What are the best steps for applying for an ED and guardian visa in Thailand with short initial stays?

Thailand Visa ED Visa Guardian Visa Visa Exemption Family Visa International Schools Thai Bank Account Visa Application Process Visa Extensions

May 22, 2022

2 years ago

Nick *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello there,

I have read as much as possible in order to avoid asking duplicate questions, but seems every case is somewhat different.

My family (wife + 2 kids, all German) will relocate to Thailand this year (currently living in HK). We will arrive 21/6, but leave again for Germany two weeks later (4/7) and arrive for good 11/8. The kids have already been enrolled to (two different) international schools.

Our plan was to apply for ED visa and corresponding guardian visa.

1. As our initial stay is only two weeks, (21/6-4/7), it won’t be enough time to apply for an extension (probably impossible anyway bc money has to be in a bank account for 1 month). Hence, there is no point to apply for visa in HK but rather enter initially on visa exemption and then apply for the proper visa from Germany. Does this make sense ?

2. I have read posts here on the forum about entering TH on visa exempt stamps and then convert/apply for ED and guardian *in-country*. On the other hand, it states everywhere that ED/guardian visa have to be applied for while not in Thailand. Seems I am missing some crucial details. Is it at all possible to apply while in Thailand ?

3. Before learning about the single entry restriction, we already requested the schools to send us confirmation letters for the HK Thai consulate. One of them required the Ministry of Education to issue/stamp the letter (=2 weeks roundtrip, sending by courier), the other school sent us an online document straight away (without MoE blessing). Which one is correct ?

4. Is it possible to open a Thai bank account from overseas to frontload any “funds seasoning” requirements in case of visa extensions ? If not, is it possible to do on a visa-exempt stamp ? What are the minimum requirements ?

Thanks a lot, much appreciated !

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An expat family plans to move to Thailand but faces unique visa challenges with short initial stays and school enrollments. They seek clarification on applying for ED and guardian visas while entering on a visa exemption, the documentation required from schools, and the possibility of opening a Thai bank account from overseas for visa requirements.

Ellie *******

1: Either possible to enter on visa-exempt in June and then enter on Non-ED/Os in August,

OR enter on Non-ED/Os in June, get re-entry permits and re-enter on the same stamp in August.

Non-ED/Os give you 90days stay starting on the day of entering Thailand, you have enough time to apply for extensions after you come back in August. But for that, your funds may not meet the requirements of the seasoning period.

Be aware, that you need to get new documents from the schools to apply them in Germany, some documents are addressed to a specific Embassy/Consulate.

2. It does depend on the type of schools your kids are enrolled in. With national/government real schools, it wouldn't that difficult. But with private schools such as language schools, it might be difficult.

3. You should talk with the schools if you have any doubts.

4. Opening a bank account is out of the scope of this group. But you cannot open a bank account inside Thailand from abroad.

You may be able to open on visa-exempt, but you have to keep trying for a while

2 years ago

Peter ****************

And, should you need an extension, seasoning of the money for extension is TWO months

@Nick ******

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Peter ***************

@Nick ******

the seaoning for the funds for guardian visa (taking care of a foreign child enrolled in a school here) is 500K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 30 days for the first yearly extension AND then for 3 months for every yearly extension after that.

2 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Nick *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ellie ******

what would be the requirements to get a re-entry permit during the short stay ? I assume, it would apply to all our Non-ED/O visa.

re new documents: Yes, that was one of the reasons for this post as the wheels are already in motion to get specific docs for the HK Thai consulate (rather than Germany).

If I understand correctly, the seasoning period for the first extension is one month. How long does it take to get the extension processed ?

2 years ago

Nick *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you so much, very helpful ! Will the guardian visa be extended to 1 year, same as the education one for the kids ?

2 years ago

Ellie *******

@Nick ******

yes

2 years ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

@Nick ******

, A re-entry permit doesn't have many requirements. You need a valid entry stamp or extension.

What you need to know, a re-entry permit wouldn't give you extra days. For example, if you enter June on Non-O, you will get the stamp until September. And once you get a re-entry permit, it will be valid until September, the same date as your current stamp. When you enter Thailand on that re-entry permit, let's say at the end of August, you will be stamped until September, the same date on your stamp from entry in June.

General information about the re-entry permit is here.

2 years ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

Robert *******

I would advice, enter for the 2 weeks using the Visa Exempt Entry, talk to the schools and Immigration to see what is needed to get you the visa by conversion of Visa Exempt Entry if possible,

Then visit Germany, come back with new Visa Exempt Entry and do the conversions

OR

If not possible to conversions, entry for the 2 weeks using the Visa Exempt Entry, talk to the school, get all documents needed and apply in Germany for the correct visa's for all of you.

2 years ago

Nick *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert ******

So it seems that the principle to apply out of country for Non-ED/O visa is not a "hard and fast" rule ?

2 years ago

Robert *******

@Nick ******

Indeed no "hard and fast" rule, but people are not always capable to convert their Visa Exempt Entry or Tourist Visa into a Non Immigrant Visa. Sometimes Immigration has more requirements that an Embassy or the local office does not have the credentials to perform conversions.

2 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

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