Answered5 years ago

Can my husband switch from a 15-day visa on arrival to a tourist visa in Thailand?

Thai Visa Rules Visa on Arrival Tourist Visa Visa Extension Immigration Living in Thailand

Morgan ************

asked Nov 20, 2021

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Hi everyone, my family and I are planning on moving to Chiang Rai soon. My husband has a Chinese passport and now that we are vaccinated and don't have to quarantine he would like to do a 15 day visa on arrival. Does anyone know if he will be able to switch to a tourist visa right away without having to leave the country? 

Thank you for your help!

Answer summary

A user inquiring about their husband's ability to switch from a 15-day visa on arrival to a tourist visa while in Thailand received multiple responses clarifying that a 15-day visa on arrival cannot be converted to another visa or extended. He must secure a tourist visa before traveling to Thailand. Additionally, there is a possibility to obtain a dependent visa once they are in Thailand, assuming the husband enters on a 60-day tourist visa.

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Morgan ************

Thank you so much for your help!

5 years ago

Morgan ************

Okay, thank you all so much for this information. He can't get any visa ahead of time from the US (where we are coming from) without a green card, which he doesn't have yet, so I'm looking for other options. We're trying to avoid him going to China as we have small children and don't want to get separated b/c of quarantine requirements.

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Morgan ***********

Long shot, but clearly he's in the USA on some type of visa. Did you ask the Thai Consulate if they can make an exception?

Also, what's the reason for coming to Thailand?

5 years ago

Morgan ************

Thanks, the Consulate was clear that on my husband's B2 visitor visa he's not eligible for any Thai visa, but it doesn't hurt to ask again for an exception- thanks, I'll do that. Once we are in Thailand I'll plan on getting an education visa through a language school and then a volunteer visa through a foundation doing social work. My husband isn't sure what he'll do long term but maybe something with ecotourism design. Our 3 kids will go to international school (1st one starting in fall 2022). My husband will look into if he can mail his passport to China and get a Thai tourist visa mailed back. If that is do-able, do you know if once we are in Thailand on tourist visas can he with a Chinese passport switch to a dependent on my ED visa (when I switch) without having to leave the country?

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Morgan ***********

Sadly, for people holding Chinese passports, he will need a tourist visa before entering Thailand, OR get a 15 day Visa on Arrival (which he can not extend). Visa on Arrivals are an "over and done", where there is no other option to extend.

> once we're in Thailand with a tourist visa can he switch to a dependent on my education visa once I have it?

Assuming he does enter with a 60 day tourist visa, it should be possible to get a in-country Non-O visa based on being a trailing spouse off your ED visa - talk to your school first.

Regarding the Green Card, if you have more questions about it, ask at F4USA (F4 is a classification of American visas, but they answer other American visa related questions)

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. That visa advice group would help you further.

5 years ago

Morgan ************

He did apply for a green card, but the interview didn't seem to go very well and we are still waiting for the officer's decision. Honestly we applied for it solely because the kids and I couldn't get to China and he couldn't get to Thailand. Even if he gets approved we still plan to relinquish it at some point as we do not plan to return to the US for 6 months a year. So, while we are waiting for a response I'm trying to find out if he doesn't get approved (or actually even if he does) once we're in Thailand with a tourist visa can he switch to a dependent on my education visa once I have it?

5 years ago

James ********

@Morgan ***********

does he have permission to leave the USA ? You say he is does not yet have his Green Card for the USA...will he void his chances of getting it if he leaves the USA for what appears to be an extended time period ?

5 years ago

Tod *********

He needs to BUY a tourist visa from the country he's in BEFORE you come here or he's gonna show up here, buy a 15 day visa on arrival and after that all he could get would be a 7 day extension denied stamp that gives him a week to leave

5 years ago

Wannikea *********

Nor can you get a tourist visa inside Thailand.

5 years ago

Lloyd ********

You can not change a visa on arrival into anything else

5 years ago

Lloyd ********

The VISA ON ARRIVAL allows passport holders of 19* countries to enter Thailand under this rule provided that they meet these requirements: ... You must have a confirmed return ticket to show that they are flying out of Thailand within 15 days of entry, as appropriate. Open tickets do not qualify.

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

Foreigners who arrive on a 15 day visa on arrival CAN NOT get any normal extensions. There is a very slim chance he may be able to get a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19, but I expect a verbal rejection from the immigration office.

There is a risk that he can apply for an extension of stay, it will be rejected, and he will get a 7 day extension of stay denied stamp.

5 years ago