Hi everyone, what is the difference between authentication, legalizing, and notarizing when it comes to US Diplomas and transcripts for a non B visa to teach?

My plan is to have my Bachelor's degree and transcripts legalized at the US consulate here in Hong Kong, and then authenticated/legalized at the Thai consulate after. Is this correct, or do I need to notarize also?

Many thanks!

Posted at the Hong Kong consulate website

I know there's a lot of posts re Thai visas in Hong Kong, especially re their website stating you must have a HK resident ID.

I spoke to and emailed the consulate there and just wanted to share with you their replies in the hope it may help you. I don't have any other info or answers other than what you see here.

(FYI: I'm British and was seeking advice on Non Imm O 90 day single entry visa based on marriage)

To HK consulate:

I have 2 questions:

1) do you issue the Non Immigrant type O multiple entry visa (based on marriage to a Thai spouse)? Only single entry

2) for the visa requirement your website lists "A copy of Hong Kong/Macau ID card". I'm a UK citizen and not a HK resident. I will have my British passport to confirm my ID so will this be ok for the application? Passport original with a copy of main pages of a passport including the last Hong Kong's landing slip

I also followed up and probed more and got this response today:

Dear Jason,

For normal procedure, documentation required when applying for a Non-immigrate visa Category “O” as below:

- Passport original with a copy of main pages of a passport including the last arrival Hong Kong's landing slip

- A valid at least 6 months passport with a clear page for a visa sticker

- One application forms must be completely filled out in English

-One recent photo, 1.5x2 inches in size, with clear face taken within 6 months. The photograph should have a plain white background.

- A copy of Certificate of Marriage

- A copy of a spouse's Thai I. D.

- A copy of spouse's Thai House Registration

- A copy of main pages of a spouse's passport

- The visa fee is HK$ 600 in cash

-Two working days for visa process

Notes:

1. The Royal Thai Consulate-General reserves the rights to request for additional documents or to have an interview in person.

2. Applicants must remain in Hong Kong during the processing time.

3. The processing time is two working days. If you submit between 9:30am to 12: 30pm, the visa is expected to be issued on the next working day 9:30am to 12: 30pm provided there is no additional document request or unexpected delay from the Royal Thai Consulate-General.

Should there be any further enquiry, please feel free to contact us

UPDATE - Report on experience: 'Guardian' Visa in Hong Kong. Thanks to this group for great advice back in July when my husband and I were turned away from Hanoi with our 2nd year ED visa application. We decided to go for Non-Imm O 'Guardian' visas instead, since our two kids have established Ed visas, enrolled in International School. I'm posting in case other parents are looking for info. HK Consulate don't have requirements for this visa listed on website, so I emailed them and heard back in a matter of hours. Here's what they asked for:

- A copy of Hong Kong resident I.D. card. (If applicable)

- Passport original with a copy of main pages of a passport including the Hong Kong's landing slip [you have to got to a nearby copy place and get this copied on the way to the Consulate after you land)

- A valid at least 6 months passport with a clear page for a visa sticker

- One application forms must be completely filled out in English

- One recent photo, 1.5x2 inches in size, with clear face taken within 6 months. The photograph should have a plain white background.

- A copy of Certificate of Marriage

- A copy of your children's Birth Certificate

- A copy of main pages of your children's passport

- An original letter of guarantee from the school with authorized signature and School Seal Stamp with details about the purpose of the visit to Thailand and a copy of I.D. card of the authorized signatory is also required

- A copy of school’s Registration issued by the Education Department

- HK$ 600 (Single entry) for the visa fee in cash.

I followed up to ask about proof of funds, they said they don't usually require them, but I could bring anyway! In the end they didn't want to see proof of funds nor did they want to see original copies of Legalised Birth/Marriage Certificates, though I had all that with me. We ordered the legalised certificates from the UK because we will need them for the extension anyway. NOTE: I did check that it was okay for me to apply alone - without the daughter I was asking to be Guardian of, and without my husband (he will apply to be Guardian of our son on a separate trip as we did not want to travel together after being questioned at the border trying to get back from Hanoi - it was not pleasant having left our kids in-country and being threatened with refused entry!)

It was very quick at the HK Consulate - 10 mins total at drop off (9.30am-12.30pm), 5 mins at pick up - the next day 9.30am-12.30pm), i.e. able to keep the trip short compared to other Consulates in region. They asked a few questions but nothing difficult and I had a good experience - would recommend it for this kind of visa application. Hope that's helpful to someone.

Hello,

Here is my experience applying for my second SETV at the consulate in Hong Kong.

- Application: was in and out in 20 minutes

- Consulate staff were friendly and helpful

- I wasn't asked for proof of anything; they were not interested in my bank statement or my flight out, just my passport, a passport photo and the 300 HKD fee.

- I collected my passport the next morning, in and out in 10 minutes.

Immigration at BKK was equally quick and painless.

Overall, a very pleasant experience.

Is there a least-amount-of-hassle consulate near Thailand to apply for Non-B work visa? Perhaps Singapore, HK, Bali, Penang, or HCMC? Thanks for any advice.

For members information.. SETV from Hong Kong consulate

I am an Australian (retired) and just collected the SETV.

Documents provided...completed application, signed copy of passport page, signed copy of arrival card/entry slip into HK (all in blue pen..read that somewhere) and passport photo.

All was in order EXCEPT, the photo was rejected as it had a grey-white background instead of white. I was directed down to the Admiralty MTR where there is a photo booth. Returned to the consulate, 30 mins later and the application was then accepted. No questions at all were asked..this on the back of METV and three back to back visa exempts. I return to BKK on Monday and will have the three proofs at the ready.

Some info that might help others considering Hong Kong for a visa run:

The consulate in Hong Kong refused my (and my husband's) 60 day TV application based on "staying too long in Thailand". My visa history is: one 60day SETV, one 6month METV before that (with 3months out of Thailand between those), and one 6month METV from 2 years ago.

I had all documents including proof of exit flight and bank statement showing more than enough funds. The woman at the counter was immediately confrontational about why we were in Thailand and why we were going back even before seeing our passports.

Tyson Kuresa, asked in another thread

Which consulates don't require proof of funds on a 60 day tourist visa?

If I get a one year multiple entry NON-IMM-O (Thai child) Visa in Hong Kong what's the deal? Will I even get it or just the 90 day version? IF I remember it right with the one year option you have to leave at least every 90 days and you don't need to show those 400,000 thb, is that correct? I have to travel a lot this coming year, so leaving the country wouldn't be an issue. Thoughts? Recommendations?