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Is it easier to apply for guardian and education visas from Hong Kong or Vietnam?
Guardian VisaEducation VisaVisa ReapplicationThailand ImmigrationNon-O VisaSingle Entry VisaTravel to VietnamTravel to Hong Kong
Mar 30, 2025
a year ago
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERHi everyone! Guardian and Education visas 🙏 We need to reapply for our visas (we already have all paperwork needed, including our children’s school forms). Wondering if anyone could advise whether travelling to HK or Vietnam might be easier to apply from there? Just trying to work out flights and how long should we plan for as I read it can take 5-10 days. Thank you so much!
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user seeks advice on reapplying for Education and Guardian visas for their family after facing issues due to their single-entry visa status. They inquire whether traveling to Hong Kong or Vietnam would facilitate the reapplication process, considering the timeframe of 5-10 days for processing. Comments provide additional insights on the school's recommendations, experiences with processing times in Hanoi, and questions regarding their current visas.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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Luna ********
What has the school recommended?
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luna *******
the school has been amazing, they have explained the options but cannot provide legal advice. We also ask at immigration in One BKK, so either change visa within country but lengthy and in two stages or we all apply from abroad.Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you
Luna ********
@Winsy ***************
Tod Daniels is super knowledgeable when it comes to visas in ThailandLuna ********
@Winsy ***************
are you based in Bangkok?Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luna *******
Hi, yes BangkokReply to
Winsy ****************
Reply
Tod *********
@Winsy ***************
Immigrations at One Bangkok doesn't do ED visas or Non-O visas based on parents of foreign child going to schoolYou needed to be talking to the people at the MAIN immigration office out at Chaengwattana in section C-1 <- where they issue in country visas
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Nga **************
Took us 5 days in Ha Noi.
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nga *************
thank you so much 🙏Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nga *************
Thank you so much 🤩 May I ask if in the website when you apply, do they ask for proof of current location? Would flights or hotel accommodation suffice?Ellie *******
@Winsy ***************
, you need to upload entry stamp (and visa) on your passport as proof you are in the country along with your hotel info.Reply to
Ellie *******
Reply
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERHi, thank you.
2 children studying and 2 parents. We arrived January in Thailand with our education and guardian visas. Unfortunately, we didn’t realise about the single-entry, we left for a short holiday to see my mum, and when we came back they told us at the border that we needed to come in just as visiting (we got a 60 day stamp). At the border they advised us to reapply again for our non-o students and guardian visas 😔 as our ones were now nulled.
2 children studying and 2 parents. We arrived January in Thailand with our education and guardian visas. Unfortunately, we didn’t realise about the single-entry, we left for a short holiday to see my mum, and when we came back they told us at the border that we needed to come in just as visiting (we got a 60 day stamp). At the border they advised us to reapply again for our non-o students and guardian visas 😔 as our ones were now nulled.
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERWinsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERYes 😭😭😭
Tod *********
OUCH, so you showed up IN January with 90 day single entry Non-O visas and Non-ED visas that you'd bought before you came here
BUT
then you traveled before you got an extension (during that 90 day stamp you got when you entered) without a re-entry permit and cancelled those stamps when you left the country 😮
BUT
then you traveled before you got an extension (during that 90 day stamp you got when you entered) without a re-entry permit and cancelled those stamps when you left the country 😮
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
James ********
How many children are students?
Both parents are living in Thailand?
What Thai Visas do you now have as parents?
What Thai Visa does the children now have?
Both parents are living in Thailand?
What Thai Visas do you now have as parents?
What Thai Visa does the children now have?
Tod *********
why are you not applying IN country at the immigration office where you live for the child's initial 90 day Non-ED visa?
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
they said we would need to apply for our children first as a change of visa (we are in thailand already), wait and then apply for ours. However, they said we might run out time for us adults to get all sorted. They suggested it would be easier if we all left, apply from abroad and come back with the right visas.Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
thank you so much, makes sense. At the border though, do they allow you to travel out and back into the country many times in a year? This would be the 3rd time we come in this year. Worried if my husband and I fly out then come back but they say we cannot have another 60 day stamp?Tod *********
@Winsy ***************
you'd have to use a service that would take you to the border get you out and back the same day. I wouldn't fly because you have an extended entry/stay history here, you came in 90 day Non-imm, you lost that flying out w/out a re-entry, you came back in 60 day entry, you'll take a 30 day extension then you will need to bounce again,
That is a recipe for disaster flying back in and you're asking to be denied entry
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
Thank you so much for all your help. I’m so sorry but where can I find those services? Or you mean just out by land somewhere neighbouring for a day trip then back. I’m reading the requirements and we need at least 15 days left in the stamp to do the change of visa so that’s too tight so we would definitely need to go out.
Do you know if you need to book an appointment at the Immigration centre if is only information for the i of visa? I can see there are no appointments until Friday
Tod *********
Check your message requests, I sent you a message
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER😭
Tod *********
@Winsy ***************
if you don't live IN Hong Kong or have a passport from there I think that is NOT the consulate to apply thru.Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
I’ll try going to the immigration office in Thailand again, see if they can give more information as our stamp will run out before our children can apply for the year extension. Thank youTod *********
@Winsy ***************
then you'd have to bounce out/back and get a new 60 day free entry stampReply to
Tod *********
Reply
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERI emailed the embassy in HK twice but they just reply with a link to the requirements which I already know.
I applied from UK online in December though and I was able to apply for everyone.
I applied from UK online in December though and I was able to apply for everyone.
Winsy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTEROh, I did this at UK though. I applied for everyone and all visas came through at the same time
Tod *********
@Winsy ***************
well it might work then. Go to Vietnam and tryReply to
Tod *********
Reply
Tod *********
@Winsy ***************
you aren't going to all be able to get the visas at the same time at ANY consulate I know of, you have to get the initial 90 day Non-ED visa, bring the child back in, get them the YEAR extension then you can apply for your 90 day Non-O visa (either inside or outside the country)Nga **************
@Tod ********
I got my kid's ED and my O visas at the same time in Ha Noi.Tod *********
@Nga *************
and that was since they went to the online eVisa website? Just checking because you need to SHOW your child has an ED visa for you to get the Non-O based on raising a foreign child enrolled in school on an ED visaNga **************
@Tod ********
good point. We did right before the evisa system. Op can email the embassy and ask.Reply to
Nga **************
Reply
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