Unanswered6 years ago

Can my spouse apply for an ED visa if we enter Thailand on a Non-O visa?

Non-O Visa ED Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Extension International School Chiang Mai Family Visa

Klara ******

asked Aug 21, 2020

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We are currently outside Thailand but our son is enrolled in an international school in Chiang Mai.  Our consulate has informed us that they are willing to grant both parents and our younger son non-O visas and COE so we can accompany our eldest to come back for school.  One of us will be able apply for a 1yr extension as the guardian of our son who is in school.  Originally we were planning to have to other parent get an ED visa for studying at a language school, my question is will we have any problems extending to ED for 1yr if we are entering on a non-O visa?

Summary so far

The parents of a child enrolled in an international school in Chiang Mai are trying to understand the visa options available after entering Thailand on a Non-O visa. One parent can obtain a 1-year extension as the child's guardian; however, there are concerns about whether the other parent can subsequently switch to an ED visa for language studies. Comments suggest that an extension based on education from a Non-O visa will not be possible, and caution is advised as visa policies may affect family situations, especially with limits on parental guardianship.

8 repliesnewest first

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Stuart **********

You should be careful with this we have just lost both families that live next door to us due to the situation with only 1 guardian visa being allowed per child. They couldn't find a way to get the other parent back in so have had to leave

6 years ago

Tod *********

I suggest you join one of the "foreigners stranded abroad during the thai lockdowm" to become familiar with the process of requesting permission to enter thailand at this time .

6 years ago

Tod *********

You will NOT be able to get any extension based on education off the Non-O visa you're coming in on.

6 years ago

Klara ******

I assume it is still not possible to change visa types from inside the country even with the current situation with the borders. If we do come in on the Non-O are there other options to get an extension? Would volunteering work?

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Klara *****

why not enroll in a school BEFORE you come here and have them send the documents so you can get a 90 day ED visa from the thai consulate in your country prior to getting approved to enter the country?

6 years ago

Klara ******

@Tod ********

Thanks

@Tod ********

, we had a friend go and ask immigration, seems like there is a possibility that they may allow the change because of the current amnesty situation, but it's not officially part of their policy even now and could change at anytime. We did also confirm that changing to volunteering long term is an option, so will be looking into that as a back up. Thanks again for the clarification and advice.

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Klara *****

you MIGHT (as in possibly) both get Non-O visas based on raising a foreign child in thailand who is in school on an ED visa, enter the country and then one parent apply for the "guardian" extension (taking care of the child) by showing 500K baht in a thai bank account in their name only for 30 days before you apply for the year extension AND THEN the spouse of that person applies for a "trailing spouse" extension based on being married to a foreigner who has a long term extension. I don't know if it'd work, and it'll take getting here, getting thru quarantine, going to the immigration office where you live and seeing if that would fly or not. One parent will definitely have to meet the financial requirement of the guardian extension and the other would "piggy back" on it using the "trailing spouse" reason.

As I said I don't know if it'd work or not..

6 years ago

Klara ******

@Tod ********

We are actually already enrolled in a school and were planning to get the 90 day ED to come in but when we asked our consulate they said that ED visas for language schools are not eligible to apply for COE right now. They also said that because our son's ED visa is eligible they can grant us both non-O visas so we can apply for the COE and be approved to enter.

6 years ago