What steps should I follow to legalize documents for a Non-immigrant O-A visa application in Spain?

Dec 14, 2018
6 years ago
Kevin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I know most of the advise and situations on this site are in reference to persons who are in Thailand already. However, I still will ask. My wife and I are US Citizens and residence of Spain. We are applying for Non-immigrant A-O Visa's as residents of Spain at the Embassy in Madrid. I keep going back and forth with the Embassy personal about having my documents notarized or as they put it

"You need to legalized all documents, for example, NIE, police clearance certificate, Bank Statement, Health Certificate. Once you ´ve got the stamp from notary, you need to do 2 copies /each document."

I am not sure how a notary will Legalize a signed medical certificate from the Doctor and more importantly how they would "legalize" my bank statements when my own bank won't do it.

Has anyone ever had experience with this in Spain or a similar experience.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A US citizen residing in Spain is seeking guidance on obtaining a Non-immigrant O-A visa for Thailand at the Embassy in Madrid. Confusion surrounds the requirement for document legalization by a notary, specifically for medical certificates, bank statements, and police clearance. The original poster questions how to have these documents legalized, especially when their bank will not provide notarization. Community responses suggest that notarization involves stamping copies of originals rather than legalizing originals directly. Additional comments discuss related visa processes, the necessary documentation, and variations in requirements across embassies.
Richard *********
Ifu get a tourist visa, its no problem as than u just go to Laos,Cambodia,Malaysia, Burma to get ur single non O visa< thna extend in country>

You all are making it much harder thna it is.
Richard *********
yea but you need a police clearance and a medical certificate for an O-A visa

whatever floats ur boat :-)
Tod *********
they are NOT making it much harder than it is, they are in fact doing the easiest thing available to them and that is to get year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visas from a consulate where they live BEFORE they wing their way here.

Doing that means they don't muck around with any consulate in the area OR the immigration office (other than 90 day reporting) for almost TWO years.

Hands down it's the best visa choice they can make.
Xavier *****
I got my first "retirement" visa at the thai embassy in Madrid. What they are asking is to legalize a photocopy of the original documents by a notary, not the original documents. So, what the notary will do is to compare the original documents with the copies and then stamp the copies.
Kevin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Xavier ****
Yes that is how I read the requirements also, perhaps that person I’m emailing at the Embassy is confusing the issue thanks
Al *******
A notary, at least in the US version, is someone who has the legal authority to verify the person signing the document is, to the best of the notary’s ability, that person. For that reason you cannot go to a lawyer or anyone else after the fact and ask them to notarize a signature. Also, a bank or other entity cannot use their notary to notarize their signature - they would essentially be notarizing their own signature.
Kevin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
We wanted to keep our options open as far as how long we would stay but the 60 day tourist Visa seems to be simpler and perhaps a 30 days extension. I will get notarized what I can and go to the Embassy next week, if not the Non o visa at least the tourist visa, thanks for the advise
Bob ********
Take original documents and I'd to a lawyer he will notarise documents
Richard *********
are u applying for a non o cause of ur going to retire in Thailand ( over 50)? If so just apply for a single entry Non O visa ( valid for 90 days) and once in Thailand get a 1 year extension..

no Medical, no police clearance,no bank books needed
Bob ********
@Richard *******
Canadian embassy doesn't notarise, I get them done at a lawyer and send notarized statements to embassy and they send a letter, I submit with paperwork
Richard ********
Bob Duggan You won't be able to use embassy letter when you renew next year. You will need either 800,000 THB in an account or pay 25,000 for an "agent" although that route will probably be closed down next.
Richard ********
@Richard ********
UK doesn't notarize anything and they just repeated the amount I told them and Phuket Immigration accepted it. Moot now though.
Bob ********
@Richard ********
I did not mention mine is from Canadian consulate
Richard *********
@Richard *******
only4embassies>>The verification letter from U S ONLY notarized that it was ur signature, NOT the amount u puton the letter and they wont verify the amount u claim SO Now immigration wont take them>

If u get one before Jan 1st its good for 6 months

IN Phuket they already ask for back up Proof with the letter
Bob ********
@Richard *******
I just got my letter today, hope no problems when I renew
Richard ********
@Bob *******
It's any income not just pension and it's all embassies now as they are unable to do what Immigration wants them to do which is to actually verify your income rather than just regurgitate what you tell them on their letter head which is what has been acceptable up to now.
Richard ********
@Richard ********
Your reference to no bank book came after your reference to the extension hence the assumption that was what you were referring to.
Richard *********
@Richard *******
ONLY when u do ur EXTENSION> Not for a single entry non O visa

I live in Thailand have been for over 30 years
Bob ********
@Richard *******
American and I think British are having issues with letter of pension income
Richard ********
@Richard ********
So you DO need a bank book.
Richard *********
GET a SINGLE entry non o> VISA nothing needed except being over 50> Valid for 90days

When u go to get EXTENSION in Thailand,u need show 800,000 in thai bank for 2 months

been this way forever.
Robert *******
@Bob *******
Only when they arrive in Thailand within the next week and have an appointment at the American Embassy, otherwise no more income statements of their Embassy.
Bob ********
@Robert ******
you can use retirement income, no bank book needed
Robert *******
Well this is surprising. NO BANK books needed, and one of the requirements of the Extension of Stay is minimum 800.000 Thb in a Thai bank for 2 months prior the application date. Love to know how you manage to do this without a bank book?
Robert *******
I used my translation of the Thai Embassy in Madrid to get this outcome: Visa No - I n migrant and "OR - TO" This type of visa do may be granted to applicants who are 50 years of age or older and wish to stay in Thailand for a period of less than 1 year and do not intend to to work. Holders of this type of visa can stay in Thailand for 1 year. Is t erminantemente prohibited any type of employment. REQUIREMENTS  The applicant must be 50 years of age or older (as of the filing date of the request).  Not to have the entrance to the Kingdom prohibited according to the Immigration Law of 1979 (Immigration Act B.E. 2522) .  No criminal record in Thailand or in the country of origin or residence.  Be a citizen or resident of the country in which you are presenting application.  Not having any of the forbidden diseases (such as Leprosy, tuberculosis drug addiction, elephantiasis, syphilis, third stage) as indicated in the Disposition Ministerial No. 14 of the year 2535 E.B. DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED  Passport original and two copies with a validity of not less than 18 months.  3 Forms visa application do duly c Completed and signed .  3 passport size photos in photographic paper , front without sunglasses and with the uncovered head (taken at most 6 m eses before).  3 Form s of d atos p ersonal "OR - A "duly completed I not read that all documents need to be legalized. But it is just a translation, your Spanish should be much better than mine
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Kevin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
They said no, I can have statement by me notarized but they can't notarize the Signature's of the Doctor, the bank, the police report, There has to be something that I am not understanding about the requirement and/or about the use of the word "legalized". Five emails back and forth and they simple say the same thing" All documents mis be legalized by a notary.
Robert *******
Did you ask your Embassy if it is possible to legalize your US documents to use in Spain?
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