State Department policy anywhere in the world that an embassy/consulate will not verify the authenticity of any document submitted to them even it if has been issued by the US Government itself.

Edited December 9, 2014 by JLCrab

[OMGImInPattaya]

I find the banking security procedures more secure in Thailand than some western countries...sometimes to the point of annoyance...like joint accounts can only get a single ATM card. I have had millions of baht in multiple Thai bank accounts for years and never lost a satang

.

Actually many people have been royally screwed by Thai bank "security" and the bank never took responsibility even when withdrawals where fraudulent made from withing the bank.

I would certainly advise for anyone having trouble with their income declarations to just put a few million in a Thai bank and be done with it.

Small detail, not everybody has millions.

I beg to differ...most screwed themselves...not enabling SMS security services, giving out passwords to friends and girlfriends/boyfriends, using dodgy ATMs, etc.

I'll stand by my 15 years of experience using Thai banks without any problems.

If someone doesn't have a few (or many) millions of baht equivalent to deposit in a local bank what is one doing living overseas?

Lets see....maybe the answer to that is that they are aid workers, or teachers, or maybe they just feel like living overseas and don't believe that you should have to be rich to do so. The fact is that the law does not require people to have "millions of baht", It stipulates that they can have proof of a decent income...which is what this thread is about.

It wasn't clear in y post, but the op is discussing the "retirement" visa process so my opinions are in reference to retirees.

[OMGImInPattaya]

The embassy letter not being enough proof is because you can swear your santa claus and they stamp it ok at the US embassy without checking. Can't blame the Thais for not accepting that.

But your right this is one of the few times I have ever read about it.

What the US Embassy Notary Affidavit would say is that Kuhn Robblok appeared before me on this day and swore under penalty of perjury that he is Santa Claus and that "The U. S. Embassy does not guarantee the contents of my own sworn statement."

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/231771/acs/blank_affidavit.pdf

Merry Christmas.... hooo hooo hooo

But what I am saying is its open for abuse because its highly unlikely that people will get in trouble if they swear to something they don't have. The Thai immigration would just not accept it I doubt they would make a case and send it to the US embassy.

That severely d evaluates the value of the document, so that is why I can understand if more proof is asked for.

But as i stated before that almost never happens. (asking for more proof)

It is US State Department policy anywhere in the world that an embassy/consulate will not verify the authenticity of any document submitted to them even it if has been issued by the US Government itself.

And how could they in this day of computers, the internet, and cheap printer/scanners.