Answered7 years ago
What are the steps and requirements for obtaining a Non-O retirement visa in Thailand for expats with children in international schools?
We are a family of 4 all from the U.K. living in Chiang Mai and find ourselves in a difficult visa situation. Our kids are in International school and they have solid Ed visas now extended/valid until June 2020. My husband and I have also had Ed visas this past year and that’s worked well. Last week we went to Hanoi to apply for same Ed visa for the second and final year (as we plan to move back to UK in June 2020), but were rejected (which we’ve heard happened to many). We got back in on a 30 day stamp as advised by Thai Embassy in Hanoi, although they questioned us at the border for not having a visa! So now we are looking into getting Non-O “Guardian” visas and have a number of questions…
1. Do we need to apply for Non-O visa in U.K. or can we apply in another country?
1. We understand we need 500k baht each seasoned in our Thai bank accounts before the first extension at Chiang Mai Immigration - however we’ve read both 30 and 90 days as the requirement, anyone got definitive experience with this?
1. Do we need to show any financial records or have a certain amount of money in our Thai or UK accounts when we make the first Non-O application out of country?
1. Will we need children’s birth certificate legalised/certified for the application and/or extension - I’m thinking for the extension we will and perhaps the application if it isn’t in the UK, anyone know?
1. Will we need our marriage certificate legalised/certified for any reason? We only have a Thai bank account in my husband's name, but we plan to open one for me once I have the visa to do so.
1. In order for us to have more time to get the money/paperwork in place we’d like to extend our current 30 day stamp at Immigration office - do you see any issue with this after we were questioned i.e. might that be on our record?
1. My husband has several trips out of country and an alternative for him might be SETV + METV - however, we are not sure if that’s too risky - any advice welcomed
Thanks in advance and sorry for long post... !!
1. Do we need to apply for Non-O visa in U.K. or can we apply in another country?
1. We understand we need 500k baht each seasoned in our Thai bank accounts before the first extension at Chiang Mai Immigration - however we’ve read both 30 and 90 days as the requirement, anyone got definitive experience with this?
1. Do we need to show any financial records or have a certain amount of money in our Thai or UK accounts when we make the first Non-O application out of country?
1. Will we need children’s birth certificate legalised/certified for the application and/or extension - I’m thinking for the extension we will and perhaps the application if it isn’t in the UK, anyone know?
1. Will we need our marriage certificate legalised/certified for any reason? We only have a Thai bank account in my husband's name, but we plan to open one for me once I have the visa to do so.
1. In order for us to have more time to get the money/paperwork in place we’d like to extend our current 30 day stamp at Immigration office - do you see any issue with this after we were questioned i.e. might that be on our record?
1. My husband has several trips out of country and an alternative for him might be SETV + METV - however, we are not sure if that’s too risky - any advice welcomed
Thanks in advance and sorry for long post... !!
Answer summary
A family from the UK residing in Chiang Mai is facing challenges with their education visas for their children. After a failed attempt to renew their education visas in Hanoi, they are exploring the option of applying for Non-O 'Guardian' visas. They seek clarity on several points: whether they can apply for the Non-O visa outside the UK, the financial requirements related to their Thai bank accounts, documentation needed for the application (like children's birth certificates and their marriage certificate), the feasibility of extending their current 30-day stamp considering past questioning at immigration, and alternative visa options for the husband. Other community members share their experiences and advice on navigating the visa process, including specifics on financial proofs and practical tips for dealing with immigration.
24 repliesnewest first
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James ********
Good Luck Jo Plummer... Hopefully the replies are helpful to you. I close commenting.
Greg *******
Only one parent can sponsor a foreign child. Sometimes CM will allow the other parent to sponsor the other kid. But then you will need two bank accounts in each of your names and I know of one case it was not allowed. Only one parent for the three girls they had.
Jo *********
OP@Greg ******
thanks, yes we have two kids and so we’re going to try for it and see how goes
Tod *********
1 - check with the C/M immigration office to see if they can issue the Non-O in country
If they can't make a plan to go to another country to get it
2 - for a yearly extension you need the 500K seasoned in a thia bank account in your name only for 30 days for the FIRST year and then every yearly extension after that you need it seasoned for 3 months
3 - most consulates who aske for proof of funds for the 90 day Non-O visa based on foreign children let you show a print out of your bank statement in your country
4 - possibly you might need them certified for the in country yearly extension (which is why your FIRST course of action is to CHECK with the Chiang Mai Immigration office) BUT you won't need anything done with them to get the 90 day Non-O from a nearby consulte
5 - for the extension MAYBE, for the visa in another country no
6 - no problem get the 30 day extensions
7 - won't make a difference
If they can't make a plan to go to another country to get it
2 - for a yearly extension you need the 500K seasoned in a thia bank account in your name only for 30 days for the FIRST year and then every yearly extension after that you need it seasoned for 3 months
3 - most consulates who aske for proof of funds for the 90 day Non-O visa based on foreign children let you show a print out of your bank statement in your country
4 - possibly you might need them certified for the in country yearly extension (which is why your FIRST course of action is to CHECK with the Chiang Mai Immigration office) BUT you won't need anything done with them to get the 90 day Non-O from a nearby consulte
5 - for the extension MAYBE, for the visa in another country no
6 - no problem get the 30 day extensions
7 - won't make a difference
Jo *********
OPTod Daniels thank you so much for both your replies, super helpful. Unfortunately we are Hua Hin for a week on a pre booked trip- but will head to CM Immigration at first opportunity. I am also thinking that CM Immigration will want certified birth certificates even if they agree to Non-O in country and we don’t have those yet, but we’ll start the process to order them from U.K. and see what happens. Thanks again
Tod *********
GO to the chiang mai immigration office (the sooner the bettter) and see IF you can get the 90 day Non-O visas based on supporting foreign born children issued inside the country at the immigration office
Chiang Mai Immigrations issues some Non-Immigrant visas inside the country and you'd need at least 21 days left on your current entry stamp to apply (because of the under consideration period)
Now on the chance you can't get those Non-O's in country you SHOULD <- as in probably, be able to go to Vientiane and get a 90 day single entry Non-O visa based on being the parent of a foreign child on a valid long term extension in thailand.
Chiang Mai Immigrations issues some Non-Immigrant visas inside the country and you'd need at least 21 days left on your current entry stamp to apply (because of the under consideration period)
Now on the chance you can't get those Non-O's in country you SHOULD <- as in probably, be able to go to Vientiane and get a 90 day single entry Non-O visa based on being the parent of a foreign child on a valid long term extension in thailand.
Kaprel *************
Hello Jo! We are in the same situation, we will apply for a second visa with Combat school. Could you tell me, please, did the school get your money back? Thank you.
Andy *******
Jo we got rejected two weeks ago in Hanoi and accepted in Ho Chi Minh two days later. Lol. Same country but not same same 🤷🏻♂️
Onparin *************
@Andy ******
Ohhh, he had proof of funds, and return flights. but I'm not sure if he had accommodation document with him. Thank you. I'll make sure to tell him that. I'm gonna make a new post to not piggyback Jo's post. Thank you so much for your help!Andy *******
@Onparin ************
did he have proof of funds and return flight & local accommodation is what i meanOnparin *************
@Andy ******
He had all the documents the school gave him. He didn't get the docs back from the embassy though so he's gonna go back and ask them.Andy *******
@Onparin ************
. Make sure he has all his documents in order. Did he have all requirements in HCMC?Onparin *************
@Andy ******
Thank you. fingers crossed!Andy *******
@Onparin ************
there is one sheet that was changed as it has to do with embassy/consulate location for the application. We changed that from Hanoi > Hcmc. Hope it works out!
Onparin *************
@Andy ******
Did you have to ask the school to send you new papers to resubmit? MY American bf's Ed Visa got the VOID stamp at HO CHI MINH this Monday, they didn't give him back his school documents. We were thinking of having him go to HANOII instead, but now i'm not so sure.Andy *******
yep!! i always try go early on in the week, not good on a friday arvo
Andy *******
@Anton ******
I would’ve preferred that! Hurts more the next day when your ready to come home!Jo *********
OP@Anton ******
they refused us on drop off day, refused to take our papers- which was better I guess, maybe they had had a lot of complaintsAndy *******
@Anton ******
refusal on pick up day.Andy *******
@Jo ********
it was for us. We were already in the country. Just be sure to change the page of where your application is going to be. Your school can update that page. Consulate was very chill and super easy. I think many may be flocking there so who knows how long this will last.Jo *********
OP@Andy ******
wow - we wondered about that but didn’t think it was worth the risk!
Serge *********
1- From UK so you can apply for the non-o at an embassy (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, etc..) for a 3 months visa. You will extend it to 1 year in thailand.
Problem is that each embassy got different requirements
2- It’s 90 days... note that you will have to do it separately...
The same kid can’t have 2 guardians.
3- As I said in question 1 each embassy got different requirements. In Cambodia I had to show my bank statements. Can’t remember the exact amount they asked... But I think it was 10k $US... after that (because I did it several times) , sometimes I had only 5k and it was ok.
5- I think the bank account name will be a problem.
As I said, 1 kid can have only 1 guardian so it will be treated as 2 separate requests ... so you will need the money seasoned in a bank account at YOUR name for the extension.
I did several 3 months back to back a couple of years ago... because I couldn’t meet the financial requirements for the 1 year extension (I can’t let sleep that much money).
But now it became harder... immigration officers don’t like it anymore.
6- and 7- That’s impossible to predict... it depends on the officer you see at the immigration.
But my advice would be to always have a B plan ...
I have been denied entry a couple of years ago at the airport and my kids were with the nanny in Bangkok...
It was like hell for me.
You can be sure that 2 parents en non-o with 2 kids in international schools can of course bring questions.
So my only advice is that you must be ready all the time.. just in case...
For example I prefer land borders... at least you can just go back , relax, and find a solution.
By sur you might end up in detention cell.
Problem is that each embassy got different requirements
2- It’s 90 days... note that you will have to do it separately...
The same kid can’t have 2 guardians.
3- As I said in question 1 each embassy got different requirements. In Cambodia I had to show my bank statements. Can’t remember the exact amount they asked... But I think it was 10k $US... after that (because I did it several times) , sometimes I had only 5k and it was ok.
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*****
**********
-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22O%22-(Family-memberDe.html5- I think the bank account name will be a problem.
As I said, 1 kid can have only 1 guardian so it will be treated as 2 separate requests ... so you will need the money seasoned in a bank account at YOUR name for the extension.
I did several 3 months back to back a couple of years ago... because I couldn’t meet the financial requirements for the 1 year extension (I can’t let sleep that much money).
But now it became harder... immigration officers don’t like it anymore.
6- and 7- That’s impossible to predict... it depends on the officer you see at the immigration.
But my advice would be to always have a B plan ...
I have been denied entry a couple of years ago at the airport and my kids were with the nanny in Bangkok...
It was like hell for me.
You can be sure that 2 parents en non-o with 2 kids in international schools can of course bring questions.
So my only advice is that you must be ready all the time.. just in case...
For example I prefer land borders... at least you can just go back , relax, and find a solution.
By sur you might end up in detention cell.
Jo *********
OP@Serge ********
thanks so much, that’s helpful. One of the reasons we are looking at different options for my husband and is that we don’t want to travel together and be rejected at same time, leaving us both away from our kidsJames ********
Thank you for your posted update.
As its overnight in Thailand, await helpful replies Friday morning.
You have asked many good questions.
As its overnight in Thailand, await helpful replies Friday morning.
You have asked many good questions.
@Tod ********
...will reply.Activity
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