What are the best visa options for elderly parents moving to Thailand with a resident child?

Question

I am living here in Thailand on my third extension of stay based on retirement, good until Feb. 24, 2023, which I purchased one reentry stamp at that time. I came here on an O-A visa. Next year I will apply for an extension of stay based on married to a Thai National (married on Mar. 16, 2022). I understand what I need to do. In the meantime it looks like my parents will need to come and live out the rest of their life with us here in Thailand. This year my mom will turn 87 and my dad will be 92 years old. I will fly back to the states sometime this year, help them settle their affairs and then we will all fly back to Thailand. My wife and I own our 3B/3B home in Mae Rim, and have plenty of room for them. I have been following your posts for sometime and it seems like, but maybe not, as even after all this time it still feels a bit confusing, that the best option is for them to get a 60 tourist visa, a 30 extension of stay, while they apply for an extension of stay based on retirement once they arrive. Or is there a better option?

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user currently holds an O-A visa in Thailand, planning to switch to a marriage extension next year. They seek advice for their elderly parents, aged 87 and 92, on the best visa options for living in Thailand. Suggestions include obtaining tourist visas and applying for extensions or exploring a Non-O single entry visa with dependent status based on the user's residency.

Ellie ******* · Answer

You are going on to an extension of marriage. In that case, their options are like these:

Option 1: As you explained, get tourist visas, and sort out their retirement visa and extension FOR EACH in Thailand. (Means they have their own financial proof (funds in Thailand) for each of them separately (or joint account with double amount), 800K for each.

Option 2: Apply one of them for Non-O single entry based on being over 50, get Non-O single entry being dependent on a foreigner who can live in Thailand legally for another.  Then apply for according extensions once they settled in Thailand.

With this option, the dependent has to get a Non-O single before entering Thailand (because it is not applicable inside Thailand). But funds requirements are only for Non-O retirement holder. (800K for one person)

If you are going to be still on retirement, they both might be able to be dependent on you. (This cannot be done if you are on marriage extension <- you are already dependent on a Thai. There is no visa/extension being dependent on another dependent)

What are the best visa options for elderly parents moving to Thailand with a resident child?

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