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Can I leave Thailand temporarily and return to apply for a 12-month family visa while waiting for custody papers?

Non-O Visa Thai Family Visa Immigration Visa Extension Custody Papers Expat Visa Rules

Sep 7, 2023

3 years ago

Jannik ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi,

i arrived on a 3 Month Non Immigration Visa based on having two Thai Kids. The plan was to extend this visa to the 12 month non immi Family visa. To get the visa we needed to share the custody for the kids in thai law, this process needed longer than expected and isn´t finish yet. My Visa got extended in the Immigration already for 60 days. But the time could still be not enough so I maybe have to leave Thailand in October. Is it possible to leave for a few days, come back with the 30 days entry stamp and change from this stamp to the 12 Months Family Visa? All requirements and documents are met just the shared custody paper is missing but will coming soon. 

Thanks

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is currently on a 3-month Non-Immigration Visa due to having Thai children and aims to extend to a 12-month family visa. With missing custody papers, they inquire about leaving Thailand and returning to apply for the visa. Responses highlight the need to switch to a Non-O visa after exiting, and suggest applying for a Non-O visa at a Thai consulate in neighboring Laos for efficiency, rather than re-entering Thailand on a visa exemption.

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Tod *********

Another option that you have

@Jannik *****

is

Rather than bounce out and back to get a 30 day free entry and then apply for the Non-O inside the country why not just go to the thai consulate in Vientiane or Savannakhet Lao and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on being the parent of a thai child.

You can get that for 2000baht with just your name on the birth certificate, and copies of the thai mother's i/d & house book listing..

That way you when you come back you'll get a 90 day entry stamp and can go for the year extension from that once you get the parental rights decree sorted out

That would cut a few steps out of the process and as you said you have to exit/re-enter anyway (y)

Just a thought

3 years ago

Tod *********

There is no 12 month family visa. You are talking about going from the 90 day Non-O visa to a year extension of stay based on supporting thai children.

You should be able to bounce out and back entering on a free 30 day entry.

Then apply first for the 90 day Non-O visa for 2000baht and 2 months after that apply for the year extension for 1900baht

You have to start all over from zero when you bounce out and back because you need a Non-O visa to get the year extension and you lose that Non-O you're on when you stamp out/back in on the free entry

3 years ago

Jannik ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thanks

3 years ago

Reply to

Jannik ******

Lloyd ********

You would need to re-enter with a visa exempt, then with more than 15 days remaining apply for a new Non-O at immigration, and then apply for the 1 year extension

3 years ago

Reply to

Lloyd ********

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What options do I have for renewing my Non-O visa for my Thai children while traveling?

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